Human trafficking is a grave human rights violation that affects millions of people of all ages and from all backgrounds from all regions of the world. Also referred to as modern-day slavery, human trafficking is a crime that trades in people and exploits them for profit. The official UN definition defines human trafficking as “ the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit.”
One useful framework for understanding trafficking is the A-M-P Model, which outlines three critical components: Actions, Means, and Purpose. Developed by the U.S. National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC), the Action-Means-Purpose, or A-M-P Model, helps determine whether force, fraud, or coercion was present, indicating the encounter was not consensual. This tool helps to identify human trafficking clearly, even in its different forms. Based on this model, one element from each column must be present to establish a potential situation of human trafficking.
Gender shapes each of these elements, as traffickers often use gendered strategies to exploit specific vulnerabilities, such as targeting young girls for sex work or using boys for forced labor in industries like agriculture or construction. It is crucial to analyze human trafficking through a gendered dimension, as men and women are victimized and affected differently. While boys and men are victims as well, most individuals identified as trafficked for both labor and commercial sex are women and girls. For every 10 victims detected globally, five are adult women and two are girls, according to a report released in 2021 by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (PDF, 18MB).
Gender intersects with the different types of trafficking. The 2022 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons shows that 38,7 percent of detected victims in 2020 were trafficked for sexual exploitation, 38,8 percent were exploited for forced labor, 10,2 percent were subjected to forced criminal activity, and 0,9 percent were trafficked for forced marriage. Smaller numbers were coerced into begging, organ removal, and other purposes. The detected forms of exploitation vary widely across different subregions, but all interact with gender.
Many of the same vulnerabilities that drive gender-based violence (GBV), such as gender discrimination, poverty, and lack of education, also serve as root causes of human trafficking. GBV not only drives trafficking but also acts as a tool used by traffickers to manipulate and control individuals, especially women and children, into both sex work and forced labor.
Addressing GBV alongside human trafficking, as seen in research and policy such as The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) report on “Applying Gender-Sensitive Approaches in Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.” By focusing on human trafficking through a gendered lens, more policies and initiatives can be developed to help address the needs of women. For example, Winrock International provides recommendations on how organizations can help empower women through access to information, livelihood tools, and policy changes, creating a supportive environment for survivors and those at risk. Read their full work here: https://winrock.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Addressing-inter-linkages.pdf.
Given the complexity of human trafficking, it’s vital to approach the issue with both a human rights and gender-sensitive lens. To deepen your understanding and take informed action, check out these resources:
The Polaris Project is a leader in the fight against human trafficking, offering survivor-centered services and driving justice-driven efforts to end trafficking. Since 2007, Polaris has operated the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, providing support to victims and gathering data to inform strategies that hold traffickers accountable. Through that work, Polaris has built the largest known dataset on human trafficking in North America. The data and expertise gained from two decades of working on trafficking situations in real time informs strategies that hold traffickers accountable, support survivors on their healing journeys, and address the vulnerabilities that enable the business of stealing freedom for profit.
Conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, this comprehensive report analyzes human trafficking patterns worldwide. The report highlights the forms of exploitation, such as sexual exploitation, forced labor, and trafficking for criminal activities. It underscores the importance of gender in trafficking dynamics, with women and girls making up the majority of victims. The findings also emphasize the need for enhanced data collection, international cooperation, and targeted policies to combat trafficking and support survivors. Read the full report here: https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
The Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) is a policy forum mandated by the UN General Assembly to improve coordination among UN agencies and other relevant international organizations to facilitate a holistic and comprehensive approach to preventing and combating trafficking in persons, including protection and support for victims of trafficking. It focuses on exchanging information, ensuring the implementation of global standards, promoting a comprehensive, gender-sensitive approach, and utilizing existing resources to improve prevention, victim protection, and support. ICAT’s aim is to ensure coordinated, holistic action to combat trafficking while upholding human rights. Here is a quick summary they created on the gendered dimension of human trafficking
LGBTQ+ individuals face unique vulnerabilities in sex trafficking due to stigma, discrimination, and underreporting. Migrant LGBT individuals are often trafficked across borders for sex work, and their status further isolates them, making it harder to seek help. These victims endure severe health challenges, including physical abuse, mental trauma, and a higher risk of HIV/AIDS transmission. Efforts to combat trafficking in this community must address legal, health, and social barriers.
Here is a blog post on the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s website on LGBTQ+ victims.
Further, this link is to a short academic paper by Omar Martinez, JD, MPH, postdoctoral research fellow, and Guadalupe Kelle, RN, executive director, on the Sex Trafficking of LGBT Individuals
