The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) defines human trafficking as "human trafficking is the recruitment, transfer, transport, receipt or harboring of people through fraud, force or deception with the primary aim of exploiting them for profit", specifically monetary profit. Among the different types of human trafficking is the trafficking of women, which remains one of the most pressing human rights issues, affecting thousands of women and girls every year.
Sex trafficking victims are lured with false promises of employment, education, or marriage, only to find themselves trapped in forced labor, prostitution, or domestic servitude; hence understanding the causes of women's trafficking in India is essential to divide effective policies and interventions.
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Human Trafficking and its Types
Human trafficking is an international problem that is fuelled by economic and social factors, primarily targeting women and children for their vulnerability. It is a type of modern slavery or sexual slavery where the victims are treated as mere commodities to be sold for financial gain. The forms of trafficking include:
- Child trafficking - Being a vulnerable population, when children are taken out of their native environment and exploited, it is known as child trafficking. It is linked to the demand for cheap labor, where the working conditions violate the fundamental rights of a child without any repercussions. It is manifested in various ways, including bonded labor, prostitution, as well as sexual exploitation.
- Women trafficking - Women trafficking is one of the most prevalent forms of human trafficking, and it is done for the purpose of commercial sex trade and sexual exploitation. The women who are forced into these positions are even forbidden from using contraception, thereby becoming high-risk individuals for the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
- Organ trafficking - Due to its stealthy nature, it is the least discussed form of human trafficking. According to Global Financial Integrity (GFI) estimates, 10% of all organ transplants are done using trafficked organs, which is concerning, to say the least. The business of organ trafficking deals with organs like kidneys, corneas, lungs, heart, and liver, which are sourced from the vulnerable, backwards, poor, or those in need of money.
Forms of Women Trafficking
While the causes of women's trafficking in India are several, its forms can be broadly classified into two categories:
Sex trafficking is one of the most common forms of women trafficking. Women and girls are deceived with the promises of employment, marriage, or better living conditions, only to be coerced into the commercial sex industry, ironically ending up in worse living conditions.
Organized crime syndicates and local traffickers operate extensively in red-light districts and private establishments, exploiting victims through physical and sexual abuse, psychological manipulation, and debt bondage. Many human trafficking victims face severe trauma, sexually transmitted infections, and long-term mental health issues.
Domestic servitude is another pervasive form of trafficking in India, where women and girls are trafficked into households to work as domestic helpers under exploitative conditions. Millions of victims come from poor regions and are promised fair wages and safe working environments. However, once employed, they often face severe physical abuse, long working hours, and little to no pay, which is highly detrimental to the lives of victims.
Physical violence, verbal abuse, and sexual exploitation of women are common, with employers taking advantage of their vulnerable status. Victims frequently lack access to education, healthcare, and legal protection, making it difficult to escape or seek justice.
Causes of Women's Trafficking in India
Following are some of the causes of women's trafficking in India:
- Poverty and economic vulnerability - One of the primary causes of women trafficking in India is poverty. In 2012, only 43% of women in India worked regular wage or salaried positions. Millions of families in rural and marginalized communities struggle to meet their basic needs. Independent traffickers exploit this desperation by offering fake job opportunities, trapping women in cycles of exploitation. Poor families, often unable to provide for all their children, may send their daughters away in search of better opportunities, unknowingly placing them in the hands of traffickers and further economic exploitation.
- Gender inequality and patriarchal norms - India's deeply entrenched gender discrimination significantly contributes to women's trafficking. The 2011 census showed the literacy rate to be 82% for men and only 65% for women. In many communities, women and girls are viewed as economic burdens, leading to practices such as child marriage and forced labor. Social norms that prioritize men's education and employment opportunities leave women with limited opportunities, making them more vulnerable to labor trafficking networks.
- Lack of education awareness - Limited access to education is another critical factor fueling women and child trafficking. Women and girls with little or no formal education are less likely to recognize the warning signs of trafficking and are more easily deceived by fraudulent job offers or marriage proposals. The lack of awareness campaigns in vulnerable communities further exacerbates the problem.
- Demand for commercial sex and cheap labor - The high demand for commercial sex and cheap labor enhances the trafficking networks. Labor trafficking victims are often trafficked into brothels, domestic servitude, or factories under inhumane conditions and are forced to put up with sexual exploitation. Unethical employers profit from the exploitation of trafficked individuals, making trafficking a highly lucrative business.
- Political instability and migration - Political instability, internal conflicts, and climate-related displacement force many women and girls to migrate in search of safety and livelihood. The 2022 World Migration Report stated that out of all the identified trafficking victims worldwide, 45% had been involved in international trafficking. In the absence of proper legal documentation or lack of protection mechanisms, they become easy targets for cross border trafficking. Women migrating alone or with young children are particularly vulnerable to deception, abuse, and sexual exploitation.
Consequences of Human Trafficking
While the Indian government provides protection against traffic persons and forced labor under Article 23 of the Constitution, it is not enough to subvert the numerous causes of women's trafficking in India, leading to the following consequences or impact of sex trafficking:
The psychological consequences of trafficking of women lead to anxiety and depression in the victims, along with mental trauma. They become self-conscious and ashamed of themselves, isolating themselves from society.
When women are transported to be trafficked, they face physical injuries, dehydration, exhaustion, and sometimes even leading to death. Sexual assault leaves a deep scar on the minds and bodies of the victims of sex trafficking.
The social life of women and girls who were trafficked is completely destroyed, and they lose all respect, especially due to the stigma surrounding sex work in India. Society looks upon human trafficking victims as criminals rather than taking a compassionate approach.
Keeping in mind these consequences, a comprehensive anti-human trafficking strategy needs to be formulated for the complete elimination of trafficking and the extensive trafficking networks.
Conclusion
Human trafficking, essentially a form of slavery, is the second-largest and one of the fastest-growing crime industries in the world. Women and girls constitute 71% of all human trafficking victims. Addressing this crisis and eliminating all the causes of women's trafficking in India require a combination of legal, social, and economic interventions, including poverty alleviation, gender empowerment, education, and stricter law enforcement by government agencies.
While significant progress has been made, much more needs to be done to dismantle trafficking networks and create a society where women and girls are protected, empowered, and given equal opportunities to thrive. There is a greater need for anti-human trafficking efforts in the form of aid for trafficking victims, as well as anti-human trafficking laws. Ending trafficking is not just a legal duty but a moral imperative.
