Human trafficking

Corruption, conflict and climate change are fuelling a growing trade in people. Trafficking is thriving more than ever before as tens of millions of people worldwide are estimated to be trapped in modern slavery. Formerly slave traders paid the transportation cost for the slaves but now it is the slaves that are bearing the expenses of their transportation. People are trafficked for profit and coerced to work in all manner — forced labour, sex work, crime, begging, forced marriage or even organ mining. Trafficking is one of the world’s fastest growing criminal enterprises, according to the United Nations. According to international organisations, at least 40.3 million people worldwide are modern slaves. Around 20 million are forced to work across farms, factories and fishing boats. About 15.4 million are forced to wed and nearly five million are pushed into sex trade. Women and girls account for seven in 10 victims of modern slavery. A quarter of all victims are children. The crime is estimated to generate profits of at least $150 billion a year.

Corruption and growing conflict in Asian and African countries are compelling more and more people to try to seek refuge at places where life is bearable. Many countries in Asia and Africa are beset by corruption, bad governance, official incompetence and ruling elites who are only serving their own interests. Governments are failing to create jobs; people are dying for lack of medicines and other basic facilities in hospitals; they are dying of hunger due to the lack of purchasing power though food is available in abundance. People are running away from countries ridden with corruption and conflict. While fleeing their countries hundreds drown at sea.

Climate change is also forcing people to migrate from their ancestral lands. Growing sea intrusion into deltaic areas has swallowed up large swathes of land forcing people to move away. Experts believe one of the causes of Brexit is the increasing migration from countries hit by corruption, conflict and climate change.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2019.

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