The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes violence against women as a major public health and human rights concern. This violence manifests in various forms, including domestic violence, sexual assault, forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and human trafficking. Among these, trafficking in persons, particularly women and girls, is one of the most severe violations of human dignity and freedom.
Definition and Nature of Trafficking
The United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (2000) — also known as the Palermo Protocol — defines trafficking as:
“The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion... for the purpose of exploitation.” (UNODC, 2000)
Exploitation includes sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery, servitude, and organ removal. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, especially for sexual exploitation and domestic servitude (UNODC, 2022).
The WHO states that trafficking leads to grave physical and psychological health consequences, including:
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
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Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
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Unwanted pregnancies
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Substance abuse
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Suicide ideation(Source: WHO, Understanding and addressing violence against women: Human trafficking, 2012)
Role of the International Organization for Migration (IOM)
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) plays a pivotal role in addressing human trafficking through:
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Direct Assistance: Supporting victims of trafficking with medical care, legal aid, and safe repatriation.
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Capacity Building: Training law enforcement, border officials, and NGOs to identify and assist victims.
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Prevention and Awareness: Running information campaigns to warn vulnerable populations.
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Data and Research: Operating the Counter-Trafficking Data Collaborative (CTDC) to share trafficking data for global policy and intervention (IOM, 2021).
In partnership with UN agencies and national governments, the IOM helps develop National Referral Mechanisms (NRMs) to identify and protect victims systematically.
Trafficking in Specific National Contexts
1. Mauritius
Mauritius is classified as a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking. Victims, including women and girls, are trafficked for domestic servitude and sex trafficking. Vulnerable groups include foreign domestic workers and children in informal foster care.
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The U.S. Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2023 notes that Mauritius lacks strong victim identification mechanisms and effective prosecution of traffickers.
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The IOM has partnered with the Mauritian government to train frontline responders, and conduct awareness programs (IOM Mauritius, 2022).
2. United Kingdom
In the UK, trafficking mainly involves women from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia trafficked for sex work, nail bars, domestic work, and cannabis cultivation.
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The Modern Slavery Act (2015) is a landmark legislation that criminalizes all forms of trafficking and compels businesses to report slavery in supply chains.
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The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) ensures that victims receive protection, housing, and legal aid.
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In 2023, over 17,000 potential victims were referred under the NRM, with women comprising a significant portion (UK Home Office, 2024).
3. United States
The U.S. is a major destination and source country for trafficking. Women are often trafficked into agriculture, hospitality, and sex industries.
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The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (TVPA) 2000 was one of the first federal laws to address trafficking.
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IOM and DHS collaborate to identify trafficked migrants, especially undocumented women and asylum seekers.
4. India
India has one of the highest rates of trafficking globally, especially in rural and tribal areas. Women and girls are trafficked for forced marriages, prostitution, begging, and bonded labour.
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The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) is the primary anti-trafficking legislation.
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Despite this, corruption, poverty, and patriarchal norms fuel trafficking (National Crime Records Bureau, 2022).
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NGOs like Prajwala and IOM India work on rescue-rehabilitation programs and safe migration initiatives.
5. South Africa
South Africa is a source, transit, and destination country. Women are trafficked for sexual exploitation, domestic labour, and forced marriages.
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The Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2013 criminalizes trafficking and provides a framework for victim support.
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South Africa’s porous borders and socio-economic disparities make women vulnerable.
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IOM South Africa works closely with SADC to standardize border screening and establish victim support shelters.
6. Palestine
In Palestinian territories, trafficking is underreported due to conflict, restricted movement, and lack of institutional capacity.
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Reports by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and IOM highlight the risk of early marriage, exploitation of women in domestic settings, and labour trafficking in informal economies.
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Women in Gaza and West Bank face economic hardship, increasing susceptibility to trafficking-like practices (OCHA, 2021).
Conclusion
Human trafficking is a global gendered crime that disproportionately targets women and girls, often underpinned by poverty, conflict, lack of education, gender inequality, and weak governance. While legal frameworks exist across Mauritius, UK, US, India, South Africa, and Palestine, implementation gaps, victim identification, and support mechanisms remain inadequate in many regions.
The IOM’s multidimensional approach — combining direct assistance, institutional capacity-building, data-sharing, and policy support — remains crucial in combating trafficking and supporting survivors globally. Strengthening transnational cooperation, community-based prevention, and gender-sensitive policies is essential to eradicate trafficking in all its forms.
References
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WHO (2012). Understanding and Addressing Violence Against Women: Human Trafficking. Geneva: World Health Organization.
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UNODC (2000). Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.
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IOM (2021). Counter-Trafficking Initiatives. www.iom.int
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US State Department (2023). Trafficking in Persons Report.
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Home Office UK (2024). Modern Slavery: National Referral Mechanism Statistics.
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NCRB India (2022). Crime in India: Human Trafficking Statistics.
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IOM Mauritius (2022). Combating Trafficking in Persons in the Indian Ocean Region.
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Government of South Africa (2013). Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act.
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UN OCHA (2021). Protection of Civilians Report: Vulnerabilities of Women in Palestine.
