World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2022 Use and Abuse of Technology

On December 18, 2013, through a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, it was decided to observe July 30 every year as the 'World Day Against Trafficking in Person' around the world. The day aims to promote and protect the rights of victims of trafficking. This year the theme of the day is "Use and Abuse of Technology". This year's theme focuses on the role of technology as a tool that can both enable and hinder human trafficking.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) mentioned that "With the global expansion in the use of technology-intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift of our everyday life to online platforms--the crime of human trafficking has conquered cyberspace. The internet and digital platforms offer traffickers numerous tools to recruit, exploit, and control victims; organize their transport and accommodation; advertise victims and reach out to potential clients; communicate among perpetrators, and hide criminal proceeds – and all that with greater speed, cost-effectiveness and anonymity".

It also stated that technology allows these criminals to operate internationally across jurisdictions and evade detection with greater ease. Traffickers use social media to identify, groom and recruit victims, including children; e-mails and messaging services are used for the moral coercion of the victims; and online platforms allow traffickers to widely advertise services provided by victims, including child photographic material.

Crises can also intensify this problem. Criminals profit from the chaos, desperation, and separation of people–particularly women and children - from support systems and family members. For people on the move, online resources can become a trap, especially regarding phoney travel arrangements and fake job offers to target vulnerable groups.

Trafficking in Persons is a social disorder. Human trafficking is when a person is hidden, sheltered, or otherwise assisted in selling or traffic inside or outside their country. Some people in our country's backwards areas think their fortunes will change once they move abroad. Such ignorant people are especially the victims of deception. A class of anti-social miscreants has taken human trafficking as an easy way to earn money. In their temptation, many illegal immigrants have been buried in the deep sea or are being held hostage and detained by human traffickers, and their lives are uncertain.

Bangladesh is a country where human trafficking is a very common phenomenon. Unemployment, limited income, the uncertainty of livelihoods and the lure of prosperity create a situation that has increased the risk of human trafficking. The root causes of human trafficking are intensifying, and it is feared that abuse and exploitation will be on the rise in the coming days. Looking at recent trends and media headlines, it appears that traffickers are online platforms to lure potential victims of human trafficking, such as: using TickTock, WhatsApp, etc.

Different reports explored that thousands of men, women and children are being trafficked abroad annually. But there is no accurate record of how many people are trafficked each year. People want to migrate to developed countries believing they can make a living. Traffickers take advantage of the simplicity of g people. These people are victims of trafficking as well as some other crimes. Such as cheating, forced physical and mental torture, forced sex, forced labour, ransom, drug trafficking, organ transplants, playing dangerous games and even killing many without money. Human trafficking is considered the most heinous crime because many crimes are organized together.

The US State Department's annual report on human trafficking, 'Trafficking in Persons 2022', has already been published. Where it has been said, Bangladesh has not fully done what is required to prevent human trafficking. However, Bangladesh has made significant efforts. According to the report, Bangladesh is staying in the same place for the third time in the ranking.

The report presents the situation of countries in three stages (Tier) based on the issues of the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). Countries that have achieved the TVPA's maximum standards for combating human trafficking are placed in the first tier. In that 'consideration', Bangladesh is in the second step (Tier 2). India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are also in this phase. Countries not making significant efforts to stop human trafficking are placed in the third tier.

Although these countries, including Bangladesh, could not achieve the minimum US standards to stop human trafficking, their efforts were not flawed. "They are continuing their efforts," the US State Department said. The report noted that the Government's efforts to investigate and punish human traffickers in Bangladesh have increased.

The report also states that in Bangladesh, seven tribunals resumed proceedings in August 2021 to trial the crime of human trafficking. In addition, the Government has ratified the International Labor Organization (ILO) Protocol to the Labor Convention to take measures against forced labour. However, in a few cases, Bangladesh could not meet the minimum standards of TVPA.

The report mentioned that Bangladesh had lagged in identifying people at risk of trafficking compared to previous years. Recruitment agencies are still allowed to charge extra fees for migrant workers, and appropriate action has not been taken against the companies that send workers illegally.

Analyzing the incidents of human trafficking, it is understood that a single person cannot commit this heinous crime. There is a huge cycle behind this crime. There are links between the brokers of the countries where human trafficking occurs. This crime is committed through group planning. As an investigation comes up, human trafficking is calculated by the season. Traffickers select a season and smuggle people accordingly. They consider autumn and winter to be the season for trafficking, as the sea is relatively calm at this time. Hence, they smuggle people in small boats to various countries, including Thailand and Malaysia. Human trafficking is growing at an alarming rate every year.

For the safety of the lives of men, women and children, human trafficking must be stopped, and for this, the conscious sections of society have to build a strong social movement. It is very important to make public awareness activities and social movements across the country to prevent trafficking. To organize meetings, rallies, seminars, discussions and exchange of views at the national and village level to prevent human trafficking. It will have the active participation of local government representatives, local leaders, teachers and religious leaders. They will play an active role in creating awareness among the people in their respective areas.

The media can play a big role in creating public awareness to prevent human trafficking. The mass media can regularly conduct public awareness programs and warnings. In the last few years, the media has been promoting various programs on this subject, and the newspapers have been publishing objective news, features and investigative reports regularly to prevent violence against women. However, the issue of human trafficking has not yet come up in powerful media films. The film can play an active role in creating public awareness against human trafficking.

As the UNDOC mentioned, the use of technology also lies a great opportunity. Future success in eradicating human trafficking will depend on how law enforcement, the criminal justice systems and others can leverage technology in their responses, including by aiding investigations to shed light on the modus operandi of trafficking networks; enhancing prosecutions through digital evidence to alleviate the situation of victims in criminal proceedings; and providing support services to survivors. Prevention and awareness-raising activities on the safe use of the internet and social media could help mitigate the risk of people falling victim to trafficking online. Cooperation with the private sector is important to harness innovation and expertise for developing sustainable technology-based solutions to support the prevention and combatting of human trafficking.

Human trafficking is one of the worst heinous crimes in modern civilization. Proper implementation of the existing Human Trafficking Act-2012, active actions of government and awareness programmes of NGOs can undoubtedly reduce the tendency to go abroad illegally. Using modern technology to make people aware can also help prevent human trafficking. Besides, law enforcement agencies should always take proactive and strict legal measures to eradicate such heinous crimes. Otherwise, trafficking in persons will not stop.

The writer is a researcher and development worker