WHAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a crime involving the exploitation of individuals. It includes the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons through the use of coercion or force. It is considered a specific category related to human smuggling, primarily focused on exploitation, such as sexual exploitation, labor exploitation, criminal exploitation or forced organ removal. Nowadays, the term human trafficking is better known worldwide as modern slavery.

What types of human trafficking are there?

Human trafficking is a collective term for situations in which people are forced or decepted to do things that they do not choose and that benefit others. There are different forms of human trafficking:

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Sexual Exploitation

Providing forced sexual services (this can also be done digitally).

Labour Exploitation

Forced labour or services outside the sex industry. Often under poor conditions, with long working days and for little or no pay.

Criminal Exploitation

Forcibly carrying out criminal activities, such as theft or the sale of drugs.

Forced Surrogacy and Forced Organ Trafficking

Forcibly donating an organ or forcibly carrying a child.

Here are key indicators to watch for:

Signs of Human Trafficking

Individuals are not allowed to move freely or are accompanied by someone controlling their actions.
No access to personal identification, such as ID cards or passports.
Unexplained injuries, bruises, or signs of neglect and malnutrition.
Victims may avoid eye contact, appear anxious, or seem overly submissive.
Someone else speaks for the individual or monitors their interactions.

Trafficking in human beings is a very serious criminal offence.

It has a huge infringement on the freedom of the people who come into contact with it. The far-reaching consequences make human trafficking one of the most complex forms of subversive crime. All over the world, men, women and children are victims of exploitation by human traffickers, including here in Sint Maarten.

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