What is human trafficking?

What makes this a story of human trafficking? Read Sunita’s Story Question: What makes this a story of human trafficking?

Sunita was 16 living with her family in Orissa Sunita was 16 living with her family in Orissa. Life was not easy, they had little money and few opportunities. A women kept approaching Sunita and offering her work in Delhi in the gardens of a religious centre, it would be six months work and a decent pay. Sunita was not convinced at first, but decided to take up her offer as it would make such a difference to her family. She was met in Delhi by a placement agency. She had to stay with the owner before being placed with a family. One night the owner physically abused Sunita and continually tried to sexually abuse her. Eventually she was placed with a family, Sunita was forced to work from 5am to midnight with only two chapattis a day. She was regularly beaten and molested by the different members of the family. After a long period where Sunita tried to escape and contact her family. She was rescued by the Dahlit Freedom Network, who were contacted by her mother who was determined to find her. Provided by Dalit Freedom Network www.dfn.org.uk

Deception Movement Exploitation Sunita was 16 living with her family in Orissa. Life was not easy, they had little money and had been made to leave their home due to violence in their area. A women kept approaching Sunita and offering her work in Delhi in the gardens of a religious centre, it would be six months work and a decent pay. Sunita was not convinced at first, but decided to take up her offer as it would make such a difference to her family. She was met in Delhi by a placement agency. She had to stay with the owner before being placed with a family. One night the owner physically abused Sunita and continually tried to sexually abuse her. Eventually she was placed with a family, Sunita was forced to work from 5am to midnight with only two chapattis a day. She was regularly beaten and molested by the different members of the family. After a long period where Sunita tried to escape and contact her family. She was rescued by the Dahlit Freedom Network, who were later by her mother who was determined to find her. Deception Movement Exploitation

Definition of human trafficking Human trafficking is: The act of recruitment By the means of deception or coercion For the purpose of exploitation

Trafficking is not smuggling

Which is which? Heyun Liu has paid a substantial sum of money to his friend’s uncle for a place on a boat that will get him from Belgium to the UK. Katerina at passport control has a forged passport given by a man who hasn’t yet told her she’s bound for a nightclub. Ivan is forced to pick vegetables. He is forced to give his wages to a Romanian gang threatening harm to his family at home. Maria works as a prostitute to earn money to send back to her family in the Ukraine, where her earnings from prostitution were less.

Trafficking is not smuggling Katerina and Ivan are victims of trafficking as they have been deceived or coerced into their situation. Heyun Liu and Maria are not victims of trafficking as they are willing participants in their actions. Smuggling is with the consent of the migrant for the benefit of the migrant Trafficking is without the consent of the migrant for the benefit of the trafficker

What makes someone vulnerable to being trafficked?

People are vulnerable because Traffickers are clever and they offer something people want or need. Work If people have little money and few opportunities where they live they are more likely to accept an offer of work elsewhere. Better life People think that the city life will offer lots of excitement and thrills. Different people and a fast life. Love Most people want to be loved and cared for. Traffickers pretend that they love a person to trick them into falling into their trap.

Work and a better life

Typical job advert

What makes a job suspicious? Unusually high rate of pay Asking for unnecessary or illegal details such as a full length photo or blood test Free-training and travel loans available Admitting large numbers of people at once No details as to where the work is or who they would be working for.

Love

Missed calls Ashi’s friend Meenu met her boyfriend over the phone. He called her mobile looking for someone else, he had the wrong number but he was very friendly. He called again the next day and soon they were chatting regularly on the phone. He told Meenu he has a great job lined up for her in Mumbai, he even sent Meenu money so she can book her train ticket. She’s going to be working in a luxury hotel and get free training to be a waitress. Ashi is very excited, she has booked her tickets but doesn’t want to tell her family as she thinks they will disapprove.

What should Ashi do? Should she tell Meenu not to trust the man on the phone she hasn’t met? Should she advise Meenu to tell her family? Who else should they tell about the man?

Who are the traffickers?

They could be… Stranger Family or member of the community traffickers can be individuals or groups of people. They could be men or women Stranger It could be a stranger approaching someone who looks lost at a bus station or on a train and offering to help them. Family or member of the community Many people are trafficked by family members, it could be an aunt or uncle. Pretend boyfriend Traffickers often pose as a boyfriend, pretending that they want to be with the person they are planning to traffick.

What are people trafficked for?

It varies.. People are trafficked: Within a country Across borders Often from rural to urban areas. Across borders From one country to another.

People are exploited for Sexual exploitation Cheap labour in factories and on farms Domestic work Marriage and to bear children For organs To work in circuses and as jockeys Child sacrifice

What happens to them?

Once they are trafficked.. Traffickers control people by: Taking their passport Confiscating their money and phone Not paying them Abusing them physically and verbally Through threats to themselves and family Taking them somewhere they don’t know or don’t speak the language

Effects on an individual Trauma & mental illnesses Compromised physical health including malnutrition, poor hygiene and sanitation Addiction Suicidal attempts and self harm Socially ostracized No rights Compromised education and development

Contact us www.stopthetraffik.org/india