Human Trafficking, Human Misery

Virtually all countries in the world are affected by the scourge of human trafficking, either as a source, transit, or destination country, or combination thereof. While countries have long focused on international trafficking, internal movement and exploitation within countries may be even more prevalent than trans-border trafficking. Patterns of trafficking vary across countries and regions and are in a constant state of flux. Countries have long focused on trafficking solely for the purpose of sexual exploitation, yet exploitation in agriculture, construction, fishing, manufacturing, and the domestic and food service industries are prevalent in many countries. Here, Aronowitz takes a global perspective in examining the nefarious underworld of human trafficking, revealing the nature and extent of the harm caused by this hideous criminal practice. Virtually all countries in the world are affected by the scourge of human trafficking, either as a source, transit, or destination country, or combination thereof. While countries have long focused on international trafficking, internal movement and exploitation within countries may be even more prevalent than trans-border trafficking. Patterns of trafficking vary across countries and regions and are in a constant state of flux. Countries have long focused on trafficking solely for the purpose of sexual exploitation, yet exploitation in agriculture, construction, fishing, manufacturing, and the domestic and food service industries are prevalent in many countries. Here, Aronowitz takes a global perspective in examining the nefarious underworld of human trafficking, revealing the nature and extent of the harm caused by this hideous criminal practice. Taking a victims-oriented approach, this book examines the criminals and criminal organizations that traffic and exploit their victims. The author also focuses on the different groups of victims as well as the various forms of and markets for trafficking, many of which have been overlooked due to an emphasis on sex trafficking. She also explores less frequently discussed forms of trafficking - in organs, child soldiers, mail-order brides, and adoption, as well as the use of Internet in trafficking. Drawing on her own field experiences in various parts of the world, the author offers real-life context throughout the book through descriptions of a number of cases with which she was involved or learned about in her travels. Together with insightful analysis, these stories uncover the true nature of human trafficking and illustrate the extent of its reach and harm.

ALEXIS A. ARONOWITZ is an Assistant Professor and Academic Advisor at the University College Utrecht, the Netherlands and works as an independent consultant on human trafficking. She has served as a staff member and consultant on projects in the field of trafficking in human beings for the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women, the International Organization for Migration and other international organizations and is the author/coauthor of three U.N. reports and numerous book chapters and journal articles on the subject.