HIDDEN CHAINS OF GLOBAL MIGRATION: REVEALING THE DARK REALITIES

OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

INTRODUCTION

Global migration, a dynamic force shaping lives, economies, and cultures,

remains an enigmatic phenomenon. According to Walizada (2022), global migration

significantly influences both host countries and nations of origin. In host countries,

immigrants bolster economic output and employment, fostering opportunities for

native workers, contributing diverse skills essential for economic growth, and fueling

innovation while positively impacting international trade. Integrating migrants into the

labor market is pivotal for maximizing their productive contributions, lessening

potential strain on public finances, and mitigating potential impacts on crime rates.

This integration not only expands the labor force but also enriches cultural diversity,

addresses skill shortages, and bolsters local economies. Conversely, in countries of

origin, migration alleviates unemployment, reducing competition for jobs and

relieving strain on resources like food, water, education, and healthcare. Moreover,

when migrants return home, they bring back remittances, acquired skills and

knowledge, benefiting their countries of origin.

Despite its profound impact on individuals, organizations, and societies, the

attention directed towards unraveling its underlying implications often falls short.

Within this complex phenomenon lies a particularly overlooked issue—human

trafficking. As people traverse borders in search of new beginnings, the shadow of

exploitation looms large, creating tangling chains of vulnerability and deceit. This

dark reality within migration demands urgent scrutiny, however, because of its

complex nature, it is often overshadowed behind the enticing façade of migration.

 Human trafficking is a global issue that has drawn significant attention

throughout years. It refers to the act of recruiting, transporting, harboring, or

receiving individuals using force, coercion, or deception for the purpose of

exploitation (United Nations, n.d.). This heinous crime affects millions of men,

women, and children worldwide, violating their fundamental human rights and

perpetuating a cycle of abuse and suffering. Understanding the complexities of

human trafficking is crucial to address this grave violation of human dignity and work

towards its prevention and elimination.

In addition, human trafficking takes many different forms and happens in

every country in the world. The causes of human trafficking are complex, and there

are numerous contributing factors. However, the main causes behind all types of

human trafficking remain essentially the same, traffickers target people who are

marginalized or in difficult circumstances to make huge sums of money for

themselves (Lee, 2022). To support this, Gardner (2023) mentioned that this issue

indeed stems from and contributes to economic instability for individuals and

communities. Traffickers often seek out financially vulnerable individuals, such as

those living in poverty, unemployed, or who are experiencing homelessness. In fact,

a United Nations analysis of 200+ human trafficking cases found that the “majority of

victims were reportedly in a condition of economic need, characterized by an inability

to meet basic needs, such as food, shelter or healthcare” at the time of recruitment.

Human traffickers do not choose; anyone, regardless of age, gender, or

background, can become a victim of human trafficking, and the consequences of this

go beyond the immediate suffering experienced by victims. Survivors often face

physical and mental health issues, including sexual and physical violence, trauma,
and post-traumatic stress disorder. As stated by Novotney (2023), the physical and

mental health effects of human trafficking are serious. It can cause a loss of basic

human rights, loss of one’s childhood, disruption in families, and severe mental

health consequences, including anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder

(PTSD), depression, and substance abuse.

As a result, the distressing situations of those ensnared in exploitative

situations persists, calling for heightened awareness, concerted efforts, and multi-

dimensional strategies to combat and prevent human trafficking within migration,

most especially that migration is now more prevalent and more accessible in the

contemporary world. However, it is important to recognize that efforts to combat

human trafficking have been made at both national and international levels. The

United Nations and other organizations have played a critical role in raising

awareness, developing legal frameworks, and implementing programs to prevent

trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute perpetrators. Unfortunately, despite these

efforts, the magnitude and complexity of human trafficking continue to pose

significant challenges. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze existing strategies, identify

gaps, and explore innovative approaches to effectively combat this global menace.

In The Perspective of the Perpetuator: Understanding Human Trafficking

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),

trafficking can be considered a complex phenomenon that is often driven or

influenced by social, economic, cultural and other factors. However, numerous

factors often exhibit commonalities across various trafficking instances, appearing

consistently across diverse regions, patterns, or cases. One prevailing factor

involves perpetrators exploiting the desires of potential victims to migrate, using this
desire as a means to recruit and establish initial control or cooperation.

Subsequently, they relocate victims to a different state or region within the country—

potentially not their intended destination—so they could proceed to more coercive

tactics and replace the initial methods employed.

Traffickers often recruit individuals through various means, including

deception, promises of better opportunities, false job offers, or fraudulent marriages.

In most cases, they reach victims through social media platforms like Facebook, to

post job and opportunity ads in newspapers or online, or even threaten or abduct

them. In addition, more efforts such as false promises regarding money, new

clothes, employment or educational opportunities, financial assistance for their

family, etc. are frequently made to the victims.

Once victims are lured into their deception, they are often placed in areas

where limited contact to the outside world is possible (World Vision, 2012.).

Traffickers move their victims to distance them from their family, friends, and familiar

environments. This is to erode their support networks, control their environment, and

increase the victims' vulnerability and dependence on the traffickers. This isolation

can intensify the victims' reliance on the traffickers for basic needs, making it harder

for them to seek help or escape. Additionally, by removing victims from familiar

settings, traffickers aim to disorient them, making resistance or seeking assistance

more challenging.

The main reason of the existence of human trafficking is money. As stated by

the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (n.d.), human trafficking is a crime

which primary involves human trading and exploits them for profit which generates

an approximate of $32 billion annually as stated by Ochab (2018) in the Forbes

magazine. The World Vision (2012) signifies that due to the current opportunities for

high profit with minimal risk associated with this type of crime, trafficking exists.

--“low risk/high reward activity” (The Canadian Centre To End Human Trafficking,

2017). This implies that traffickers anticipate substantial financial gains with minimal

apprehension of facing repercussions or legal sanctions. It stands as the second

most profitable illegal industry— second only to the drug trade. Whereas drugs are

typically sold in singular transactions, human beings can be subjected to multiple

sales. The expenses involved are minimal, while the potential profits are exceedingly

high (Gould, 2017). National Human Trafficking Hotline confirms that it is a multi-

billion-dollar criminal industry that denies freedom to 24.9 million people around the

world.

Traffickers generate profits through various means within the human

trafficking trade. Mainly, they exploit victims for forced labor, sexual exploitation, or

other forms of coercion, compelling them to work without pay or under exploitative

conditions. Forced labor, according to Gould (2017), is driven by the rising consumer

demand for inexpensive products that motivates corporations to seek low-cost labor,

frequently leading to exploitation of workers at the lower end of the supply chain.

Additionally, the escalating demand for commercial sex, particularly involving minors,

drives establishments like strip clubs, pornography, and prostitution to recruit and

victimize women and children for exploitation (Gould, 2017). Moreover, traffickers

may also demand payment for transportation, accommodation, or other basic

necessities provided to the victims, creating debts that victims are forced to repay

through labor or servitude. Lastly, traffickers make most by selling their victims

repeatedly, exploiting them multiple times for financial gain.

 Ultimately, trafficking thrives due to detrimental societal norms and systemic

inequalities that traffickers exploit by targeting vulnerable individuals. Traffickers

seek out those enduring poverty, desperation, lack of legitimate job prospects,

limited educational opportunities, and individuals seeking an escape from violence.

These actions contribute to the traffickers' financial gains within this illicit trade but

causes victims to be trapped and fear leaving for myriad reasons, including

psychological trauma, shame, emotional attachment, or physical threats to

themselves or their family (National Human Trafficking Hotline, n.d.).

History Of Human Trafficking

Human trafficking, often referred to as "modern-day slavery," shares a common

reference with the term "slavery," yet the encompass distinct meanings. While "slavery"

generally denotes the condition of an individual held in compelled servitude (Merriam

Webster, 2019.), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) specifies human

trafficking as the action involving the recruitment, transportation, harboring, or retention of

people through threat, coercion, force, or deceit for the intent of exploitation. Throughout

human history, spanning various cultures and regions, slavery remained a legally sanctioned

and prevalent practice, frequently involving one societal group subjugating another.

However, during the 19th and 20th centuries, a global initiative emerged to eliminate slavery

comprehensively in its diverse manifestations, making it an illegal act, and because of the

progress made within these movements, the collective comprehension, and efforts to

combat human trafficking have evolved.

Human trafficking has existed for the past 400 years. Portugal started sending

people to Africa in the 16th century to buy or capture them, enslave them, and bring

them back to Europe. With this, other European countries followed. In 1525, around

350 years ago, the first slave voyage from Africa to the Americas marked the
beginning of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. During this time, about 12.5 million

slaves were taken away from Africa to other parts of the world, of which 10.7 million

made it to the Americas, which include the Caribbean, South America, and North

America. During this time, between 300,000 and 400,000 Africans were brought into

slavery in North America. Furthermore, in the 16th century, governments authorized

and encouraged the legal ownership of African slaves. Slavery continued until 1807,

when the United States became the first country to ban it. This was almost forty (40)

years before the American Civil War began. Despite anti-slavery legislation, the last

known transatlantic slave voyage reached its destination in the Americas in 1866.

Concurrently, a significant number of Chinese immigrants arrived in the United

States in the middle of the 1800s, attracted by the prospect of profitable

opportunities brought about by the Central Pacific Railroad and the California Gold

Rush (Giovagnoni & Schooneveld, 2022).

According to Venson and Pedro (2013; Usman, 2020), human trafficking

initially emerged in the nineteenth century and made a full resurgence by the end of

the twentieth century. During the 1900s, human trafficking reached an

unprecedented peak, encompassing both forced labor and sexual exploitation. After

the First World War, the League of Nations was founded in 1920. It was the first

international organization, whose objectives were to uphold peace between nations

and focus on world issues like human trafficking. In 1921, 33 countries signed the

International Convention for the Suppression of Traffic in Women and Children

during the League of Nations international conference, which made significant

contributions, one of which was changing the focus of the white slavery issue to

"traffic in women and children" in order to include people of all racial backgrounds. It
was also acknowledged that children of both sexes were victims of human trafficking

(Giovagnoni & Schooneveld, 2022).

Throughout the existence of human trafficking, several cases and traffickers

caught global attention, which led to continuous progress and awareness. Andrew

Tate, a well-known misogynist on Twitter who gained a large following, has

continuously courted controversy for his divisive comments about women, which are

often seen as hate speech. Tate, his brother, and two associates were all under

arrest in Romania in December 2022 due to allegations of rape, human trafficking,

and involvement in an organized crime group. Despite being a British-U.S. citizen,

since 2017, Tate has been a resident of Romania. Authorities in Romania claim that

Tate's group physically abused and coerced six victims, using them as objects for

pornographic material that would profit themselves. Another trafficker, an American

financier named Jeffrey Epstein, who has ties to celebrities and powerful politicians,

was charged with sex trafficking in 2019 after it was discovered that he ran a network

for the sexual exploitation of children under 18. Despite his subsequent death by

apparent suicide in jail, creating controversy and conspiracy theories, his long-time

partner Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for her role in procuring girls for

Epstein and his associates. Judge Alison J. Nathan signified Maxwell's crucial

involvement in selecting vulnerable victims and facilitating sexual abuse.

Consequently, Maxwell received a 20-year prison sentence and a $750,000 fine in

June 2022, with the judge aiming to send a clear message to traffickers

(Schooneveld, 2022).

Nationally, some Filipinos have also been found to have engaged in human

trafficking, one of whom is Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, a founder of a Philippines-

based church who is wanted on allegations of participating in a labor trafficking

scheme. According to reports, the scheme used fictitious visas to bring church

members to the US, where they were coerced into collecting money for a fake

charity. These donations were believed to be used to support the luxurious lifestyles

of the church's leaders as well as the operations of the organization. Several

successful solicitors are said to have been forced into fake marriages or to obtain

fake student visas in order to maintain their year-round activities. Additionally, it is

alleged that the female victims served as Quiboloy's personal assistants, or

"pastorals," preparing meals, cleaning homes, massaging clients, and participating in

what the pastorals called "night duty," which involved having sex with Quiboloy. As a

result, Quiboloy was seriously charged by a federal grand jury in the United States

District Court for the Central District of California, Santa Ana. Conspiracy to engage

in force, fraud, and coercion in sexual trafficking, child smuggling, force, fraud, and

coercion in sexual trafficking, conspiracy, and bulk cash smuggling are among the

charges. On November 10, 2021, a federal warrant for his arrest was issued.

(Federal Bureau of Investigation, n.d.)

These high-profile cases like Tate’s, Eptein’s, and Quiboloy’s emphasize the

criticality of heightened awareness and strong mechanisms to combat human

trafficking. It reverberates far beyond their individual circumstances but rather

echoes the global realities of human trafficking within the context of migration. These

cases while often occurring within specific regions exemplify the transnational nature

of trafficking, where victims are moved across borders in intricate networks of

exploitation, also considering that potential immigrants in search of a future abroad

are easier to lure into the chains of human trafficking. These cases, and the other

thousands of unmentioned trafficking cases, should serve as an eyeopener that

there is a crucial need for global cooperation, stringent legal frameworks, and unified

efforts to dismantle this concerning issue of trafficking, and ensuring the safety and

welfare of migrants.

Dynamics in Human Trafficking

Previously, it was mentioned that human traffickers do not choose, victims of

human trafficking can be anyone—"regardless of race, color, national origin,

disability, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic

status, education level, or citizenship status”. While there isn't a single characteristic

that all victims of human trafficking have in common, traffickers usually target people

whose vulnerabilities—such as poverty, limited English proficiency, or illegal

immigration status—are made worse by a lack of safe and stable housing as well as

limited opportunities for employment and education. Victims of human trafficking are

conned by false love or marriage, good job opportunities, or a stable life and are

lured or forced them into situations in which they are forced to work in poor

conditions (The United States Department of Justice, 2020).

Recently, according to the Migration Data Portal (2023), 50 million people

were found to be victims of modern slavery in 2021, according to the 2022 report,

wherein 27.6 million individuals were involved in forced labor, and an additional 22

million were coerced into marriage. Despite the notion that anyone can be a victim of

this crime, it was stated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (n.d.) that

although they make up the majority of trafficked individuals in less developed regions

and subregions like Africa and the Greater Mekong, children account for one in five

of all human trafficking victims. Meanwhile, two-thirds of victims of human trafficking

worldwide are women.

 In the Philippines, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the

Philippines National Police (PNP) investigated an increase in trafficking cases from

168 in 2021 to 277 in 2023. Consequently, the government prosecuted a decrease in

alleged traffickers, from 298 to 139, of which 115 were related to sex trafficking and

24 to forced labor (United States Department of State, 2023).

Impact on Victims: Physical and Psychological Consequences

The poor living conditions that human trafficking victims endure can lead to a

wide range of physical, mental, and social problems. Hartmann (2021) mentioned

that those who are victims of this act may experience psychological, emotional, and

physical effects- “It has the power to impact someone’s life forever”. Over an

extended period, victims of trafficking may endure sustained and severe forms of

abuse, encompassing physical assaults and sexual violence. Such prolonged trauma

significantly heightens the risk of developing various health complications, including

but not limited to infections, diabetes, cancer, and other chronic illnesses, alongside

an increased vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases. In the absence of

appropriate medical care or treatment, these health issues could exacerbate,

potentially causing lasting and irreparable damage to an individual's overall well-

being and health.

Human trafficking victims often endure profound physical hardships, including

chronic fatigue resulting from extensive labor, prolonged periods of exploitation, and

inadequate rest or sleep. Victims of labor exploitation are often compelled to perform

repetitive and coerced tasks in hazardous work environments over extended

durations. They might handle heavy machinery or come into contact with dangerous

substances. As a result, many individuals suffer from severe infections, respiratory

complications, injuries, disabilities, and extreme exhaustion. Additionally, these

individuals frequently suffer from various wounds and injuries inflicted during their

exploitation, such as bruises, fractures, lacerations, and untreated injuries that

exacerbate over time due to lack of medical attention. Another physical challenge

experienced by many victims is that they face persistent hunger due to insufficient

food provision or starvation as a method of control by traffickers. These physical

conditions not only contribute to immediate suffering but can lead to long-term health

complications if left untreated, further exacerbating the victims' overall well-being and

recovery process.

Their suffering does not only cost their physical well-being but also both

psychologically and mentally. These individuals often endure extreme trauma,

including physical and psychological abuse, coercion, isolation, and threats to their

safety or that of their loved ones. Such experiences commonly lead to a range of

mental health issues. According to the American Psychological Association,

experiences of violence among male and female trafficking survivors in England

found 78% of women and 40% of men reported high levels of depression, anxiety, or

PTSD symptoms. Post-traumatic stress disorder, relationship difficulties, depression,

memory loss, anxiety, fear, guilt, shame, and other severe mental traumas are

common among victims during and after their severe experiences. (Hartmann,

2021). Victims frequently struggle with trust issues, fear, and emotional instability

due to the manipulation and exploitation they've faced. Many grapples with feelings

of shame, guilt, and humiliation, often resulting from the degrading and

dehumanizing treatment by traffickers. Recovery from such mental health challenges

requires extensive support, yet, stigma, lack of access to mental health resources,
and the complexities of their experiences can impede victims' ability to seek and

receive adequate care, prolonging the debilitating effects of their trauma.

Moreover, substance use, abuse, and addiction frequently manifest as coping

mechanisms among survivors of human trafficking. Traffickers may introduce victims

to drugs or alcohol as a means of control or to coerce compliance. Subsequently,

victims may turn to substances to numb the emotional pain, cope with trauma, or

endure the dehumanizing experiences they face. This reliance on substances can

develop into full-blown addictions, compounding the already immense challenges

survivors confront in their journey toward recovery and healing.

The intersection between trauma, manipulation, and coercion in human

trafficking creates a cycle of profound physical and psychological harm, significantly

affecting victims' overall well-being and complicating their recovery journey.

Addressing the vast needs of survivors requires comprehensive support systems,

including trauma-informed care, access to healthcare, mental health services, and

holistic rehabilitation programs tailored to address both their physical and

psychological wounds.

The Stockholm Syndrome

An alarming issue arose within the relationship of traffickers and their victims.

A 2021 study conducted by Casassa et al., showed that sex trafficking victims are

likely to experience Stockholm syndrome, a condition where victims develop a sense

of attachment or loyalty to their abuser as a survival mechanism. Typically, these

feelings can be described as sympathy toward captors or the development of a bond

with the captor. An FBI study undertaken in an attempt to understand more about

Stockholm syndrome suggests about 8% of people in hostage situations develop

observable characteristics of Stockholm syndrome. However, theories about this

reaction cannot be tested easily, as placing people in a hostage situation for the

sake of a trial is not considered to be ethical.

It was first described by Anna Freud in 1936, an early 20th century

psychologist, when she talked about identification with an aggressor, or one’s

attempt to cope with fear by transforming oneself from the threatened person to the

threatening one. The identification may involve adopting the aggression or emulating

other characteristics of the aggressor. It is widely observed in situations of captivity

or abuse, where victims develop an emotional attachment or alliance with their

captors or abusers. This deep-seated emotional connection often emerges as a

survival strategy in an attempt to adapt to their traumatic circumstances and form a

sense of empathy, affection, or loyalty towards those inflicting harm upon them.

The syndrome's name originates from a 1973 bank robbery in Stockholm,

Sweden, where hostages grew sympathetic towards their captors, even defending

them after their release. This perplexing response arises from a combination of

factors, including fear, isolation, perceived kindness amid periods of cruelty, and the

power imbalance between the victim and the captor. Victims might sympathize with

their abuser, hoping for better treatment or believing it could mitigate their suffering.

Stockholm Syndrome shows the profound psychological impact of trauma and

manipulation, where victims seek a semblance of control or safety by aligning

themselves with those causing their distress. However, it is important to note that

this syndrome does not justify or excuse the actions of perpetrators but rather

underscores the complex and often confusing responses of individuals subjected to

extreme trauma and coercion. Understanding the complexities of this phenomenon is

crucial for law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and support organizations

dealing with trafficking survivors. It emphasizes the need for sensitive, trauma-

informed approaches that account for the psychological complexities victims face in

their recovery journey, often navigating conflicting emotions and loyalties toward

their abusers.

Role of Globalization in Human Trafficking

The ongoing process of globalization has created opportunities as well as

challenges. One of the major challenges is increasing human trafficking all over the

world. Marshall (2001;2017) argues that increasing globalization is creating

disparities between and within counties. These disparities create incentives for

migration in search of better quality of life. However, much of this migration is illegal

or irregular, placing migrants in a highly vulnerable position and leading to humans’

exploitation and trafficking (Majeed & Malik, 2017).

Human trafficking inflows in a country refer to the extent of abuse and

exploitation that a country tolerates against the citizens who have illegal standing in

the country. It is an abysmal abuse and violence against the vulnerable people of

society and among them most of the victims are foreign women (Dutch National

Rapporteur 2010; German Federal Criminal Police Office 2008; UNODC, 2006;

Majeed & Malik, 2017). Human trafficking is defined as the extreme form of human

exploitation for forced labor, slavery, prostitution, debt bondage or want of human

organs, the means used in trafficking are abduction, coercion, deception and threats.

Human trafficking is a crime that includes all phases of trafficking such as

recruitment, shipping, allocation, and harboring of persons (United Nations Office on

Drugs and Crime, 2006; Majeed & Malik, 2017). All among illicit businesses, human

trafficking is second after drugs dealings (Jones et al. 2007; Majeed & Malik, 2017).
According to International Organization for Migration (2006; Majeed & Malik, 2017)

worldwide immigrants are exceeding 191 million. There are push and pull factors that

drive these illegal activities. The humans who are most vulnerable to this abuse are

actually ignorant and immature person and they are pushed out from low-income

countries for their dire economic conditions and pulled into high income countries

(Van, 2000; Jones et al. 2007; Majeed & Malik, 2017).

Human trafficking is a very profitable illicit business. It has low cost and high

non-taxable monetary returns. According to International Children's Emergency Fund

1.2 million trading of children generated $10 billion. United Nation's Interregional

Crime Research Institute estimated that about $7 billion are generated every year

through human trafficking. United Nation's Department of State (2006) also proposed

the figures that every year about 0.6 to 0.8 million people become trapped by the

trafficker's mafia. According to International Labor Organization (2005) due to human

trafficking at least 2.4 million children and adults are the sufferers of sexual servitude

and forced labor. Human trafficking is considered as most profitable illicit business

after drug trafficking and generated the revenues of at least $30 billion (ILO, 2005;

Interpol, 2009; Majeed & Malik, 2017).

According to rational choice theory of human trafficking, criminals are rational

beings who make decisions to commit crime based on the costs and benefits

involved in the process of crime perpetration. It was stated by Gerassi (2015) that

structural theories of human trafficking assert divisive legal perspectives, such as

criminal treatment of those who exploit human rights or facilitate others into

exploiting human rights for money.

Moreover, Hernandez and Rudolph (2015) emphasized that there are three

main scenarios which facilitate the process of human trafficking. First, victims incur
debt from the traffickers and when fail to repay after going abroad are exploited at

destination country. Seconds, victims are deceived by accepting the job offer, whole

process from recruitment to reaching destination country is valid but they are

deceived at destination. Third, victims are kidnapped and exploited.

The victims of the traffickers are mostly children, women and poor citizens.

Global Report on Trafficking in Person provides the understandings of human

trafficking occupation. The report illustrates that the key targets of human traffickers

are women that comprises 66% of the total incidents. The report further illustrates

that sexual exploitation is key reason of trading women and girls and it covers 79%

of all cases. The other key reason for trafficking is labor exploitation which composed

18% of all cases. The report also highlights that children account for more than fifth

part of trafficking in person for labor exploitation. The agents involved in this barbaric

crime range from individuals to well organized organizations (UNESCO, 1994;

Savona et al., 1996; Schloenardt, 1999; U.S. States Department of State ,2003).

Traffickers trap the victims from source country and earn significant profit by selling

them into the destination countries. Williamson (2017) argues that economic and

gender-based inequalities may push women to seek migration, inadvertently leading

women to be disproportionately victimized by trafficking. Human trafficking also

facilitates through legal channels. Traffickers offer lucrative jobs to the victims and

process recruitment and transfer abroad in a legal way. Sometimes people over stay

in foreign countries illegally and this also facilitates their exploitations by employees

(Aronowitz. 2001).

Globalization plays a vital role in fueling this crime by increasing socio-

economic disparities. Economic globalization facilitates the trade of humans through

trade routes and countries boarders. Traffickers can easily manage their illicit
activities by bribing the officers. The wish of getting better earning urge people to

travel abroad and they are likely to be trapped by traffickers in destination countries.

Hawthorne (2004) pointed out that globalization through internet assists exports of

women for labor exploitation and prostitution.

Hughes (1998), stated that the electronic and economic globalization are

closely associated with commodification of women that are traded, bought,

consumed and exploited. The traffickers treat women as export goods. Global

integration facilitates the traffickers to trade women from source countries to

destination countries. For example, Bales (2007; Majeed & Malik, 2017) gives the

example of a female worker trafficked in Japan. The worker was forced to work in

bar to cover the cost of 4.8 million Yens that was incurred in transporting her to

Japan. Social globalization facilitates trafficker to reach the victims through

newspaper and media (Peerapeng and Chaitip, 2013; Majeed & Malik, 2017).

The research on this issue has been confined to case studies and anecdotal

stories. Empirical aspects of these issues have been unexplored. There are few

studies that empirically investigated the role of globalization in human trafficking

(Danailova and Belser, 2006; Cho,2011; Cho et al. 2012) but they have not

employed the broad dimensions of human trafficking. Human trafficking includes

child labor, forced labor, prostitutions, debt bondage, and domestic servitude. Lack

of empirical research on different dimensions of human trafficking has incited us to

empirically explore the relationship between globalization and human trafficking.

Since the combating the evil of human trafficking has become a global

challenge, it is important to identify its root causes. The present study identifies

increasing globalization as one of the major causes of human trafficking. Since

globalization is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, it is important to explore

the links of human trafficking with different forms of globalization.

METHODOLOGY

To unravel realities and complexities of human trafficking within global

migration, this paper applied a descriptive qualitative approach combined with

literary analysis through secondary research method. This study aims to reveal

reasons, data, consequences, effects, and understand the underlying implication of

migration, particularly, human trafficking.

Qualitative description (QD) serves as a design in qualitative research

specifically tailored for studies that prioritize descriptive exploration (Polit & Beck,

2009, 2014). This approach holds significant recognition in research circles,

particularly for inquiries seeking to unravel the nuances of events or experiences and

has been identified as important and appropriate for research questions focused on

discovering the who, what, and where of events. For this reason, QD

methodologically facilitates a comprehensive understanding of human trafficking

within migration contexts. Through this approach, it enables researchers to delve

deeply into the convoluted layers of realistic human experiences, scrutinizes unseen

aspects of trafficking, the dynamics of victimization, its history, and its impact on

people and on a global scale. By embracing the essence of QD, researchers grasp

the nuanced narratives of survivors, traffickers, and affected communities,

uncovering the hidden realities that conventional research methods might overlook.

QD's emphasis on descriptive exploration allows for a rich portrayal of the who, what,

and where of trafficking instances within migration, offering valuable insights into the
vulnerabilities, challenges, and intervention needs of those impacted (Kim et al.,

2017).

Moreover, secondary research, often referred to as desk research, involves

the utilization of existing research and data previously conducted by others

(Teesside University, n.d.). In this paper, it serves as a foundational element in

comprehending the complex phenomena of human trafficking within migration. It

functions as an invaluable tool in conjunction with the Qualitative Description (QD)

method as both provide a wide scope of existing knowledge, expert perspectives,

and analyses in this domain. By delving into secondary sources like books, articles,

papers, and reports, researchers built a robust understanding of the intricacies

surrounding human trafficking within migration contexts. While QD method

illuminated the nuanced experiences and narratives, secondary research enriched

this understanding by offering insights into the broader context, expert analyses, and

foundational knowledge, thereby fortifying the depth and breadth of the investigation

into human trafficking within migration settings.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Despite the rigorous efforts to unravel the hidden realities of human trafficking

within global migration, this study encountered inherent challenges and limitations.

The utilization of a descriptive qualitative approach and a literary analysis through

secondary research methods provided a comprehensive understanding but was

inherently constrained by the available data sources. The reliance on existing

studies, reports, and analyses limited the depth of firsthand insights and restricted

the exploration of nuanced and context-specific details that primary research might

have offered.
 Moreover, the complexities surrounding human trafficking, along with its

complex nature, presented inherent uncertainties within the gathered data. The

reliance on documented sources, although rich in information, occasionally resulted

in gaps, inconsistencies, and lack of timeliness that hindered a holistic understanding

of the subject matter.

The discrepancies and uncertainties highlighted in this study underscore the

imperative for further research employing varied methodologies, including primary

investigations and direct engagement with affected communities or survivors. While

the descriptive qualitative approach combined with literary analysis through

secondary research was instrumental in revealing overarching trends and key

insights, it remains essential to supplement these findings with firsthand accounts,

qualitative interviews, and on-the-ground observations to deepen the understanding

of human trafficking within global migration. Such comprehensive investigations

could offer a more comprehensive understanding, helping bridge the gaps and

uncertainties encountered in this endeavor.

CONCLUSION

In summary, human trafficking is a widespread and inhumane worldwide

crime that entails the use of coercion, fraud, or force to exploit individuals for a

variety of purposes, such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, and involuntary

servitude. Human trafficking victims often experienced unparalleled suffering, neglect

of their fundamental freedoms, and abuse on a physical, emotional, and

psychological level. This crime targets vulnerable people, including immigrants,

refugees, and low-income individuals, and it works within a complex web of social,

economic, and political factors.

 The impact of human trafficking extends beyond individual victims, affecting

communities, societies, and the global community. And in order to address this,

human trafficking requires a comprehensive and adaptable response that considers

both the traditional and emerging dimensions of this crime. Efforts must focus not

only on rescue and rehabilitation but also on addressing root causes, dismantling

criminal networks, and fostering international collaboration to create a world where

the trafficking of human beings is no longer tolerated.

Understanding the link between global migration and human trafficking is

paramount in addressing one of the most egregious violations of human rights in our

interconnected world. The connection between these phenomena highlights the

vulnerabilities embedded within migration routes, where individuals seeking better

opportunities often fall prey to exploitation and abuse. Recognizing and

comprehending this intersection is pivotal in formulating comprehensive strategies

that not only facilitate safe migration but also combat the insidious networks of

trafficking. It underscores the urgency for collective action, cohesive international

policies, and strong mechanisms aimed at safeguarding the rights and dignity of all

migrants. By acknowledging this crucial linkage, societies can strive towards a more

inclusive, empathetic, and vigilant approach that ensures the protection of vulnerable

populations, fostering safer migration pathways, and combating the scourge of

human trafficking on a global scale.

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