Should Hotel Chains Be Held Liable for Human Trafficking? This latest report is a product of Trafficking Inc., a collaborative effort involving ICIJ, Reuters, and various global media organizations. In this narrative, journalist Bernice Yeung sheds light on Elizabeth's journey. The journey began in the summer of 2018 when she started engaging in prostitution. This…
Overcoming the Stigma Surrounding Sex Trafficking Survivors. Sex trafficking is a global problem that affects millions of women and girls each year. It is a form of modern slavery that involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit someone for sexual purposes. Sex trafficking is a violation of human rights and dignity, and…
The UAE’s Kafala System: Harmless or Human Trafficking? With a population of over 9 million, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) relies heavily on foreign nationals, who make up around 90 percent of its residents. These migrants mostly come from Africa, Asia, and other Middle Eastern countries, with many occupying low-wage and semi-skilled positions. The UAE's…
Victim’s story from Punjab. Travel agent Shatar, a Keralite based in Dubai, is the key operator in the human trafficking chain. He is a blackmailer. "A large number of women, primarily Punjabis, are being lured to foreign shores for menial jobs and inhumane conditions," Suman (a pseudonym was used), a Ferozepur resident, explains. Suman herself…
UAE's Disregard for Human Trafficking: Uncovering the Beneficiaries. Sexual exploitation is a form of human trafficking. This involves the abuse of a person's sexuality for the benefit of another person or entity. Sexual exploitation can take various forms, such as prostitution, pornography, sex tourism or forced marriage. Sex trafficking is one of the most profitable…
Philippine lenders and labor agents fleece workers seeking overseas jobs, interviews and confidential documents show. It has been uncovered that employment agencies and loan companies in the Philippines have collaborated to deceive and exploit thousands of women seeking domestic worker jobs abroad. This is according to interviews with workers and numerous confidential complaints filed with…
What are the different types of human trafficking? Human trafficking, also known as modern-day slavery, encompasses a wide range of illicit and unjust practices. However, it is important to understand the distinction between human trafficking and sex trafficking. Continue reading to learn more about the various forms of human trafficking and the definitions of key…
Malaysia charges 4 Thais over mass graves and human trafficking camps that shocked the nation in 2015. These graves were believed to contain the remains of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshis held captive in camps located in a jungle area near the Malaysia-Thailand border.
The Malaysian Home Minister, Saifuddin Nasution, announced that the four individuals…
It’s all about the MONEY. A hub for sex traffickers and hell for the victims.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become a hub for illicit activities like human trafficking, including sex trafficking. UAE's proximity to source countries in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, coupled with its well-developed transportation infrastructure, can facilitate the movement of…
Thai woman trapped in Dubai seeking $100,000 ransom; desperate parents plead for help. In Udon Thani province, a 59-year-old Thai mother, Pranuan, is desperately seeking help for her 38-year-old daughter, Kornkamon, who is currently trapped in Dubai. Kornkamon, who had gone to Dubai to work as a massage therapist in mid-April to alleviate her financial…
The Trafficking Inc. investigation: A new ICIJ investigation delves into interconnected webs of companies, individuals, and business strategies that derive profits from the exploitation of labor trafficking and sex trafficking across international borders.
The investigation, known as Trafficking Inc., is dedicated to exploring two distinct types of human trafficking: labor trafficking and sex trafficking. These…
2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: United Arab Emirates. The US Department of State just released the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report for the United Arab Emirates. The report states that the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas.
Officials did not regularly consider labor law violations with trafficking indicators as…
Sex trafficking: the fight to recover India’s stolen children. In the heart of the Sundarbans lies the world's largest mangrove forest, a fragile and vulnerable place due to devastating climate change effects. This has displaced families and disrupted their traditional way of life.
As a consequence, human trafficking has risen, particularly affecting women and children.…
2023 Trafficking in Persons Report by the US Department of State presents a comprehensive assessment of the global state of human trafficking and outlines efforts to enhance response and coordination. It sheds light on survivor stories, exposes new tactics employed by traffickers. Tactics such as cyber scam operations, and provides recommendations for collaborative action to…
An unfortunate choice of words. It’s an open secret that the United Arab Emirates have established themselves as a global hub for sex trafficking. No Emirati or international authorities are doing anything relevant to end this nightmare. In spite of numerous media reports (see one example here).
Each year, tens of thousands of women and…
BI rescues three human trafficking victims bound for the Middle East. The Manila Bureau of Immigration (BI) has shared the news that they recently rescued three individuals. They were suspected victims of human trafficking. In a statement, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said they were not allowed to proceed with their travel to Lebanon, Syria,…
How torture, deception, and inaction underpin the UAE's thriving sex trafficking industry. In a recent Reuters report, the issue of human trafficking for sex work in the UAE is brought to light. It is shedding much-needed attention on the immense challenges faced by the victims in their pursuit of justice.
The report is titled…
2022 Trafficking in Persons Report: United Arab Emirates. The 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report from the US Department of State shows that the situation surrounding the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its efforts to address human trafficking is deeply concerning. It is disheartening to note that the UAE government has not met the necessary standards…