Data from cases that IOM assisted over the last ten years show that nearly 80% of international human trafficking journeys cross through official border control points, including airports.
Although the responsibility for identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting those perpetrating human trafficking rests with governments and their national law enforcement agencies, the airline industry recognizes that customer-facing staff can play an important role in helping to prevent this crime.
The role of aviation in the fight against human trafficking
A resolution denouncing human trafficking was passed at the 2018 IATA Annual General Meeting. See press release and resolution text. The resolution also reaffirms airlines' commitment to several actions to help counter human trafficking:
- Sharing of best practices
- Staff training
- Reporting
Once trained, airline, airport, ground handling, security screening and customs staff can provide an important source of intelligence to prevent human trafficking. They can recognize behaviors consistent with trafficking situations and report their observations to the authorities both at airports and during flights.
Resources for airline staff training
Campaign materials
IATA's role
In addition to working with our member airlines to increase staff and passenger awareness, IATA is urging law enforcement agencies to provide clear, practical and anonymous mechanisms for airline staff so they can report potential trafficking situations.
IATA is also working with airports and other stakeholders within the air transport sector to raise awareness on human trafficking and share our guidance material.
IATA, together with other stakeholders collaborated with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) to develop important guidance materials to help mobilize the aviation sector against human trafficking. These include:
- Circular 352 provides governments and operators with the framework and topics that should be included in the training package; material focuses on the identification and response to suspected human trafficking and is aimed particularly at cabin crew members.
- Circular 357 is intended to assist government authorities and airlines in managing crew reports of suspected cases of trafficking and used in conjunction with Circular 352.
- Finally, IATA contributed to the development of ICAO Doc.10171, A Comprehensive Strategy for Combatting Human Trafficking in the Aviation Sector. This enhances national counter-trafficking policies and procedure frameworks. It also equips governments, civil aviation authorities, airlines and airports with guidance and recommendations to inform the development of comprehensive counter‐trafficking strategies.
IATA position paper on Human Trafficking(pdf)
View Mira Sorvino's address about Human trafficking at the IATA AGM
*About numbers
There are no precise figures on the extent of Human Trafficking. Please find below some clarifications on numbers and definitions with their sources.
- The United Nations defines Human Trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by improper means (such as force, abduction, fraud, or coercion) for an improper purpose including forced labor or sexual exploitation.
Sources: the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air. - Different countries use different legal terminologies, but “modern slavery” includes the crimes of human trafficking, slavery and slavery like practices such as servitude, forced labor, forced or servile marriage, the exploitation of children, and debt bondage.
- An estimated 50 million people are in modern slavery, including 27.6 million in forced labor and 22 million in forced marriage.
Source: ILO, Walk Free and IOM. - In the figure used by IATA on this page and in all documentation related to Human Trafficking we have used the estimated number of people in forced labor, 27.6 million.
FAQs
Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States.
What is the best solution to solve human trafficking? ›
Here are five ways we can work together to prevent human trafficking:
- Take a stand and wear blue. January 11 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. ...
- Understand the risk factors. ...
- Know what to do and who to contact to report it. ...
- Expand awareness in your community. ...
- Understand how vulnerable communities are impacted.
The following questions may be used to screen for human trafficking:
- Have you worked for someone or done any other activities for which you thought you would be paid? ...
- Did anyone where you worked (or did other activities) ever trick or pressure you into doing anything you did not want to do?
Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons or modern-day slavery, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts.
What are 5 warning signs of human trafficking? ›
Warning Signs of Human Trafficking
- Appearing malnourished.
- Showing signs of physical injuries and abuse.
- Avoiding eye contact, social interaction, and authority figures/law enforcement.
- Seeming to adhere to scripted or rehearsed responses in social interaction.
- Lacking official identification documents.
People may be vulnerable to trafficking if they:
Have an unstable living situation. Have previously experienced other forms of violence such as sexual abuse or domestic violence. Have run away or are involved in the juvenile justice or child welfare system. Are undocumented immigrants.
How to not get trafficked? ›
Safe Internet Searching
- Use Public Computers. Public Computers at local public libraries or community centers are more difficult to trace. ...
- Delete Search History. ...
- Delete Browser History. ...
- Disable Chat Logs. ...
- Privacy Settings. ...
- Discretion. ...
- Block Trafficker/Trafficker's Acquaintances. ...
- New Email Account.
Take action in your community.
Locate local anti-trafficking organizations . Ask them how you can help. They might need volunteers, resources, or help raising awareness. Work with others in your community to create “protective factors” for people who are at risk of trafficking or experiencing it now.
What happens to human trafficking victims? ›
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.
What are the 5 P's of trafficking? ›
The Online Anti-Human Trafficking Certificate concentrates on the Five P Model: partnership, prevention, protection, prosecution, and policy.
The most effective way to investigate human trafficking is through a collaborative, multi-agency approach with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners. FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces operate within nearly every FBI field office.
What are the 4 P's of trafficking? ›
In the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Member States have declared that an effective response to human trafficking should address the four following objectives: prevention of trafficking; protection and assistance to victims of trafficking; prosecution of the perpetrators of ...
Who is most at risk for human trafficking? ›
Some Populations Are at Higher Risk for Human Trafficking
- Unhoused youth.
- Refugees or migrant workers.
- Those with substance abuse disorders.
- Survivors of other forms of past violence.
- Members of minority populations based on sexual or gender identity.
- People with disabilities.
Sexual exploitation and forced labour
The most common form of human trafficking detected by national authorities is trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
What is human trafficking in simple terms? ›
“Trafficking in persons” and “human trafficking” are umbrella terms—often used interchangeably—to refer to a crime whereby traffickers exploit and profit at the expense of adults or children by compelling them to perform labor or engage in commercial sex.
How do you describe human trafficking? ›
Human trafficking occurs when a perpetrator, often referred to as a trafficker, takes an Action, and then employs the Means of force, fraud or coercion for the Purpose of compelling the victim to provide commercial sex acts or labor or services.
What is human trafficking short summary? ›
Human trafficking occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel another person to work or engage in a commercial sex act. It sometimes involves crossing a border but does not require it.
What is human trafficking in essay? ›
Human trafficking is the illegal movement of people for the means of forced labor and prostitution. There is no one race that discriminates against another, just the cruel act of enslaving one's fellow human and mistreating them. One nation where this human right violation is prominent is Costa Rica.
