Human Trafficking (original) (raw)

Human Trafficking Is More Than Sex Trafficking and Prostitution: Implications for Social Work

Affilia-journal of Women and Social Work, 2012

The human trafficking discussion has focused primarily on women and children who are trafficked for sexual exploitation. However, as social workers confront the issue, they require an understanding of the problem that also acknowledges individuals who are forced to work in other areas. This article critically examines the current discourse on human trafficking because the sole focus on women and

The Cause and Consequence of Human Trafficking: Human Rights Violations

2019

Trafficking in Persons, which is commonly known as human trafficking, is a human rights issue that is grossly misunderstood and mostly undetected. It is a criminal enterprise that is estimated to impact millions of individuals and families around the world. The lack of identification of victims by victims, law enforcement, the general public and service providers plays a major role in the clandestine nature of human trafficking. Social workers, however, must take on a more proactive role in addressing human trafficking. Learning Objectives By the end of this chapter, the student will be able to: • Understand social work as a profession • Define trafficking in persons as stipulated by the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime • Define human rights in accordance with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human

The human trafficking debate: Implications for Social Work Practice

Social work and society, 2017

The present paper examines the claims making process and the varied constructions of human trafficking as a social problem. We have utilized the theoretical framework of Social Constructionism to answer questions: (1) What is the process utilized in social problems constructions in general? (2) How is this process applied to elucidate the current debate on the social problem of human trafficking, in particular? We have also suggested using a critical framework when intervening with human trafficking and delineated some practice implications for social service providers.

Social service responses to human trafficking: the making of a public health problem

Culture, Health & Sexuality, 2020

Human trafficking has received considerable attention from policymakers, researchers and service providers globally, with resulting interventions often positioning trafficking as something that simply exists. Drawing on Bacchi’s ‘What’s the Problem Represented to be?’ approach, this article proposes that trafficking is continually made through efforts designed to eradicate it. We conducted 22 interviews with representatives from social service organisations funded by the government of Ontario, Canada, for anti-trafficking programming. These interviews provide insight into how trafficking is being represented and with what effects. Our findings suggest that organisational initiatives often rely on individualised health-related interventions, such as trauma-informed counselling and other mental health support, to address trafficking. In the process, various sex work activities are deemed ‘symptoms’ of trafficking, and perceived pathways to engaging in sex work (such as drug use/dependence, a history of trauma and low self-esteem) are produced as ‘causes’ or ‘risk factors’. We contend that by pathologising sex work and sex workers, organisations are employing a contradictory neoliberal paternalism to advance a public health representation of human trafficking that simultaneously responsibilises and disenfranchises purported victims.

Human trafficking: Improving victim identification and service provision

International Social Work, 2012

The trafficking of humans is a serious issue. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) is the main legislative effort in the US that addresses this problem. Based on social work values, the article provides an assessment of the TVPA and suggests that service provision and victim identification need to be strengthened to better serve human trafficking victims. Global trends, efforts, and limitations in reducing trafficking are discussed. Specific interventions by social workers in victim identification and service provision are presented.