Dr Vassilia Orfanou, PhD, Post Doc
Writes for the Headline Diplomat eMagazine, LUDCI.eu

Introduction

Human trafficking, a harrowing reality that preys on vulnerability and thrives in the shadows, demands urgent attention and collective action. This crime against humanity extends its dark reach across the globe, affecting millions of lives, especially those of children and women. In commemoration of the International Day against Human Trafficking, this reflection sheds light on the alarming statistics, the silent warning signs, and the indispensable role of technology in the fight against this heinous crime. As we confront the stark realities, let us unite in the call to action, championing the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and supporting the 10-point roadmap outlined by the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT).

A global trade reaching alarming proportions

Every hour, one to two girls or women fall victim to human trafficking in Nepal. That’s around 12,000 to 15,000 victims per year. Approximately 10,000 Nepalese children are also in forced labor. It’s worse in The Philippines, where up to 100,000 children are reported to be caught up in the business of labor and sex trafficking.

There is no reliable data on child trafficking in India. But an NGO recently gave the number of annually trafficked children and women there to be around 12,000 to 50,000.

The problem is not limited to Asia. There are hundreds of thousands of cases in Italy, Peru, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Nigeria, which makes it a global problem. The International Labor Organization estimates that more than 1.2 million children may be trafficked every year!

They are forced to beg or steal and exploited for labor, as child soldiers, or prostitutes. A lot of these children are forced to pose naked in front of webcams. They are sold as child brides to much older men, most of whom have never met them.

The global trade in humans has reached alarming proportions. It is now one of the most lucrative organized crimes, with annual turnover of an estimated 150 billion dollars, according to the International Monetary Fund.

“Childhood stolen is a wound that time may not fully heal. It is our collective duty to ensure every child’s right to a safe and nurturing environment.” – Dr Vassilia Orfanou, Chief Operating Officer, LUDCI.eu

In commemoration of the occasion of the International Day against Human Trafficking, which was held last January 11, LUDCI.eu, a frontline media diplomacy entity, working to bring the world together to fight child trafficking, is calling to bring more awareness on the subject and ignite more help from global actors to stop trafficking in children and protect the affected children.

Commemorating the day of Awareness against human trafficking

Every January 11, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is commemorated, as designated by the U.S. Congress in 2007. It is an important date to remember the importance of fighting this scourge that affects millions of people around the world. Human trafficking is a crime that violates human dignity and rights. And it is our duty as a society to unite to combat it.

Latest data from the United Nations say around 28 million people are trapped in one form of human trafficking or the other around the world. And 71% of them are women and girls. These figures show the magnitude of the problem.

“In the fight against human trafficking, silence is not an option. Our voices must become a powerful force against the darkness that engulfs the lives of the innocent.” – Dr Vassilia Orfanou, Chief Operating Officer, LUDCI.eu.

Both children and adults can become victims of human trafficking, a lucrative business that constantly generates billions of dollars each year.

According to the United Nations Resident Coordinator (RC) in Sierra Leone, Mr. Babatunde Ahonsi, “Human trafficking can happen to anyone irrespective of age, gender, and country; it preys on vulnerability and thrives in times of conflict and instability.”

Warning Signs

Child trafficking is a crime done in secret, and when victims or perpetrators are in plain sight, it’s all hidden. Therefore, the insidious nature of human trafficking demands heightened awareness to be able to decipher the codes. Here are warning signs to watch out for, as reported by the Polaris Project, Innocents at Risk, and the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.

Wary eyes: A child who flinches at authority figures, avoids eye contact, or withdraws from social interaction may be trapped in a web of control.
Whispered scars: Bruises, burns, or untreated injuries whisper stories of forced labor or violent exploitation.
Rehearsed narratives: Robotic, scripted responses could mask a life dictated by someone else.
Missing papers: No ID, birth certificate, or school records? This red flag indicates a severed connection to a safe haven.
A life on the move: Frequent relocations, living at workplaces, or unexplained hotel stays raise questions about stolen childhoods.
Unbalanced power dynamics: A young girl calling an older man “daddy” or “boyfriend” might be trapped in a web of grooming and sexual abuse.
Exhausted innocence: Children forced to work grueling hours with no time for play or education are robbed of their fundamental rights.
Caged birds: Excessive security measures like barbed wire or barred windows may imprison more than just belongings.
Silenced voices: A child unable to speak freely in public, their words controlled by another, is likely under an oppressor’s thumb.

These are just fragments of the code. By staying vigilant, listening to these signs, and reporting suspicious activity, we can become decoders of human trafficking, helping to rewrite the narrative for vulnerable children.

“The scars of exploitation are not always visible; they linger in the minds and hearts of survivors. Empowering them is not just a choice; it’s a necessity for a brighter future.” – Dr Vassilia Orfanou, Chief Operating Officer, LUDCI.eu

Technology to the Rescue

Technology is a fundamental tool in the fight against human trafficking. Thanks to digital tools, it is possible to safely report cases of trafficking, disseminate information on how to prevent it and provide support to victims.

There are opportunities for AI-powered algorithm designs that can scan text messages, social media posts, and location data, searching for telltale signs of coercion and control. An example is a project being carried out by academics in the UK, which has received up to £115,000 in cash boost from the Home Office. A digital bloodhound like this can sniff out even the subtlest clues, leading authorities to potential victims needing rescue.

“[It is] capable of identifying the presence of coercive language and patterns from conversational text messages,” one of the academics developing this tool, Dr Nonso Alexanda Nnamoko, is quoted by The Edge Hill University. “We trained the model by feeding it historical data related to the subject including digital evidence supplied in domestic abuse court trials as well as curated social media messages involving domestic abuse.”

From the dizzying heights of space, watchful satellites cast their gaze upon the oceans below. Advanced image analysis is now used to scour for telltale patterns on the water, identifying suspicious vessels suspected of transporting forced labor victims. Researchers have been using this method to track down fishing vessels transporting forced labor victims or using them on board since 2020, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

“The study may help to expose widespread practice of labor abuses, human trafficking and slavery on the high seas, affecting hundreds of thousands of fishers on board big industrial fishing vessels,” Rossen Karavatchev from the International Transport Workers’ Federation told Reuters on the research study. No longer can traffickers vanish into the boundless blue; technology can be used to track their every move, paving the way for interdiction and rescue.

Advocating for the Adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

As we confront the harsh realities of child trafficking and exploitation, it is imperative to leverage existing international frameworks that safeguard the rights of children. In 1989, the world took a historic step by unanimously adopting the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) at the United Nations General Assembly. This is the first time in history that an international text explicitly recognizes those under 18 as beings in their own right – bearers of social, economic, civil, cultural, and political rights – fundamental, obligatory, and non-negotiable rights.

The consensus is unprecedented: with 197 States, it is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. Today, only the United States is missing after Somalia ratified it in 2015.

Much more than a text with strong symbolic significance, this convention is legally binding for the signatory States, who undertake to defend and guarantee the rights of all children without distinction and to answer for these commitments before the United Nations. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, composed of independent experts, monitors the implementation of the convention by examining the reports that States undertake to publish regularly once they have ratified the treaty.

The Convention has 54 articles stating that every child has:

the right to have a name, a nationality, an identity;
the right to be cared for, protected from illness, to have sufficient and balanced nutrition;
the right to go to school;
the right to be protected from violence, mistreatment, and all forms of abuse and exploitation;
the right to be protected against all forms of discrimination;
the right not to wage war nor suffer it;
the right to have refuge, to be rescued, and to have decent living conditions;
the right to play and enjoy leisure;
the right to freedom of information, expression, and participation;
the right to have a family, to be surrounded and loved

But these rights are nonexistent for all victims of child trafficking, including those in child soldiery, forced labor, prostitution, and forced marriage.

Three optional protocols have been added to the main text. The first aims to protect children against recruitment into armed conflicts, and the second concerns the sale of children (for forced labor, illegal adoption, organ donation, etc.), prostitution as well as pornography featuring children. The third defines the international procedure, which allows any child to file a complaint for violating their rights directly to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child when all remedies have been exhausted at the national level.

Following ICAT’s 10-Point Roadmap

The harsh reality of all forms of child trafficking in the 21st century casts a dark shadow on our world. It stains our collective conscience, demanding immediate action. Today, the 10-point roadmap provided by the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) can serve as a guide to combat this despicable crime.

The goal is to permanently eradicate it from our global landscape by 2025 with the help of concerned agencies, such as OSHA, OSCE, ICAT, DPKO, ICAO, ICPO-Interpol, IOM, ILO, OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNDP, UN Women, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNICRI, UNESCO, and UNODC.

ICAT’s roadmap prioritizes investing in accessible, inclusive child protection systems, ensuring comprehensive support for trafficked children, and amplifying the voices of survivors who hold the key to effective solutions. It calls for robust measures to deter traffickers, safeguard children online, and incorporate child rights due diligence into business practices.

Furthermore, it recognizes the interconnectedness of trafficking with humanitarian crises, environmental issues, and natural disasters, urging proactive integration of child protection into relevant policies and responses. Finally, ICAT underlines the critical need for robust data collection and unwavering collaboration between nations and diverse stakeholders.

Conclusion: Uniting Against Child Trafficking

Trafficking in girls, boys, and adolescents is a serious crime, exploiting vulnerabilities and causing devastating consequences for its victims. The negative impact on childhood and adolescence severely hampers full development, leaving lasting effects.

To fight this form of trafficking, well-coordinated global cooperation involving citizens, law enforcement, judiciary, youth welfare offices, and NGOs is essential, transcending borders. Unfortunately, the victims often face insufficient funding and support for the desperately needed protection and help.

Today, we urge every nation and citizen to champion the adoption of the CRC, the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history, with 197 States on board. Regardless of borders, every child must be granted the fundamental, non-negotiable rights enshrined in the convention.

Additionally, the use of technology is crucial in this fight. AI-powered algorithms and vigilant satellites can dismantle trafficking networks thriving in the shadows, offering innovative solutions to combat this crime.

Call to action

In the face of this humanitarian crisis, it is imperative that we respond with a united front against child trafficking. As concerned global citizens, we must amplify awareness and champion the adoption of the CRC, an international framework that explicitly recognizes the rights of children and is a binding commitment for signatory states. With only the United States yet to ratify, the CRC stands as a beacon of hope for millions of vulnerable children worldwide.

Featured Photo: Gabriel Frank: https://www.pexels.com/el-gr/photo/19816609/