Human trafficking has become a global problem that can no longer be ignored. Today trafficking in human beings is pronounced as the largest slavery regime ever encountered in human history.

1. Human Trafficking Around the World: The Global
Reach of Modern-Day Slavery
As globalization advances, the collaboration among nations has brought
comfort to everyone in terms of technology and communication. However, with
this growth, negligence in social issues has also increased with rapid speed.
One of the most critical socioeconomic issues causing concerns to the whole
world is Human Trafficking.
Human trafficking in today’s age is no more the same old episode of one party
smuggling humans from underdeveloped countries to other party stationed in a
developed economy. These criminals now have strong roots and agents in
almost every country, and stay connected through technology and by other
means.
South American, Asian and African countries are considered as the breeding
grounds for these illegal activities where poverty, illiteracy and lack of
awareness have blighted the lives of innocent people. These countries are
alleged of harboring many “human trafficking nurseries.” Human traffickers

2. regard these regions as safe havens where they know how to exploit innocent
human lives.
One’s awareness of human trafficking cannot be complete without an
understanding of current methods being used by these illicit traders.
Sex Trafficking
Sexual trafficking is the most contagious form of human trafficking. It’s a trade
of forced prostitution, where innocent girls are deceived by different forms of
fraud and coercion. Philippines, Mexico and India top the list of countries
from where the demand is met in the trade of sex trafficking.
A case was reported recently by Sun-star.com, on 6th of December 2011, that
four suspected human traffickers are arrested in Philippines, who allegedly
traded three women and two girls to Xiamen, China for commercial sex.
American authorities were seen in action when they carried out an operation
near Mexico and USA border, on December 24th, where 11 people were arrested
by Bullard Police, USA. The Bullard Police Sergeant alleged that Victor Guzman
and Cayetano Torres-Rodriguez are running a people smuggling operation. On
the same day, Indian authorities busted a gang of four people in connection to
child trafficking; “Arresting Sukhdev is great achievement as he is trafficking
children to different regions of India”, Police claimed.
The latest to come on record was the apprehension of two human traffickers in
Ghana as they traded six Nigerian girls. What was meant to be a stable job in a
hairdressing salon became a nightmare for six Nigerian girls who were
trafficked from their country to Ghana and pushed into prostitution at
Prampram in the Greater Accra Region. The girls aged between 19 and 23 years
from Edo, Lagos and Delta States were rescued by police upon a tip off. The
girls were brought into Ghana two weeks ago allegedly by Esther Francis (33)
and Eunice Ayegidi (48), a Nigerian residing at Prampram while Victor Tetteh

3. Koody accommodated them at his unregistered brothel to be used for
prostitution.
The extent of sex trafficking is increasing with every passing day.
Labor Trafficking
When it comes to trading humans for labor needs, North America, Europe and
Australia are the three hottest destinations for traffickers to land in. They bring
cheap workers from the poor countries of South America, Africa and Asia to
meet demand.
The conditions in which these laborers live are pathetic, and they are always
trying to find out ways to flee. 15th December 2010 saw a drastic tragedy when
a boat carrying around 90 asylum seekers, mostly from Iraq and Iran, traveling
from Indonesia, sank off the coast of Christmas Island (Australian territory),
killing at least 30 people aboard. A criminal investigation based on people-
smuggling laws is being undertaken.
Not to forget the effort of Paraguay-Mexican authorities, to expose a network of
human traffickers trading local women to Puebla, Mexico. Fourteen women have
been rescued in November alone. A law enforcement agency mentioned that
mostly youth who accepted "overseas jobs as models" were chosen by alleged
international firms. Labor trafficking, child labor and sexual labor are the terms
of human trade. As the world’s dominant economies continue to deteriorate
and the value of their currencies decrease, the demand of cheap labor is on the
rise.
Child Trafficking
Child trafficking is the most threatening classification of the human trading
being done worldwide. According to a statement issued by UNICEF, “The global
market of child trafficking is over $12 billion a year with over 1.2 million child
victims. Asian and African countries are the most vulnerable regions where

4. children from age 5 to 15 are traded domestically and internationally as a
supply for labor and sex.”
India was in the limelight in this regard when, on 22nd of December 2011, the
social service branch of Mumbai police busted an international human
trafficking and prostitution racket with the arrest of a man who was trying to
send six young girls abroad for entertaining people on New Year's Eve.
Even China has been subject to human traffickers, as shown last month with
the apprehension of 608 suspects and rescued 178 children busting two
separate child trafficking groups. An investigation into a traffic accident in
southern China's Sichuan province in May led police to the first ring and the
second ring was uncovered in August.
Child abuse is the most horrendous issue, as youth is always said to be the
future of nation and society. If their lives descend into trafficking hell, we can
see what our future will be.
Call to Action:
Humans are born with great powers, a wide range of choice, and a great ability
to differentiate good from bad things. So it’s time to show that we can bring
that global problem of human trafficking to an end. It’s time to get united
against that global crime as one nation. Let’s gather on a single platform to
provide solutions to our race. Let’s band together to end this global crime.
Muhammad Saad Khan is a social activist and a volunteer in the fight to end
human trafficking around the globe. He has joined FreedomNow – A
community built knowledge base to counter human trafficking as a research
professional to learn about prevention, prosecution and protection from human
traffickers.