Human trafficking refers to the unlawful or criminal acts and a form of modern-day slavery of transporting and coercing individuals to trade, exploit them, and benefit from their services or work, typically via sexual exploitation or forced labor. It is common in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the victims are transported domestically and internationally to countries in areas like the Middle East and Western Europe. Over 50% of the traffickers are ladies; hence, it is not a male-dominated crime, as many people believe (Jong & Stewart, 2019, p. 591). The primary victims are children and women since they are weak and vulnerable to substantial exploitation in sectors like domestic, agricultural, military work, and prostitution.
Poor economic conditions are the primary cause of trafficking, as people tend to seek jobs, employment, and significant earnings from other regions. Civil conflicts, wars, political instability, and oppression also trigger migration, leading people into the trap of traffickers who lure them with promises of better places. Poverty is the most significant root of human trafficking in Africa (Sisters, 2024, p. 1). Education and jobs are limited in the region; hence, people cannot secure employment and enough money to cater to their primary wants. Most men are lured with employment opportunities while women and girls are promised false marriages and jobs; hence, they get into traps with hopes of alleviating their poverty.
The United Nations (UN) Palermo Protocol, signed in 2000, is the covenant that protects Africans, especially children and women, by suppressing, punishing, and preventing trafficking (Commerce, 2023). The UN Office on Drugs and Crime is the body responsible for implementing and forcing the law to stop human trafficking. It promotes cooperation among the 178 member states worldwide to trace and arrest traffickers and help victims back to their homes. UN preaches liberalism as Africans should be treated equally like others and their rights and freedom of speech, liberty, expression, and own decisions. The UN General Assembly has established the right and requires all the member states to comply with them and ensure no one is abused via trafficking. The underlying set of policies is universal; hence, they do not violate any country’s culture and traditions. The assembly demands enormous fines and lengthy jail terms for anyone found guilty of human trafficking.
Non-government organizations like the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women help minimize trafficking in the region. Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) and the Red Cross also help save the victims and run anti-trafficking campaigns (Portal, 2022). Hence, the fight against human trafficking employs smart power. African nations integrate military strength and economic strength with heavy investments in institutions, partnerships, and international alliances to protect their people (deLisle, 2020). The approach to smart power helps reduce crime by ensuring tight security to prevent unlawful trafficking, building solid international relationships for open and legal job creation and opportunities, and providing social and economic aid like donations to alleviate poverty.
However, it creates interdependence on other countries that donate to and support Africa. This hinders economic development, thus increasing poverty levels. Regarding global politics, the issue creates a class of the superior countries who donate and support others, and the minority depend on the support. They lead to the growth of sharp power, where the superiors manipulate diplomatic policies to undermine and influence the minority nations’ political system. Therefore, human trafficking should be prevented at the country level first before extending the issue across borders. Governments should formulate legislation to ensure human rights are adhered to, and all people are protected. They should develop their economies around formal sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship to create more jobs and reducing poverty. The approaches will see a significant reduction in human trafficking in Africa.
Commerce, U. S. C. O. (2023). Anti-Human Trafficking Laws – International Laws. US Chamber of Commerce. https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/anti-human-trafficking-laws/anti-human-trafficking-laws-international-laws
deLisle, J. (2020). Foreign Policy through Other Means: Hard Power, Soft Power, and China’s Turn to Political Warfare to Influence the United States. Orbis, 64(2), 174–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orbis.2020.02.004
Jong, D. D., & Stewart, J. (2019). Chapter 19 – Human trafficking in Africa. In Illicit Exploitation of Resources (pp. 590–618). Cambridge University Press eBooks. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108525343.022
Portal, M. H. (2022, April 25). Home – Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) LA. Medical Home Portal. https://www.castla.org/
Sisters, U. S. C. (2024, February 21). Alliance to End Human Trafficking – Ending slavery is everyone’s work. US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking. https://sistersagainsttrafficking.org/