ROOT CAUSES OF HUMAN TRAFFICIKING 

Slavery is happening all around you, but these days we usually call it human trafficking. So what are the root causes of this issue? Human trafficking happens for many reasons, all of which are preventable. That means we can help bring change today.

According to the US Department of Homeland Security, “Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.” In other words, all about one person exploiting another for their own selfish gain. For example, a man who sells his girlfriend for sex to get cash has committed trafficking.

But the selfishness of exploiters is just one cause of trafficking. We also need to look at the economic angle. Siddharth Kara, the author of Modern Slavery: A Global Perspective, has identified three root causes.

Extreme Poverty

Poverty is one of the most significant drivers of human trafficking. Vulnerable individuals in economically disadvantaged regions often lack access to education, employment opportunities, and basic resources. This desperation can lead them to accept deceptive offers of work or migration, making them easy targets for traffickers.
Economic inequality, both within and between countries, exacerbates the problem. Wealth disparities create environments where traffickers exploit the hopes of individuals seeking a better life.

Insufficient educational opportunities

Limited access to education leaves individuals, especially women and children, susceptible to exploitation. Without education, they may be unaware of their rights or unable to recognize deceptive recruitment practices. Additionally, the lack of skills and qualifications restricts their access to legitimate employment, increasing their vulnerability to trafficking networks.

Lack of viable employment and other income opportunities

The demand for cheap goods and services fuels the exploitation of trafficked individuals. Industries such as agriculture, construction, textiles, and domestic work often rely on trafficked labor to meet consumer demands for low-cost products and services. In some cases, inadequate regulation or enforcement of labor laws allows traffickers to operate with impunity.

As reported by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, there are almost always people ready to take advantage of widespread economic hardship, political conflicts and natural disasters. In such chaotic circumstances, it’s not too surprising that so many people wind up being exploited while just trying to survive. But it’s still not ok!

Because there is such an enormous profit motive for traffickers, they are on the lookout for a steady source of new victims they can enslave. So long as extreme poverty, unemployment and a lack of educational opportunities predominate in so many regions around the world, we’ll continue to see people so desperate to survive—or provide for their families—that they’re willing to take risks they’d never otherwise indulge. That’s the situation that allows human trafficking to continue.

1. Prevention.
2. Protection.
3. Prosecution.
4. Partnerships.