By HANA BUSHNAQ

The problem of human trafficking seems to be on the agenda of so many countries, with treaties being ratified and legislations put to action. However, there doesn't seem to be a sharp decline in the numbers, and as one learns, the numbers can be very tricky to start with. Whereas one country may be vigilantly reporting the problem, others try to manipulate the numbers to hide it. Nevertheless, NGOs like CATW (Coalition Against Trafficking in Women) have some concerns when it comes to the steps taken to put an end to this serious problem. These NGOs also make suggestions that help draw a framework towards better dealing with this issue. They are the link between personal efforts and the governments.

According to CATW, there is a variety of international instruments to fight human trafficking, but there is no universal instrument that addresses all aspects of the problem. This means that vulnerable people will not get sufficient protection. All countries working to alleviate the problem should integrate their efforts to find the missing links. This should start with consensus on the actual definition of trafficking. During the drafting of the Protocol on Trafficking, CATW was instrumental in defending a definition of trafficking that protects all victims. The entire definition that was adopted in 2000 is not respected. Some countries still omit words or phrases from it. The link between prostitution and trafficking is not always accepted. Prostitution should not be normalized or legalized as it is in some countries, but that is sometimes used against the victims of trafficking who tend to get criminalized due to criminalizing the act of prostitution. 

At the heart of the problem is the demand for female prostitutes. All other efforts are fruitless if demand is not decreased. The buying of sexual services should be penalized, as has been done in the Philippines, Sweden, Korea and Lithuania. Other countries prohibit diplomats and military personnel from going to prostitutes, even if these countries legalize prostitution. However, this alone is not enough and can be misused. This can sometimes be taken to mean that it is only a crime to buy sexual services if the woman is forced. The users are asked to inform authorities if they sense that the prostitute is working under coercion. It is rather ironic how the men who helped create the problem are valorized and even enlisted in identifying victims! What better way to dignify these men and to increase the demand for women prostitutes?

Until demand can be sufficiently curbed, governments should take more serious action dealing with present cases of human trafficking. That should include tougher legislation criminalizing the act, as well as provisions by the legal or administrative systems for the legal rights of the victims. The victim's views should be considered and presented at appropriate times during criminal proceedings against offenders. The victims' right to receiving appropriate information on relevant court proceedings should be provided as well. Also on a governmental level, border control should be strengthened. Such measures include the obligation of any commercial carrier to ascertain that all passengers have travel documents necessary for their entry into the receiving country. Through bilateral or multilateral collaboration, countries can work hand in hand and can retain rights such as denial of entry or revocation of visas.

Countries that sign treaties to work together to fight the problem should exchange information to enable them to determine whether or not individuals crossing an international border with someone else's travel documents or with no travel documents are perpetrators or victims of human trafficking. By collaborating this way, these countries accumulate a database that helps prevent new cases from happening or helps find actual victims. For example, types of travel documents used to cross borders for the purpose of human trafficking should be determined and patterns should be examined if they exist. The means of transport and the routes used by the traffickers must also be studied and the information obtained employed towards prevention by considering possible measures for detection. All of that requires better training for law enforcement, immigration or any other relevant personnel.

Other vital human resources who need to be better trained are those dealing first-hand with the victims. The rights and needs of those victims can be easily overlooked. These include help to heal physically, psychologically, and socially. Other needs, some of which are state supplied in cooperation with NGOs, are appropriate housing, employment, education or training opportunities, and the possibility of compensation for harm.

We need to be focusing more on the role of the individual person in dealing with this ugly problem. We have to start with building solid families where children are taught to respect all human beings, and that a woman is not less of a human being. The issue of gender inequality should not be undermined as a root to the problem. Girls must be given equal opportunities to boys. These opportunities will also hopefully make them less vulnerable. One might think that the only thing that can be done on a personal level is to never buy sexual services. As obvious as this may sound from an Islamic point of view, it is true. However, there is more that a mere person can do. Actually, nothing can be done without serious pressure from the international community, and what is the international community but a very big group of individuals? Volunteering to help any of the NGOs, donating for one of them or simply spreading awareness about the matter is the least one can do. Participating in action campaigns and writing to one's government to take action against this shameful form of slavery are other examples. Ultimately, we have to believe in our power to end slavery for good. As an Indian anti-slavery campaigner puts it, "No one is free until everyone is free." 

HANA BUSHNAQ is a research associate at Islamica Magazine.