The Prevalence of Human Trafficking in South Asia and Southeast Asia

By Gabie Hart

As the world attempts to create awareness of human trafficking and attempts to stop perpetrators from acting in such cruel and inhuman ways, human trafficking appears to be on the rise in Southeast Asia. Six countries, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, first met in 2004 to sit down and come up with a strategy to deal with the ever-growing issue of human trafficking.

This past week, those same six countries sat down to attempt to come up with an agreement that would prevent the occurrence of human trafficking in that region.

In Southeast Asia, China appears to have the highest number of incidences, or at least the highest number of reported incidences of human trafficking; since 2,500 cases of human trafficking were uncovered last year, with most of those being committed by crime gangs. Recently, it has been reported that China has made progress in fighting human trafficking. China, however, is now reaching out for assistance in combating this issue from other nations and regions.

Southeast Asia, as an overall region, is said to have the highest prevalence of human trafficking in the world. South Asia is right up there with Southeast Asia, reporting the second highest number of human trafficking incidences.

In South Asia, India appears to be where most incidents begin. Often organized crime plays a part in women and children being trafficked within the country and from nearby Nepal and Bangladesh. What happens is, women and children are often promised a brighter future – “a job, a marriage, or placement in the entertainment industry” – and instead find themselves either forced into the sex trade or performing forced labor.

Women appear to be more susceptible to such inhumane conditions due to several different factors. The gross disparities, which exist between men and women, contribute to women being particularly vulnerable to becoming victims of trafficking. Due to these disparities, when opportunities arise where women believe they can make a better life for themselves or their families, many women feel as though they have nothing to lose and take the opportunity. Unfortunately, some women find themselves the targets and victims of human trafficking.

It appears that nations are aware of what is going on in their own countries, and are reaching out to each other, looking for a way to prevent the trafficking of people. Recently, the UN launched a global campaign to help bring about an end to human trafficking. Hopefully, the culmination of increased awareness and efforts by governments and nations to implement harsher punishments for perpetrators will help prevent human trafficking.

Sources

BBC News, Sanjoy Majumder – UN Seeks End to Human Trafficking – 10 October 2007.

International Herald Tribune, Associated Press – Report Says Human Trafficking A Growing Problem in China and Southeast Asia – 14 December 2007.

Washington Post, Reuters – China Claims Progress Fighting Human Trafficking – 12 December 2007.