Human traffickers must not go unabated
THE Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2020 deducted that a total of 2,904 persons were arrested on trafficking in-person charges in Bangladesh in 2017-2018. The report’s country profile showed Bangladesh recorded 778 cases of trafficking in persons in 2017, and 561 cases in 2018. However, Bangladesh government legislated tough laws to stop trafficking. But human traffickers with the blessing of local politics, at least an MP, and illicit nexus with law enforcers and border security members, and also lack of enforcement of law exploiting people.
The report adds the current legislation on trafficking in persons in Bangladesh covers all forms of trafficking indicated in the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol. Globally, the share of children among detected trafficking victims has tripled while the share of boys has increased five times in the past 15 years. However, 50,000 human trafficking victims were detected and reported in 2018. In fact, due to the hidden nature of this crime, the actual number of victims trafficked is far higher. In continuation of Covid-19, millions of women, children and men worldwide are out of work, out of school and without social support, leaving them at greater risk of human trafficking. Female victims continue to be the primary targets for human trafficking. For every 10 victims detected globally in 2018, about five were adult women and two were young girls. Around 20 per cent of human trafficking victims were adult men and 15 per cent young boys. Overall, 50 per cent of detected victims were trafficked for sexual exploitation, 38 per cent exploited for forced labour, six per cent subjected to forced criminal activity, while one per cent was coerced into begging and smaller numbers into forced marriages, organ removal, and other purposes.
We found, some offenders are the members of organised crime groups, ruling party men, parliamentarians or individuals operating on their own or in small groups. We need stern action to stop criminals from taking advantage of the pandemic to exploit the vulnerable. The government must prove its willingness and aptness to enforce tough laws against human traffickers to protect the helpless victims.
The report adds the current legislation on trafficking in persons in Bangladesh covers all forms of trafficking indicated in the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol. Globally, the share of children among detected trafficking victims has tripled while the share of boys has increased five times in the past 15 years. However, 50,000 human trafficking victims were detected and reported in 2018. In fact, due to the hidden nature of this crime, the actual number of victims trafficked is far higher. In continuation of Covid-19, millions of women, children and men worldwide are out of work, out of school and without social support, leaving them at greater risk of human trafficking. Female victims continue to be the primary targets for human trafficking. For every 10 victims detected globally in 2018, about five were adult women and two were young girls. Around 20 per cent of human trafficking victims were adult men and 15 per cent young boys. Overall, 50 per cent of detected victims were trafficked for sexual exploitation, 38 per cent exploited for forced labour, six per cent subjected to forced criminal activity, while one per cent was coerced into begging and smaller numbers into forced marriages, organ removal, and other purposes.
We found, some offenders are the members of organised crime groups, ruling party men, parliamentarians or individuals operating on their own or in small groups. We need stern action to stop criminals from taking advantage of the pandemic to exploit the vulnerable. The government must prove its willingness and aptness to enforce tough laws against human traffickers to protect the helpless victims.
