Victims Of Human Trafficking Research Articles

Maximising Restitution Penalties as a System of Fines and Compensation in Human Trafficking Judgements

Restitution for victims of human trafficking has become a fundamental aspect of criminal compensation within the criminal procedure system. While compensation is crucial in aiding victims' recovery, its implementation remains suboptimal. In practice, fines intended for victims often end up being paid to the state rather than serving their original compensatory purpose. This research aims to examine the challenges in fulfilling restitution rights and propose an effective legal framework to ensure that compensation reaches victims as intended. This research employs a normative legal research method, utilizing a legislative synchronization approach and a case-based analysis. The findings indicate that offenders frequently evade their responsibility to pay fines, opting for imprisonment as an alternative sanction. This situation highlights the need to reassess the role of fines and restitution in the penal system to ensure victims' rights are upheld. To enhance the effectiveness of restitution as a penal mechanism, this research recommends the establishment of a standardized victim compensation system. A strategic approach is necessary, incorporating asset tracing and restorative justice principles to enforce offenders’ financial obligations. Law enforcement officers, particularly prosecutors, should adopt a dual strategy of coercion and negotiation to ensure compliance. By implementing asset verification and structured settlements, offenders can be encouraged to fulfill their obligations, thereby fostering a legal system that is balanced, efficient, and victim-centered.

Social rehabilitation process of human trafficking victims in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia: gathering insights from the professionals

ABSTRACT This research aims to explore the challenges and opportunities encountered in the social rehabilitation of human trafficking victims in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, as experienced by professionals involved in the process. A qualitative approach was employed, involving 10 professionals, such as social workers, lawyers, and psychologists, who are actively engaged in rehabilitating human trafficking victims. Data were collected using photovoice and semi-structured interviews, and analysed through thematic analysis. The study revealed four key themes: internal challenges (self-efficacy and secondary trauma), external challenges (mental health, disability, and accessibility), internal opportunities (skills development and personal empowerment), and external opportunities (interprofessional collaboration and inter-agency cooperation). These findings offer valuable insights into the internal and external factors shaping the effectiveness of rehabilitation in the region, emphasising the need for policy improvements and stronger inter-agency collaboration.

Legal Protection of Indonesian Citizens Who Are Victims of Human Trafficking in Myanmar

This research examines the legal protections available to Indonesian citizens who are victims of human trafficking in Myanmar, focusing on the alignment of Indonesia's domestic laws with international standards. Specifically, it scrutinizes the harmonization of legal protection for witnesses and victims of human trafficking under Act Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of the Crime of Trafficking in Persons with the protocols established by United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, particularly its supplement, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women, and Children. The study adopts a legal research methodology using a comparative law approach to analyze domestic and international legal frameworks. It investigates how well Act Number 21 of 2007 integrates the provisions of the UNTOC, noting areas of strong alignment and aspects that require further enhancement. The research finds that while Act Number 21 of 2007 is largely in sync with the UNTOC, it falls short in incorporating specific provisions for the special needs of trafficking victims, such as psychological support, housing, and rehabilitation services. The findings highlight significant steps taken by the Indonesian government to protect its citizens from human trafficking but also underscore the need for a more comprehensive approach that includes provisions for the unique needs of victims. The study advocates for amendments to the national legislation to fill these gaps and suggests a more robust framework for international cooperation to combat human trafficking in the region effectively.

Traversing the intersections of decoloniality and liquid modern consumerism in human trafficking

The discourse on human trafficking displays inordinate attention to victims and their countries of origin. Research and policy responses to trafficking in persons tend to be condensed to the ‘3 Ps + R’ formula of prosecution, protection, and prevention plus repatriation. However, these state-centric measures contrast with the magnitude of this global issue. Drawing from the Trafficking in Persons reports of the US State Department and the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, this paper will point out how greater attentiveness to victimhood in the locus of supply for human trafficking betrays colonial underpinnings as it distracts from the more attention-­worthy locus of demand in countries of destination. These realities highlight how intensified mobility in globalisation and the enticements to consume in a neoliberal-capitalist world order are both power to perpetrators and a vulnerability to actual and potential victims of human trafficking. Foregrounded by Zygmunt Bauman’s concept of liquid modernity, this study infuses a decolonial reading of human trafficking to argue for equal, if not greater, attention to consumerism in globalisation as a major culprit behind the sustained enterprise of human trafficking.

Substance Use Disorders Among Human Trafficking Victims: Insights From a National Survey of Emergency Department Visits

Substance Use Disorders Among Human Trafficking Victims: Insights From a National Survey of Emergency Department Visits

Evaluating the Efficacy of Trafficking in Persons Education and Policy Implementation Across Four Acute Care Health Systems

ABSTRACT Background Human Trafficking (HT) victims often seek healthcare for injuries and illnesses without proper screening or support, leading to re-traumatization. Evidence suggests that contributing variables include a lack of organizational protocols and a scarcity of evidence-based, trauma-informed HT education for healthcare providers. Objective This study evaluated the impact of adopting evidence-based HT protocols within health systems and providing trauma-informed education on healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) ability to identify and respond to HT victims. Design/Setting/Participation The study used a quasi-experimental design. Conducted in four large U.S. healthcare systems, the study included 197 participants potentially involved in victim identification within the healthcare setting. Methods Each organization developed and deployed HT policies and procedures, then hosted the HT education intervention, a two-hour evidence-based, trauma-informed, and survivor-informed program. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistical tests. Results The results showed statistically significant improvement in the respondents’ confidence in identifying and responding to potential HT victims in the healthcare setting after adopting organization-specific policies and procedures and attending the HT education program. Conclusion and Implications HT is a global public health crisis and a violation of human rights. This study highlights the importance of adopting trauma-informed, survivor-informed, evidence-based HT organizational protocols and HCP education. The study aligns with the United Nations’ sustainable goals for equitable healthcare, underscoring the significance of HCP education in enhancing the well-being of HT victims and creating an inclusive healthcare system. Global efforts to combat HT must prioritize comprehensive training and policy integration within healthcare systems.

Post-Earthquake Human Trafficking in Indo-Nepal Terai Region and Cross-Border Integrated Response Mechanism

Disasters generally cause enduring, catastrophic damage and trauma to people and their families, homes, and communities. After disasters like earthquakes, already existing vulnerabilities increase manifold as people lose their lives and livelihoods, displaced from their native places, their support network is disrupted and they become more susceptible to human trafficking. In addition, limited resources divert the attention of law enforcement agencies toward instantaneous needs to save and rescue the people, making people more vulnerable to human trafficking with limited or no protection, women who have lost their family members, livelihoods, and homes, children who lost their parents or parted from their families, and immigrants are at risk for post-disaster human trafficking. These wobbly situations may encourage rapacious behavior as those impacted by disasters may be involved in risky work for their survival, which can increase the potential of human trafficking victims. Despite the gravity of this issue, the linkages between disasters and human trafficking have not received pragmatic attention. In this context, this study mainly explores the linkages between disasters and human trafficking with special reference to the post-earthquake situation of the Indo-Nepal Terai region. This study mainly focuses on the post-earthquake circumstances resulting in human trafficking which continued later on for several months and years after the disaster in the Indo-Nepal Terai region. The study also focuses on concerns and responses taken by the country of origin and destination and underscores the urgent need for cross-border collaborative mechanisms to combat this illicit practice. This study relies entirely on secondary data sources and content analysis, supplemented by the creation of an earthquake vulnerability map for the Indo-Nepal Terai region. By shedding light on the intricate link between disasters and human trafficking, it highlights the critical need for pragmatic solutions and coordinated efforts to tackle this multifaceted issue. The findings emphasize the importance of proactive measures to safeguard vulnerable populations, ensuring that those already grappling with the aftermath of disaster are protected from further exploitation.

Barriers to and facilitators of human trafficking screening in the health care setting: a scoping review protocol

Objective: The objective of this scoping review will be to identify barriers to and facilitators of screening children, adolescents, and adults for human trafficking in the health care setting. Introduction: Human trafficking is a global issue that violates human rights and undermines the fabric of society. The effects of human trafficking span domestic and international borders, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds. The magnitude of human trafficking has become increasingly evident, with estimates indicating millions of victims annually. Inclusion criteria: This review will consider studies that include children, adolescents, and adults who are either victims or potential victims of human trafficking, and the health care providers caring for them in the health care setting. Studies that report on barriers to and facilitators of screening for human trafficking will be included. Studies may be conducted in any health care setting, in any geographical location or culture. Methods: This review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and will be reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The key databases to be searched will include PubMed, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), and Web of Science Core Collection. Sources of unpublished studies and gray literature will include MedNar and LILACS. Two independent reviewers will retrieve and review full-text studies and extract data. The results will be presented in diagrammatic or tabular format with a narrative summary. Review registration number: Open Science Framework https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/ETX7W

Exploring Media Framing Typologies of Human Trafficking in Contemporary Print Media

The role of media particularly print media in representing and portraying issues has become unquestionable in the globalized world. This review article explores the utilization of media framing typologies in contemporary print media. It also provides insights and deeper understanding on how modern newspapers frame issues, influence and shape public opinion, and use media framing types in today’s world. In addition to this, the review article discusses how media framing influences public perception by highlighting specific elements of a story regarding human trafficking. It particularly focuses on media framing typologies in contemporary print media Like the Astana Times, The Guardian, The Ethiopian Herald and Arab News. It finds out that prognostic frames were employed by the media to a larger extent to show that inclusive efforts and collaborations are necessary to combat human trafficking. Moreover, diagnostic frames were used to some extent to define the problems of human trafficking and to show the causes of occurrences. The newspapers employed motivational frames to construct the victims of human trafficking. Besides, attribution of responsibility frames was utilized highly comparing to a conflict, economic consequence and human-interest frames.

Conceptualization Of The Protection Of Human Rights For Victims Of The Crime Of Trafficking In Indonesia

The criminal act of human trafficking has caused suffering because it is a crime that violates human dignity, and so the crime is included in the category of serious crimes. The aim of this research is: This research aims to find out and examine the concept of the criminal act of trafficking in persons in Indonesia, to find out and examine the weaknesses in the arrangements for protecting the human rights of victims of the crime of trafficking in persons in Indonesia, and to find out and examine the conceptualization of the protection of the human rights of victims. Criminal act of human trafficking in Indonesia. This research is a type of normative-empirical legal research that examines the legal problem of human trafficking with a multidimensional approach. The research results show that protecting human rights for victims of human trafficking in Indonesia involves various parties and requires a holistic approach. Despite significant efforts, protection limitations remain, including service, compensation and return costs. Further efforts are needed to address these challenges and ensure maximum protection for victims while continuing to evaluate and monitor for continuous improvement.

Substance Use Disorders Among Human Trafficking Victims: Evidence from the 2019 to 2021 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample

Background Human trafficking (HT) survivors are at risk for substance use disorder (SUD), although assessing the SUD epidemiology of HT survivors is difficult. This study used data from the 2019 to 2021 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample to estimate the prevalence of SUD for HT survivors utilizing emergency departments (ED) in the United States of America (US). Methods We included visits for patients aged 12–64 years with any International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes documenting HT as a cause of morbidity (N = 1,688, SE = 141) or history of HT (N = 2,524, SE = 218). We estimated the prevalence of HT-related visits with SUD, associations between SUD and trafficking type, and demographic variation by SUD. Results Any non-nicotine SUD was frequently documented among patients with HT as a cause of morbidity (37.64%, n = 635) and for patients with any history of HT (42.42%, n = 1,071). SUD was more frequently documented in cases of sex trafficking (43.47%, n = 579) relative to labor trafficking (15.79%, n = 56) (p < 0.001). Having any non-nicotine SUD was associated with higher rates of hospitalization for ED visits with HT as a cause of morbidity (53.31% [n = 339] vs. 12.39% [n = 130]; p < 0.001) and for those with a history of HT (76.78% [n = 822] vs 50.43% [n = 733]; p < 0.001). Conclusions HT patients presenting to the ED have high rates of SUD and HT patients with SUD having a greater likelihood of hospitalization. ED clinicians can play an important role in supporting SUD recovery among HT survivors.

Verified Human Trafficking Allegations Among Single and Dual System-Involved Children: Predicting Initial and Repeat Victimization.

There is a dearth of research examining repeat human trafficking victimization among children involved with the child welfare system (i.e., single system involvement) and children involved with both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems (i.e., dual system involvement). This study uses longitudinal statewide linked administrative data from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to investigate both initial and subsequent verified human trafficking allegations among single and dual system-involved children. We conducted logistic regression models to identify youth characteristics, prior DCF experiences, and prior DJJ experiences that predict initial and subsequent trafficking victimization. We also conducted survival analysis to identify time until human trafficking victimization and revictimization. Prior maltreatment, placement history, missing child events, referral without adjudication, community supervision, and residential facility placement predict initial trafficking victimization. These same indicators predict revictimization, except for prior placement history, residential facility commitment, prior physical abuse and prior sexual abuse. Approximately 1 in 5 child victims experience trafficking revictimization; the median time between initial and subsequent revictimization is about 6months. This research has implications for policy and practice among system-involved children at greatest risk for human trafficking revictimization.

Elements of a care pathway for human trafficking victims in emergency departments: A mapping review.

Human trafficking, a form of modern slavery, is a global health problem. Human trafficking victims may need health care while they are being exploited, and traffickers often take victims to emergency departments (EDs) if their injuries and illness prevent them from working. Healthcare professionals in EDs could help combat human trafficking; however, 85% of human trafficking victims in EDs remain unidentified. Implementing a standardized care pathway to improve the identification and care of human trafficking victims may improve the identification of these victims and allow victims to become survivors. This mapping review aimed to identify the elements that should be included in a care pathway facilitating the recognition of and response to human trafficking victims in EDs. Five electronic databases generated 159 articles and 628 gray literature records, of which 23 primary research reports and five reports from gray literature were included. The following electronic databases were searched: EBSCOhost, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and PubMed. ProQuest Central and gray literature were records OR Magazines OR Newspapers OR Blogs, Podcasts, AND Websites OR Working Papers OR Conference Papers & Proceedings. The inclusion criteria for the population were adults (≥18 years), human trafficking victims, and sex trafficking victims. The concept, pathway and algorithm, and context of the ED were used. Records were blinded when assessing eligibility. The demographics of the included records were descriptively analyzed. The reports and gray literature were deductively coded and charted. The data extraction tool was based on the emergency nursing framework and was developed before data extraction. Inductive analysis was used to create subthemes, namely, approach to victims, characteristics, red flags, identifying questions, opportunities to be recognized, strategies, approach upon recognition, potential danger, and resources. A holistic care pathway embedded in a person-centered trauma-informed approach was conceptualized. The strategies are based on The Blue Heart and The Blue Campaign 4Ps, including prevention, protection, prosecuting, and partnerships. An evidence-informed approach that is culturally congruent and gender sensitive should be adopted. Healthcare professionals will be able to identify and assess victims, avoid retraumatization, and initiate interprofessional partnerships to provide coordinated care. Human trafficking victims may escape detection in EDs. This mapping review identified elements to be included in a care pathway for recognizing and responding to victims of human trafficking. The care pathway should be built on person-centered and trauma-informed care and include prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership-building strategies. Moreover, an interprofessional team approach is needed to identify, assess, and care for such victims. Future studies should develop a standardized care pathway for healthcare professionals to recognize and respond to human trafficking victims in emergency departments.

Why We Cannot Identify Human Trafficking from Online Advertisements

ABSTRACT Numerous studies have attempted to identify instances of human trafficking through online sex advertisements. In this paper, I critically examine why these studies fall short of their claims, highlighting a paucity of empirical evidence to back their assertions. I identify seven issues in this research area: overstated objectives, a lack of evidence concerning the accuracy of human annotators and trafficking indicators, subjective interpretation of these indicators, an assumption of the veracity of ads as true representations of sex workers, a tendency to conflate human trafficking with sex work, and an oversimplified understanding of the experiences of human trafficking victims. While offering potential solutions to these problems, the paper ultimately concludes that it remains unlikely for research to detect victims of human trafficking based solely on online ads.

Human trafficking screening in Saskatoon Emergency Departments: What can be learned from high-risk patient presentations?

ObjectiveStudies have shown that Emergency Department physicians have little to no training in recognizing and supporting victims of human trafficking despite being uniquely situated to identify and intervene on behalf of these patients. We assessed if screening for human trafficking was being completed by emergency physicians in three Saskatoon emergency departments.MethodsWe performed a retrospective chart review of patients presenting to three Saskatoon emergency departments deemed to potentially be at risk of human trafficking, based on discharge diagnosis. Of the 223 included charts, data extracted included sex, age, ethnicity, chief complaint, diagnosis, disposition, HT Screening (Y/N), specific quotes relating to HT, time of visit, intimate partner violence (Y/N), and travel history. Both quantitative and qualitative thematic analyses were conducted on this data.ResultsNone of the charts (0%) included in this study had any documentation around screening for human trafficking. Furthermore, 21.1% of the high-risk patient charts included in this study -- which included many patients with a discharge diagnosis of sexually transmitted disease or pelvic inflammatory disease -- did not contain a documented sexual history. Thematic analysis revealed that the patients included in this study frequently had challenges with sexual health, substance use, and houselessness.ConclusionThis study found that Emergency physicians in Saskatoon were not routinely screening for human trafficking. Implementation of further training is needed to help these physicians recognize and subsequently support potential victims of human trafficking.

Implementation of an Updated Screening Tool to Identify Human Trafficking Victims in the Emergency Department.

Background: Human trafficking is a major illegal industry prevalent in all regions of the United States, including health care settings. All humans are at risk of becoming trafficked because it does not discriminate against age, gender, location, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or education. Often during their enslavement, victims are seen in the emergency department setting but are not identified by health care staff. This can be due to a lack of proper screening questions or nursing staff not being adequately educated on the red flags evident in the presence of human trafficking. Objective: This quality improvement project aimed to develop an updated screening question to identify human trafficking victims within the emergency department. Methods: Nursing staff volunteered to participate and ask an updated screening question to all adult patients during their scheduled shifts. Results: This project successfully identified potential victims by an increase of 59.4% compared to the current screening question in place at this organization. Conclusion/Implications for Nursing: By increasing the education and confidence of the staff, screening can improve the identification of these victims. Unfortunately, most health care settings do not have specific screening tools to identify these victims, leading to many victims leaving the facility without being identified or possible resources being given.

Legal Constipation on Protecting the Rights and Conditions of Victims of Human Trafficking Criminal Acts through The Implementation of Restitution

Inadequate efforts have been made to restore the rights and conditions of victims of human trafficking. This essay will look at the protection offered in order to better understand how victims of human trafficking crimes have not had their rights and losses satisfied. It takes a sociological-legal approach. The analysis of the available data indicates that the effective implementation of the protection of the rights of human trafficking victims has been hampered by the restitution regulations' lack of clarity regarding the amount and the regulation of substitute punishment for restitution. Victims of human trafficking may endure material, emotional, and bodily agony as a result of this crime against humanity. Moreover, it is challenging for victims and law police to record or.

Rejection of Federal Guidance by Southern US States and Projected Consequences for Ending the HIV Epidemic.

Evidence-based HIV programming focused on populations at risk of HIV is critical for sustainable disease prevention. In response to the Tennessee Department of Health decision to reject federal HIV guidance, the present study examines the potential impact of Southern US states adopting policies that direct HIV prevention and testing efforts away from populations "disproportionately affected" (DA) by HIV toward populations "non-disproportionately affected" (NDA). Descriptive and projection analyses with publicly available data explored the influence of policies emphasizing NDA populations on HIV cases. Across the Southern US, DA populations (cisgender women, men who have sex with men, transgender persons, and people who inject drugs) represent the absolute majority (90%) of diagnosed HIV cases, whereas NDA populations (pregnant women, infants, first responders, and human trafficking victims) represent only a small proportion (2%) of diagnosed HIV cases. Estimated projections show avoidable HIV cases among DA populations in the Southern US alone could aggregate to over 32,000 by 2030 if prevention efforts exclusively concentrate on NDA populations, which approximates the current national annual incidence of 36,000 HIV cases. Prevention efforts aimed at DA populations compared with NDA populations could reduce new infections across the Southern US by 47% versus 1%, respectively, by 2030. Policies disregarding epidemiological data may hinder efforts to end the HIV epidemic, both regionally and nationally.

The Hierarchy of Victimhood: Prisons and States’ Responsibility to Protect Every Victim of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

In 2022, the prison service in England and Wales developed state-of-the-art guidance for prisons to enable them to better identify and support modern slavery survivors. This positive development in the UK’s anti-slavery regime is overshadowed by its increasingly restrictive immigration legislation, which leaves those without lawful residence and victims involved in criminal offences excluded from the support and assistance otherwise guaranteed by domestic and international law. This article presents an overview of the UK’s legal obligations towards survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking, explains how the prison service in England and Wales has sought to implement them, and discusses key challenges facing prisons in doing so. These efforts are contrasted with an increasingly hostile environment for certain categories of survivors, which effectively creates a “hierarchy of victimhood”, expressly prohibited by international law. In an environment where being a victim of a crime and human rights violation both matter less than the State’s interest in immigration and crime control, prisons will struggle to deliver on their commitment and international obligation to protect those inmates who have been or are at risk of being exploited.

Regressing from the Gold Standard: The UK’s Slavery and Human Trafficking Regulations and the Narrowing of Victim Protection

Abstract The UK’s 2022 Slavery and Human Trafficking (Definition of Victim) Regulations represent a significant departure from established international standards in human trafficking victim protection. This article critically examines how the Regulations’ definitional framework creates three fundamental concerns that risk excluding legitimate victims from protection. First, while Clause 3(5)(a) aligns with international law’s ‘means’ elements, Clause 3(6)(d) problematically narrows this list for those required to provide services or benefits, potentially excluding victims who face exploitation through means other than force, threats, or deception. Second, the Regulations create unnecessary ambiguity around child trafficking through Clause 3(5)(b)’s unclear phrasing ‘any method’, potentially requiring evidence of the ‘means’ element contrary to international law which recognizes children’s inherent vulnerability. Third, the Regulations fail to explicitly include certain forms of exploitation, such as ‘practices similar to slavery’ in Clause 3(6)’s characterization of exploitation, departing from both the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (ECAT) and the Palermo Protocol’s established frameworks. Drawing on recent European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence, particularly V.C.L and A.N v United Kingdom, this article demonstrates how the Regulations’ restrictive approach conflicts with the UK’s international obligations and risks excluding vulnerable groups from protection, including migrant workers, child victims, and those subjected to debt bondage or forced marriage. The analysis reveals how these limitations, coupled with the broader ‘hostile environment’ policy context, create significant barriers to victim identification and support. This article argues for urgent amendment of the Regulations to align with the Palermo Protocol’s comprehensive definition of trafficking victims, ensuring adequate protection for all forms of exploitation and maintaining the UK’s commitment to international protection standards.