SMUGGLING AND TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS: THE PHENOMENON, THE MARKETS THAT DRIVE IT AND THE ORGANISATIONS THAT PROMOTE IT.

Article by Alexis A. Aronowitz – Presentation by Cindy Dehaen,July 2012

HUMAN SMUGGLING AND TRAFFICKING Defining the phenomenon: establishing coherent

understanding Magnitude of the problem,understanding the

reasons for its existence, identifying the root causes, analysis of the markets

National and international programs & the importance of co-operation: strategies to fight smuggling and trafficking

SMUGGLED OR TRAFFICKED?

Voluntary vs unvoluntaryAmount of money paid by the victim upon arrival in the destination countryCreating a debt bondage: most victims are women & children (used for sexual exploitation & forced labor)

Traffickers escape from prosecution: deception & coercion

The symbiotic relationship between illegal & conventional markets:use of sub-contracts => both profit of the use of smuggled or trafficked victims e.g.: textile industry, building industry, restaurants, factories, farms...

MAGNITUDE, REASONS, ROOT CAUSES=> Accurate statistics: difficult due to its clandistine nature=> Estimate by the IOM: > 4 million a year => 5 factors indicating an increasing & expanding market:

# of people living in poverty willing to take the chance lack in border control: corrupt government officials world & economy globalisation advanced technology & communication growing organized crime

The PUSH and PULL factors: the REAL CAUSES of LEGAL AND ILLEGAL immigrationPUSH:• Government corruption• Infant mortality rate• Proportion of youngsters• Food production index• Population density• Social unrest

PULL:• Easy border control (suggesting

government corruption)• Infant mortality rate• Male population over 60• Food production index• Energy consumption

Legitimate economy

Forced labor & ‘doubtfull’ markets

Criminal industry and

illicit sex industry

While some (il)legal migrants immediately end up in the third market, some start working the domestic service economy or in restaurants, often in slave-like conditions

Often includes deplorable working, living and sanitary conditions

Wanting to escape from being mistreated, a lot of (il)legal migrants end up in the illicit sex industry

MARKETS BENEFITING FROM IT (ANALYSIS)

3 LEVELS WITHIN THE ILLICIT SEX INDUSTRY1. Small-scale activities by individual entrepreneurs (brothels)2. Mid-level prostitution of clandestine operations importing and

controlling women3. Large-scale international criminal organisations linked with

domestic criminal organisations , keeping women without documentation under tight control=> PROFITS USUALLY REINVESTED IN THE LEGITIMATE ECONOMY THROUGH MONEY LAUNDERING

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES USED FOR RECRUTEMENT: THE INTERNET

Specilized sub-units

Organizations unit

Management unit

Investors

Before transport

Recruters

Informers

Corrupt public

officials

..

During transport

Transporters

Guides

Enforcers

…

Upon arrival

Debt-collectors

...

DIFFERENT DEGREES OF ORGANIZATION

Evidence byEuropol:• high degree of organization • evolved from large entities to smaller horizontal structures to co-operate in the European Union

Increased flexibility &decentralization allow a faster adaptation &re-organization in case of threats from law enforcement but also market competition& higher demand!Horizontal interpendency => diversification => expansion into other illicit markets & criminal activities: • vehicle theft• drug trafficking• trafficking in arms• money laundering

Half of the sex-industry = in hands of non-nationals

CONDITIONS FACILITATING THE PRACTICE1. Lack of legislation2. Lack of political will => corruption3. Lack of capacity: manpower & material4. Lack of co-operation nationally & internationally

CONDITIONS & MEASURES NECESSARY TO FIGHT IT1. Prevention – Protection – Assistance:

=> awareness-raising campaigns in countries of origin & sensitization campaigns in transit/destination countries=> assistance programs & effective laws=> economic measures: strenghtening educational, training & job opportunities=> training material for fieldworkers=> a range of services for victims=> better protection & more legal measures granted to NGO’s

2. Enforcement – Prosecution of Traffickers:=> obligatory existance of legislation & enforcement: eradicating corruption => enforcing agencies: allow them to take disruptive measures=> gathering & sharing of intelligence on national & international level

ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN

1. Exchange of information2. Co-ordination & harmonization of national policies & laws3. Bi-lateral or multi-lateral agreements4. Repatriation & reintegration assistance5. Extradition of criminals6. Training of government officials 7. More severe penalties for trafficking

=> IF NOT: THE FLOW OF ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IS SIMPLY DISPLACED (f.e. influx illegal Chinese into Great-Britain as a result of stringent measures in Germany)

Establish:

By who?

1. NGO’s2. Governments3. International

bodies

E.g.:

The General Assembly of the United Nations:1. Convention on Transnational Organized

Crime – signed by 123 coutries2. Protocol on smuggling – signed by 77

countries3. Protocol on trafficking – signed by 80

countries

Result: nationalcoalitions &internationalco-operation

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

The Global Program by CICP & UNICRI:=> Several projects in 4 different regions of the world=> Focus on research: identifying => MODUS OPERANDI

=> travel routes => degree of organisation of criminal

networks=> Questionnaires: collecting quantative emperical data & best practices => Data from NGO’s, victims, government law enforcement & intelligence sources=> Information to better develop measures=> Better understanding of the factors fueling the problem: historical, cultural, political and economic situations (e.g. the case sof the Philippines & of West-Africa)

RECTIFYING THE ROOT CAUSES TO

PERMANENTLY RESOLVE THE PROBLEM

SOURCES

Aronowitz, A.(2001). Smuggling and trafficking in human beings: the phenomenon, the markets that drive it and the organisations that promote it. European journal on Criminal Policy and Research,9 (2), 163-195. Doi: 10.1023/A1011253129328

EUHomeAffairs (19 june 2012). Personal testimonies of victims of human trafficking [Video]. Consulted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-021GVUiKgU&feature=related