Protection of Victims of Transnational /Cross Borders Crimes with emphasis on Trafficking in Persons, Human Smuggling and Prostitution

Abstract

The concept of international security has evolved from protection of State’s sovereignty and territorial integrity from external military threat to protections of threats emanating from non-state forces. The perpetrators have taken advantage of the changes in technology and globalization and they do not commit their acts in one jurisdiction. A major characteristic of this threat is that it transcends across geographical boundaries and cannot be solved by jurisdictional authority and hence requires international operation. The world peace is threatened by transnational crimes. Transnational crimes are criminal activities which operate across borders and boundaries. There are many activities that can be characterized as transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, smuggling of migrants, human trafficking, money-laundering, trafficking in firearms, counterfeit goods, wildlife and cultural property, and even some aspects of cybercrime. Trafficking in persons is not a modern phenomenon, though the term is a contemporary one. Throughout human history, vulnerable people have been treated as commodities-exploited for the benefit of others. One of the most obvious historical examples is slavery. Whenever societies tolerate the exploitation of free or cheap labour, trafficking in persons emerge in one form or another. The 2018 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons noted that most of the detected victims of trafficking are identified in their countries of citizenship, that is, in their own country1. The category of victims may include irregular migrants who have left their home countries in search of a better life, others who travel without appropriate travel and identification documents, visas or work permits and might not speak the language of the host country. These factors that may increase their risk of exploitation. Many flee out of poverty, war and armed conflict, political oppression, natural disasters or poor education and lack of employment opportunities. It is important to note in particular the high vulnerability of refugees and people living in conflict-affected areas, where the need to flee war and persecution may be exploited by traffickers to lure them into exploitation. This paper examines the protection of victims of transnational crimes/cross border crimes focusing on trafficking in persons, human smuggling, prostitution. It also highlighted the laws in this regard or in place to wards protection of the victims.