Human Trafficking

The issue of human trafficking does not only exist in Thailand. Human trafficking is being seen take place throughout the world. IRIN is a website which provides humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. This article "SOUTH AFRICA: Zimbabwean migration camouflages human traffickers" written by Guy Oliver provides deeper insight into the huge industry of human trafficking. Parallel to the problem with human trafficking of young children in Thailand, Zimbabwean is also a prime spot for children to become engulfed into the human trafficking industry. Zimbabwean is suffering economically and further promotes the vulnerability of young children as target group. There was a specific case in April 2009 where a women was caught by police during a spot check with two young boys who were not her children. The two young boys were four and five years old. Upon further inspection, the police discovered the woman had no direct correlation with the children at all. The police proceeded to charge the woman with kidnapping and/or perhaps smuggling. This may have or may not been a case of human trafficking but the evidence points towards intentions of trafficking these two young boys. South Africa is struggling to address this issue due to the fact that South Africa has yet to adopt a human trafficking legislation. It is also hard to tract down human trafficking, as seen in this case, due to the fact that many people try to play off the coy casually making up numerous excuses.  Also, due to the fact that most human trafficking effects young children, many of the victims are not aware they are actually being sold. The United Nations defines human trafficking as, ""The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability, or of the giving of or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation." As the United Nations has defined human trafficking it also has implemented law protecting persons from experiencing trafficking.  In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights article 4 states that, “no one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery an the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.” The situation in Zimbabwean that Guy Oliver has graciously made obvious to the public violates numerous human rights. Forcing or tricking children into human trafficking takes away their right to freedom, article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, their right to life, article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and their right to adequate living circumstances, article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These three human rights violations are only a few of the vast violations human trafficking produces. It is hard for authorities to punish violators of these human rights due to the scattered locations and plethora of victims. This article is another piece of evidence of the growing and dangerous industry of human trafficking.