Human trafficking

Traffickers prey on society’s weakest members, hence it is state’s responsibility to punish those involved in these crimes

Human trafficking is modern-day equivalent to slave trade. It is a global phenomenon that violates the principles of morality, human rights and human dignity and undermines efforts to achieve sustainable development. Growing conflicts, economic inequality and the widening gap between the rich and the poor provide fertile ground to those who exploit human suffering. The transnational nature of this complex crime calls for enhanced international cooperation among the countries of origin, transit and destination.

Numerous human trafficking stories have come to light in the recent day which gives the impression that the problem has only been metastasising over the years, perhaps in the absence of proper government monitoring and lack of preventive measures. This is, at least, what was opined in the US Human Trafficking Report 2017, which downgraded Bangladesh to the Tier 2 Watch List as its government did not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The observation of the report that “official complicity in trafficking crimes remained a serious problem” needs urgent attention. Regrettably, the government has not rehabilitated the victims as per their specific needs and did not even provide rehabilitation for adult male victims. As mentioned before in this column, human trafficking will continue to thrive until the government takes measures to stop it. There are a number of recommendations in the US Human Trafficking Report 2017, which the government should consider to end human trafficking for good and to bring the perpetrators of such a barbaric practice to justice.   

Very unfortunately the level of prosecution is very dismal because the government has not dedicated enough resources to pre-trial investigations and the Women and Children Violence Protection Tribunal that tackles human trafficking, is both overburdened with cases and is uninitiated in trafficking cases.

A comprehensive and rights based response is a must given the vulnerabilities of men, women and children to numerous forms of exploitation, including sale and trafficking in the context of conflict and humanitarian crisis. Bangladesh should do all it can to fight the egregious crime of trafficking in persons. Bangladesh is a party to the various relevant international instruments, including the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, the International Convention for Suppression of Trafficking in Women and Children and the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention.

Traffickers prey on society’s weakest members, hence it is state’s responsibility to punish those involved in these crimes, while the black sheep within the government apparatus that help facilitate these crimes must also be brought to justice.

Human trafficking

Traffickers prey on societys weakest members, hence it is states responsibility to punish those involved in these crimes

Human trafficking is modern-day equivalent to slave trade. It is a global phenomenon that violates the principles of morality, human rights and human dignity and undermines efforts to achieve sustainable development. Growing conflicts, economic inequality and the widening gap between the rich and the poor provide fertile ground to those who exploit human suffering. The transnational nature of this complex crime calls for enhanced international cooperation among the countries of origin, transit and destination. Numerous human trafficking stories have come to light in the recent day which gives the impression that the problem has only been metastasising over the years, perhaps in the absence of proper government monitoring and lack of preventive measures. This is, at least, what was opined in the US Human Trafficking Report 2017, which downgraded Bangladesh to the Tier 2 Watch List as its government did not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The observation of the report that official complicity in trafficking crimes remained a serious problem needs urgent attention. Regrettably, the government has not rehabilitated the victims as per their specific needs and did not even provide rehabilitation for adult male victims. As mentioned before in this column, human trafficking will continue to thrive until the government takes measures to stop it. There are a number of recommendations in the US Human Trafficking Report 2017, which the government should consider to end human trafficking for good and to bring the perpetrators of such a barbaric practice to justice. Very unfortunately the level of prosecution is very dismal because the government has not dedicated enough resources to pre-trial investigations and the Women and Children Violence Protection Tribunal that tackles human trafficking, is both overburdened with cases and is uninitiated in trafficking cases. A comprehensive and rights based response is a must given the vulnerabilities of men, women and children to numerous forms of exploitation, including sale and trafficking in the context of conflict and humanitarian crisis. Bangladesh should do all it can to fight the egregious crime of trafficking in persons. Bangladesh is a party to the various relevant international instruments, including the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, the International Convention for Suppression of Trafficking in Women and Children and the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention. Traffickers prey on societys weakest members, hence it is states responsibility to punish those involved in these crimes, while the black sheep within the government apparatus that help facilitate these crimes must also be brought to justice.