Page 111 - GHES-3-1

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Human trafficking victim service providers

Human trafficking is defined in the Palermo Protocol sometimes spanning continents, which complicates
as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring victim identification and detection within the EU. Human
or receptions of persons, by means of the threat or use of exploitation often goes unreported, overshadowed by other
force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, crimes such as prostitution, unauthorized immigration,
of deception, of the abuse of power, or of a position of property crimes, and labor disputes (UNODC, 2016).
vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or Since 2003, UNODC has collected data on approximately
benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control 225,000 trafficking victims detected globally (UNODC,
over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. 2019). The detection of trafficking cases within a country’s
Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation borders has also increased significantly over the past
of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual 15 years (UNODC, 2019). Between 2012 and 2014, 42%
exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices of detected victims were trafficked domestically (UNODC,
similar to slavery, servitude, or the removal of organs” for 2016). Over the past decade, national authorities have
exploitation. enhanced their capacity to monitor and analyze HT
The crime of HT invariably involves the exploitation patterns and flows in many regions (UNODC, 2019).
of a vulnerable individual. According to Article 2 of These findings indicate a shift in the general perception of
Directive 2011/36/EU, “a position of vulnerability means trafficking-related crimes. The increase in numbers may
a situation, in which the person concerned has no real or often reflect improved understanding within the criminal
acceptable alternative but to submit to the abuse involved.” justice system and governments about the diversity of
In the context of HT, “vulnerability” refers to the innate, offenders, victims, forms of exploitation, and trafficking
contextual, or environmental factors that render an routes. This rise in the number of HT victims could signal
individual or group more susceptible to trafficking (Couto, both positive and negative developments in the fight
2012; UNODC, 2016). As noted by UNODC (2016), against HT. On the one hand, it may point to a stronger
vulnerability to trafficking is not fixed, predetermined, victim identification effort by law enforcement; on the
or fully “known,” but certain factors shape vulnerability other hand, it could suggest a more serious and widespread
and disproportionately affect marginalized groups, trafficking problem (UNODC, 2019). Whether more
including women, children, migrants, and refugees, in victims are being identified because of legislative efforts,
varying ways and degrees. Multiple factors contribute to such as legal amendments, action plan implementation,
the conditions under which HT occurs and determine an victim protection, and national referral systems that have
individual’s capacity to respond (Arhin, 2016; Weitzer, improved victim identification and the effectiveness of
2015). A situation-specific analysis is often required to criminal justice responses, remains uncertain (UNODC,
fully understand the complexities of vulnerability in HT. 2019).
According to this interpretation, vulnerability is 1.1. Victims’ needs
not physical but depends on who is harmed and at risk Being a victim of HT typically involves enduring extreme
(Walklate, 2011). Vulnerability is best measured on a physical and psychological violence in highly precarious
case-by-case basis, considering personal (e.g., physical situations. Consequently, interventions must take multiple
and/or mental disabilities), situational (e.g., a person forms and address various needs (Couto, 2012; Couto &
irregularly residing in a foreign country where they are Fernandes, 2014; Fernandes, 2019; Fernandes et al., 2021;
socially or linguistically isolated), and circumstantial (e.g., Reichert & Sylwestrzak, 2013; UNODC, 2016; Zimmerman,
unemployment or economic destitution) vulnerabilities of 2003). These needs may include housing (providing shelter
the alleged victim (UNODC, 2016). These vulnerabilities in secure specialized facilities and ensuring protection);
may be pre-existing or created by the trafficker (Ioannou & subsistence (access to basic living conditions, such as food,
Oostinga, 2015; Zimmerman et al., 2011). While a victim’s hygiene, and clothing); health (medical care, including
vulnerability may be an indicator of HT, it alone does not evaluation and treatment of physical and psychiatric
constitute a method of human trafficking unless it has been issues); psychological support for emotional recovery and
exploited to the extent that the victim’s consent is deemed improvements in cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal
invalid (UNODC, 2016).
functioning; legal assistance with regularizing immigration
The scope of trafficking in persons is difficult to access status, navigating the criminal process, and asserting
due to the nature and characteristics of the crime. According victims’ rights (e.g., requesting a reflection period,
to the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, no country obtaining a special residence permit, or securing witness
is immune to this crime (UNODC, 2019). Victims are protection); social support (economic aid and access to
trafficked in various ways, both within and across borders, essential resources, support for educational reintegration,

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 103 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3215