Human Trafficking – A Transnational Crime

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Human trafficking is a transnational crime of global proportion. This form of criminal depravity pervades every county in the world; with victims numbering in the hundreds of thousands (Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC), 2014). The highest numbers of victims hail from Asia and the former Soviet Union (Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC), 2014). “Human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2014)”. The act of human trafficking is defined as transporting, recruiting, harboring, transferring, and receiving of human beings against their will (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2014). Human trafficking can cross jurisdictional boundaries and span continents. The United States considers itself a central destination for many victims of human trafficking. It is reported that approximately 14,500 to 17,500 human beings are trafficked every year (Academy for Educational Development, 2201-2006). The United States implemented the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000. This Act provides for funding to be used in the investigation and prosecution of individuals suspected of such atrocities. Additionally, this act makes provisions for victim support, punishment of perpetrators, the preparation of reporting, and provides foreign aid to assist with maintaining trafficking standards (Congressman Chris Smith, 2000). Perpetrators of this heinous crime are usually intent on financial gain. They often offer their victims up as forced labor, slaves, and/or to be prostituted. The Protocol on Trafficking in Persons went into effect in 2003 (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2014). This protocol has been accepted by 159 member sta... ... middle of paper ... ...14, from http://www.childtrafficking.org: http://www.childtrafficking.org/pdf/user/Unicef_RussiaTraffickingMar06.pdf Human Trafficking – A Transnational Crime References U.S. Department of State. (2011, June 27). Annual Trafficking in Persons Report 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from http://moscow.usembassy.gov: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/tipreport2011.html United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2014). Human Trafficking. Retrieved April 24, 2014, from http://www.unodc.org: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2014). Message of the UNODC Executive Director. Retrieved April 24, 2014, from http://www.unodc.org: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/releases/2013/December/message-of-the-unodc-executive-director-on-the-10th-anniversary-of-the-protocol-on-trafficking-in-persons.html

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