Forced Migration and Trafficking in Persons in the Contemporary World: The Variables of Gender, Human Rights and Covid-19 Pandemic

Forced migration and trafficking in persons are the fastest growing areas of international criminal activity and are of increasing concern to the international community. According to the U.S-FBI, human trafficking generates a revenue of approximately 9.5 billion dollars annually, making it the 2nd largest criminal industry in the world today. Forced migration and trafficking in persons share many elements in common such as their vulnerability and their lack of protection and human security. Today, during the COVID-19 pandemic, these phenomena are more complex. The vast majority of trafficking victims are the consequences of unprecedented measures adopted to flatten the infection curve include enforced quarantine, curfews and lockdowns, travel restrictions, and limitations on economic activities and public life that exacerbate poverty, unemployment, and disrupt families. Trafficking is a health problem, as trafficked women and children are most at risk from HIV infection. It is a gender problem, as unequal power relations reinforce women's secondary status in society. Lastly, it is a legal problem, as they are stripped of their human rights and lack access to redress for the crimes committed against them. This panel will focus on the nexus between forced migration and trafficking in persons taking into account the variables of gender, human rights, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Such an exploration and analysis of all possible variables involved will aim at finding ways of improving the coordination of efforts at the regional, national and global levels against sex trafficking, as well as strengthening gender sensitive approaches in all anti-trafficking efforts.