Near-term Prognostications Dire for Potential Victims of Human Trafficking

By Roddy Howald

October 3, 2009

It should come to no surprise to any of us that the U.N.’s human rights lawyer, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, is tying the global economic decline to a growing and anticipated thriving human trafficking problem. For all attempting to understand the modern day slave trade, we are equally nonplussed by the utter inseparableness between poverty and slavery. Poverty promotes a lack of pity or compassion toward others – the very definition of inhumane. As potential new victims become more and more eager to escape their impoverished surroundings they become more and more likely to buy into fanciful offers. The very offer of airfare and lodging is enough for some to take the risk on a chance for a new life.

Mrs. Ezello, in a report to the General Assembly, said that, “… less than 30 percent of trafficking cases – both internally and across borders – are reported to officials. Trafficking for purposes of labor exploitation is likely to escalate, particularly during the current global economic crisis and in the light of increasing poverty caused by massive unemployment and the tendencies of employers to use cheap labor in order to cut costs and maximize profits.”

Source: U.N. Report: Human Trafficking Likely to Rise Due to Economic Decline, Thursday , September 10, 2009