Forms of trafficking
The forms that trafficking takes are dependent on a variety of factors, including country of origin, trafficking routes, final destination and the age and sex of the trafficked person. Below is information about the most common forms of trafficking, but it is likely that there are many more about which there is little or no information.
Domestic workers
The situation of women employed as domestic workers has been exposed in the past decade, in the wake of reported cases of abuse by employers. Although they are often aware that they will be working for a private employer, those employed as domestic workers are often deceived about the conditions of their employment.
"the hidden nature of domestic work means that it is often not identified as a priority by governments"
Because the arrangements are made between individuals and because the circumstances of abuse and exploitation are hidden behind closed doors, it is difficult to identify and assist the victims. In addition, the hidden nature of domestic work means that it is often not identified as a priority by governments, while regulations are difficult to monitor.
Trafficking for sexual purposes
Trafficking for sexual purposes includes employment in ‘places of entertainment’ such as lap-dancing clubs, live sex shows and stripping, as well as forced prostitution. In terms of global trafficking systems, Asia is the most common source region, with well-established trafficking networks both within and outside the region. There has also been a recent surge of reporting on trafficking within Europe, with the majority of women and children originating from the former Soviet Union, former Yugoslavia and other Eastern European countries. Europe is the main recipient of these trafficked women, but a third are transported to the Middle East, Far East and North America. Girls and young women are also susceptible to trafficking for sexual purposes. The majority of those reported are aged between 15 and 18, although trafficking of much younger children also takes place. In some cases, women and girls are deceived about the nature of the work they will be doing. Others know they will be involved in sex work, but were not prepared for the abusive conditions under which they would be working.
Debt bondage
According to Anti-Slavery International ‘a person becomes a bonded labourer when his or her labour is demanded as a means of repayment for a loan. The person is then tricked or trapped into working for very little or no pay, often for seven days a week. The value of their work is invariably greater than the original sum of money borrowed.’ Thailand is one of the countries most associated with debt bondage, because of widely publicised stories of children whose poverty-stricken parents had sold them to traffickers and who were forced to work as prostitutes, servicing clients in order to pay off the debts incurred. However, debt bondage takes forms other than sexual slavery. Other cases include forced recruitment into the army, forced employment as carpet weavers, brick makers and agricultural workers.
