An Introduction to Human Trafficking - United Nations Office on ...

AN INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING: VULNERABILITY, IMPACT AND ACTION
with the HIV virus. 11 These findings demonstrate the need for increased attention <strong>to</strong> HIV
among young victims of sex trafficking in research and practice. It is difficult <strong>to</strong>
determine the absolute rates of HIV infection among trafficked persons and little research
has been done <strong>to</strong> determine whether these rates are higher than those of non-trafficked
prostituted women or than those in the general community. 12
C.—Mental health impact
Relentless anxiety, insecurity, fear and physical pain and injury will have significant effects
on the mental health and well-being of trafficked victims. Symp<strong>to</strong>ms of psychological trauma
reported by trafficked persons include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression,
alienation and disorientation. These individuals report feelings of extreme sadness
and hopelessness about the future. 13 They may be suicidal, have cognitive impairment and
memory loss, and may be withdrawn. They may also have difficulty concentrating and
show aggression and anger. Studies indicate that trauma worsens throughout the duration
of the trafficking process. Initial trauma commonly experienced either before they were
trafficked or when they first discovered that they were trafficked, will be continually
increased by the process of the trafficking. The longer victims remain under the control
of their traffickers, the more severe and long-lasting are the effects of their trauma. The
symp<strong>to</strong>ms may persist for a long time after the trafficking experience unless support and
appropriate counselling is provided. 14
D.—Child victims
Child victims of trafficking are subject <strong>to</strong> the same harmful treatment as adults. Their age
makes them even more vulnerable <strong>to</strong> the harmful consequences of abusive practices.
Prolonged abuse in children, including physical and sexual abuse, hunger and malnutrition,
may lead <strong>to</strong> permanent stunting of growth. Trafficked children may suffer, for example,
from poorly formed or rotting teeth and may experience reproductive problems at a later
date. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has documented that children in some
tropical regions are at high risk of sunstroke, increased heart rhythm, poisoning due <strong>to</strong>
chemicals in insecticides, dust inhalation in sawmills and mines, machinery accidents,
burns, road accidents, stagnation of growth and general fatigue that makes them less
resistant <strong>to</strong> malaria and other diseases because of their exposure <strong>to</strong> harsh working
conditions. 15
11
J. G. Silverman and others, “HIV prevalence and predic<strong>to</strong>rs among rescued sex-trafficked women and girls in
Mumbai, India”, Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, vol. 43, No. 5 (2006), pp. 588-593.
12
Paul Williams, “Sex work, the Palermo Pro<strong>to</strong>col and HIV/AIDS”, paper presented by the HIV/AIDS technical
adviser of UNODC <strong>to</strong> the Global Consultation on HIV/AIDS and Sex Work, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, 13 July 2006.
13
Zimmerman and others, S<strong>to</strong>len Smiles: a Summary Report … , p. 18.
14
Ekaterina V. Shkurkin, “The consequences of the sexual abuse in human trafficking”, paper presented at <strong>Human</strong>
<strong>Trafficking</strong> Conference, Riga, 5 December 2004 (see http://homepages.stmartin.edu/fac_staff/kshkurkin/
Conseq%20of%20Hum%20traffic%20with%20inserts%2025feb05.doc).
15
Kathleen Fitzgibbon, “Modern-day slavery? The scope of trafficking in persons in Africa”, African Security Review,
vol. 12, No. 1 (2003) (see www.iss.co.za/Pubs/ASR/12No1/EFitz.htmlHigh profits, low risk).
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