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Human trafficking leaves victims with long-term social, psychological, and health effects. Research in this area is still nascent, and there are limited studies that show the effectiveness of existing services for survivors. This study fills the gaps in knowledge of the effectiveness of existing programs through a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Inclusion and exclusion criteria retained 15 studies using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses method, containing 16 populations. Included studies examined programs and/or interventions providing direct services to human trafficking survivors using quantitative pre- and post-intervention measurements published from January 2010 to June 2022. Outcomes among survivors were grouped into five categories: (a) mental health, (b) physical health, (c) social support or social behavior, (d) personal development, and (e) other. Roughly half (n = 31, 51.66%) of the outcomes across the 15 studies were statistically significant. Most measured constructs showed a moderate effect size (E.S.; n = 31, 51.67%). In all, 21 constructs (27.91%) met high E.S. levels, and eight (13.33%) met the criteria for a low-level effect. Analyzing different intervention types, physical-based interventions represented the smallest subset and the largest mean effect size (n = 5, g = 1.632, 95% CI [0.608, 2.655]) followed by standardized therapy (n = 23, g = 1.111, 95% CI [0.624, 1.599]), wrap-around services (n = 14, g = 0.594, 95% CI [0.241, 0.947]), and peer and support group modalities (n = 18, g = 0.440, 95% CI [0.310, 0.571]). A meta-regression showed that non-U.S.-based interventions were significantly more effective than U.S.-based interventions (z = −2.25, p = 0.025). While only 15 studies contributed to this analysis, the current study ushered in new avenues regarding future research, policies, and practice in services for survivors of human trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this review is to summarize the available empirical research on parental production and to explore the discursive positioning of parental perpetrators within scholarship on child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Academic databases were searched using a combination of relevant terms, and the review was expanded as new terms were identified. The review identified 66 scholarly articles, papers, or books that referred to parental production of CSAM published since 1970. To explore how parental offenders have been positioned within this literature over time, the review is presented according to a chronological summary, drawing out key themes and empirical insights. The review showed that parental CSAM production is common, more likely to involve pre-pubescent victims, more severe abuse, female as well as male perpetrators, and produces high-demand illegal content with serious long-term sequelae. However, the review found that the focus of child trafficking and sexual exploitation scholarship on "commercial" and profit-driven abuse has marginalized and obscured parental CSAM production as a serious policy challenge. These findings warrant a reorientation of research, policy, and practice approaches to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation, as well as a reflection on the resistance of researchers and policymakers to acknowledging the problem of family-based sexual exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the high levels of social service usage by women who are sex trafficked. Fifty (N = 50) women who were sex trafficked were surveyed using purposive and snowball sampling methods. The ACEs score for respondents ranged from 2 to 10 with an average score of 7.4 (SD = 2.3). Emotional and sexual abuse tied at 88 percent as the most frequently cited ACEs among the women in this sample. The prevalence of ACEs was significantly higher in this sample compared with known estimates in similar populations, ranging from 20 percent to 54 percent (p <.001). Considering the well-established link between ACEs and poor health outcomes, these findings point to the need for innovative and targeted social service provisions to women who were formerly sex trafficked that take into consideration the high level of ACEs of the women. Given the sociodemographic diversity of this sample, there is a need for services that are trauma-informed, innovative, and culturally sensitive in a variety of social service settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The book "Development of regulations and public policies in the northern border of Mexico, in the 20th century" analyzes the public policies implemented in the northern border of Mexico during the 20th century. The book is divided into nine chapters that address different areas of intervention, such as migratory flows, health, economic development, urban development and infrastructure, environment and sustainability, national security, education, science and technology. The book uses primary sources and has a qualitative approach. The chapters address topics such as human trafficking, healthcare, trade and industrial policies, urban development and infrastructure, environment, national security, and educational, scientific and technological policies. The book concludes by highlighting the importance of a new commission to promote development in the northern border of Mexico. [Extracted from the article]

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the factors predicting sexual exploitation among victims of human trafficking, specifically examining how traffickers' means of control, types of sexual services, nature of recruiter relationships and female age groups play a role in this phenomenon. The data analysed spanned from 2002 to 2019 and were sourced from anonymised public data provided by the Counter-Trafficking Data Collaborative (CTDC), a global hub collecting information from counter-trafficking organisations worldwide. Utilising a binary logistic regression approach, the study identified that traffickers employ various means of control, such as debt bondage, taking earnings, threats, sexual abuse, false promises, use of psychoactive substances, exploitation of children, threat of law enforcement and withholding necessities, aligning with Biderman's Theory of Coercion. Additionally, victims experience prostitution, pornography and private sexual services, often recruited by intimate partners and friends. Furthermore, the study revealed that young women aged 30 years and above were less likely to experience sexual exploitation compared to younger girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trafficking is a heinous crime and violation of human rights affecting between 25 and 27 million adults and children globally each year. Current immigration and refugee policy could exacerbate the human trafficking public health crisis. Health care providers working in emergency department and urgent care settings interact with human trafficking victims and provide life-changing care. Research identifies a significant need for coordinated, consistent, and standardized education on human trafficking. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of online educational training in human trafficking on the knowledge and self-confidence of registered nurses and nurse practitioners working in the emergency department and urgent care settings in New York. An asynchronous, online education module was designed for emergency department and urgent care registered nurses and nurse practitioners to address key components of human trafficking identification, assessment, and treatment. Using a 1-group pretest/posttest design, participants completed an existing published survey tool before and 6 weeks after education. Findings revealed statistically significant improvement (P <.05) in knowledge and confidence regarding components of identifying, assessing, and treating victims of human trafficking. Data demonstrated 63.8% of participants had never received human trafficking training, and 80% reported no history of contact with patients known or suspected of being trafficked. Results in this study demonstrate the need for increased standardized education regarding HT for frontline health care workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pauline Lord's article "My Anna Christie" (1922) was an important intervention in the discourse regarding Progressive Era brothel dramas. Describing how she researched and originated the title role in "Anna Christie," Lord's article was also one of the few pieces about the play written by a woman during this time period. When the piece appeared, contexts for understanding "Anna Christie" had shifted: whereas previous prostitute plays had been censored for obscenity, Eugene O'Neill's "Anna Christie" garnered the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. "My Anna Christie" followed in the wake of two pioneering actresses who portrayed courtesans or sex workers and wrote about it: Mrs. Leslie Carter and Mary Shaw. "My Anna Christie" examines sexual exploitation, abandonment, and double standards of sexuality, conjuring sympathy for Anna's character. More significantly, Lord interviewed prostitutes as part of her research. Rather than sensationalizing or denigrating sex workers as "The Social Evil," Lord sought to understand them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the analysis of 80 convictions that have entered into force, adopted by the courts of first instance for the period from 2020 to 2024, the article establishes the peculiarities of the application of punishment for human trafficking. For this purpose, data on 103 people convicted of this crime have been summarized. The peculiarities of the courts' consideration of the identity of the perpetrator, the circumstances that mitigate and aggravate the punishment are clarified, attention is drawn to the main mistakes that occur in this case. It was established that 96,1% of persons convicted of human trafficking were sentenced by the court to imprisonment. Four (3,9%) convicts (in all cases convicted under Part 2 of Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) were sentenced by the courts to a fine (in order to impose a milder punishment than provided for by law). Six (5,8%) convicts were sentenced to an additional punishment in the form of confiscation of property. It was found that the minimum term of punishment in the form of imprisonment for a certain period for human trafficking reached 2 years (in the order of imposing a milder punishment than provided for by law), the maximum - 8 years. For the most part, the courts imposed punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 5 years, which thus allowed them to release the convict from serving a sentence with probation. Attention is also drawn to the fact that the maximum term of punishment imposed by the court in the form of imprisonment (8 years) is the minimum term of this punishment provided for by the sanction of Part 3 of Art. 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. In this regard, it is concluded that Ukrainian legislator and domestic courts have different assessments of the social danger of trafficking in human beings. It was established that only 15 persons (14,6%) were sentenced to serve their sentences, the remaining 88 persons (85,4%) were released from serving a sentence on probation (Article 75 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Attention is drawn to the fact that only 11 people were sentenced to imprisonment for a certain period of time with its actual serving (out of 99 people to whom the court imposed this punishment), while a fine was applied to the rest. Thus, not even every seventh offender is sentenced to actual serving a sentence for human trafficking, and only every ninth person is sentenced to imprisonment with actual serving it. It was shown that decisions to release a person from serving a probationary sentence are often not supported by proper arguments or the relevant arguments are unconvincing due to their formal nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trafficking is a severe form of child abuse and maltreatment. Cases are pervasive and no demographic, socioeconomic status, community, or school is immune. The most effective response to human trafficking in school settings requires increased awareness and establishing policies, protocols, and procedures that support collaborative response to suspected human trafficking. School nurses are well equipped to lead these efforts. While the National Association of School Nurses acknowledges the importance of the role of the school nurse in child trafficking response in their Human Trafficking Position Statement, resources to aid school nurses in coordinated recognition and response efforts remain limited. This article reviews clinical guidance on human trafficking through a school-based lens, highlights indicators that should alert school nurses to the risk of trafficking, outlines best practices for response to abuse and exploitation, and provides additional tools and resources available to aid school nurses in their approach to caring for children experiencing trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores how the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) can combat human and sex trafficking and slavery by integrating human rights provisions into its bidding and hosting agreements with host nations during and after the tournament.

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Human trafficking is a widespread and complex issue, especially in the Balkans, necessitating further research and analysis to understand its causes and implications. This paper focuses on the punitive and criminological aspects of human trafficking in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and the Republic of North Macedonia. The analysis reveals that human trafficking is a pervasive problem in these countries, posing significant challenges for suppression. Factors such as the migrant crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and poverty have exacerbated the difficulty of preventing human trafficking. The entire Balkan region is facing challenges in combating human trafficking, as underscored in recent reports by the United States State Department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The research aims to develop evidence-based recommendations for the prevention of human trafficking. Policies for combating such crime, including international, criminological, criminal-legal, penitentiary, criminological, and operative-investigative policies, are analysed. A comprehensive system of scientific and special legal methods, including methods of synthesis and analysis, formal-logical and formal-legal methods, as well as comparative-legal methods, were used to conduct the research. The research results are aimed at improving the effectiveness of measures to combat human trafficking. The experience of the leading countries, such as the USA, Portugal, and Qatar in the context of interaction of law enforcement bodies of different countries in the sphere of combating human trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Despite the link between conflict and human trafficking having been globally recognised, academic inquiry investigating how the two interact continues to be limited. Given the recency of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in February 2022, this lack of literature is even more pronounced in understanding how the risks of trafficking are developing in the current context. This paper examines extant academic literature to explore what is already known about the relationship between conflict and human trafficking, situating this within the theoretical framework of routine activity theory (RAT). It analyses governmental and non-governmental organisation reports emerging from Ukraine to contextualise the risk that is specific to those affected by the war. The paper identifies four key drivers of risk facing those in, or fleeing, Ukraine, which can heighten their vulnerability to human trafficking, before offering a novel and innovative typology of the ways that human trafficking can manifest as a result of conflict. The typology gives consideration to the direct and indirect links between conflict and trafficking, the geographical spaces in which trafficking can occur, and the specific forms that exploitation can take. By situating the paper within RAT and contextualising it with evidence from the war in Ukraine, the findings of this paper provide both theoretical and empirical insights which help to expand existing knowledge on how conflict situations can increase the risk of THB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the motivation behind military commanders' perpetration, facilitation and tolerance of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and considers the decision making behind the imposing of punitive measures. It begins by investigating macro-level criminological perspectives behind CRSV, focusing on understandings of gender, masculinities and power in conflict settings. Meso-level conflict dynamics are subsequently explored to navigate the strategic motives behind CRSV, relating to its deployment to meet military objectives, and its use in regulating and building cohesion among troops. Consideration is then given to micro-level psychological perspectives to elucidate individual decision-making that leads to commanders tolerating or encouraging CRSV. This includes an analysis of some of the most relevant theories within social psychology including social identity theory and moral disengagement. Finally, case law from the International Criminal Court is scrutinised to understand the current approaches towards punishing CRSV, before arguing that a lack of knowledge on when and how CRSV will be committed means that punishment should be influenced by a victim-centric approach. The paper provides an original, multidisciplinary understanding of the state of the academic literature on military command and CRSV. It uniquely brings together criminological theory, conflict analysis and psychological understandings to provide a holistic overview, before investigating approaches towards punishment and prevention. In providing a rigorous review of current understandings and highlighting the limitations of extant knowledge, the paper holds value in paving the way for research to better understand and improve interventions regarding commanders committing CRSV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The categorisation of intra-party sexual and reproductive violence within non-State armed groups as war crimes has garnered increased attention over the past decade, as evidenced by scholarly discussions and jurisprudence from national courts and international tribunals. However, debates surrounding the justiciability of such violence as crimes against humanity have been notably scarce. This circumstance is most likely attributed to the treaty-based and customary requirement that the latter international crimes must be committed 'as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population'. This article provides both a critical insight on the subject matter and a path forward towards accountability. By reviewing relevant jurisprudence of international and hybrid criminal tribunals, the author contends that the notion 'civilian population' could be interpreted flexibly in order to encompass intra-party attacks within non-State armed groups involving acts of sexual and reproductive violence. The article demonstrates that such an interpretation aligns with the object and purpose of crimes against humanity, the fundamental tenets of international human rights law, the framework of international humanitarian law, and the principle of legality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immediately after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in February 2022, the international anti-trafficking community raised concerns about the Ukrainian refugees facing heightened risks of human trafficking, as evidenced by the documented links between conflict-induced mass displacement and exposure to exploitation. Yet, the same actors remained silent on possible trafficking in the areas under Russian control - even as evidence of systematic sexual violence employed by the Russian military against Ukrainian civilians soon emerged - arguably, due to the asymmetrical nature of the conflicts that shaped practitioner and academic understandings on intersections between trafficking, sexual violence and exploitation in war economies. Inadvertently, this tacit refusal to consider in-conflict trafficking in the Russo-Ukrainian war, coupled with the refugee-centred discourse, has reinforced allegations of widespread sex trafficking of Ukrainian women and children in host societies, concertedly disseminated by Russian officials and affiliated sources, and seeking, alongside reputational damage, to erase the crimes of the Russian occupational regime. Meanwhile, since 2014, the Ukrainian government has granted the status of trafficking victim to survivors of forced labour in illegal detention in the occupied territories - a practice reflecting the lack of dedicated mechanisms for war crime victims. Since 2022 it has become more widespread and extended to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, forcible transfers and deportation. Against this backdrop of discursive contestation and practical uses of anti-trafficking frameworks, this article examines legal and practical challenges, prospects, and limitations of applying the human trafficking concept to violence against civilians in the context of inter-state war and occupation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a robust quantitative approach for determining significant economic factors for sex trafficking in the United States. The aim is to study monthly counts of sex trafficking-related convictions, and use a wide range of economic variables as covariates to investigate their effect on conviction counts. A count time series model is considered along with a regression setup to include economic time series as covariates (economic factors) to explain the counts on sex trafficking-related convictions. The statistical significance of these economic factors is investigated and the significant factors are ranked based on appropriate model selection methods. The inclusion of time-lagged versions of the economic factor time series in the regression model is also explored. Our findings indicate that economic factors relating to immigration policy, consumer price index and labor market regulations are the most significant in explaining sex trafficking convictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, the United Nations (UN) promulgated the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration which charts the UN's global migration policy strategy, affording central importance to safety in migration. This ascendant focus on safe migration is echoed in a range of national and regional policy initiatives. Despite the policy enthusiasm for safe migration, to date, there is a dearth of critical scholarly attention to this policy shift. This paper builds on 7 years of ethnographic research on safe migration interventions in mainland Southeast Asia. Centring on the Mekong region, this paper examines two interlocking effects of safe migration policy instrumentalisation. On the one hand, safe migration discourse' spatio‐temporal underpinnings dispositions programmes to gravitate towards policy abstractions. Yet, in practice, safe migration interventions heavily depend on informal constellations of sociality, where migrants become re‐embedded as both objects and instruments of policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Strategic Universe Journal / Univers Strategic is the property of Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University, Institute for Security Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on a toolkit to support the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OEC) Development Assistance Committe's (DAC) recommendation to end or prevent sexual exploitation abuse and harassment (SEAH). Topics discussed include policies and professional conduct standards, organisational change and leadership, the development or support of survivor- and victim-centered response and support mechanisms, and international coordination to prevent and respond to SEAH.

Background: Human trafficking is a human rights violation and urgent public health challenge. It involves the exploitation of a person by means of force, intimidation or deceit and causes severe health risks. Though it occurs all over the world, its true extent is still unknown. Refugees are especially vulnerable to human trafficking due to language barriers and difficult living conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and design a screening tool to identify survivors of all forms of human trafficking among refugees in a German state registration and reception centre. Methods: In cooperation with the local authorities and the Ministry of Justice and for Migration Baden-Württemberg, we interviewed newly arrived refugees at an initial reception centre in Southern Germany to assess the prevalence of human trafficking. We used both a combination of the Adult Human Trafficking Screening Tool and a publication by Mumma et al. to assess all forms of human trafficking. Results: In total, 13 of the 176 refugees had experienced trafficking, which corresponded to a prevalence of 7.3% (95%-CI = [3.5%, 11.3%]). Across all languages the questionnaire had a sensitivity of 76.9% and a specificity of 84.0% at a recommended cut-off of six positive responses. The recommended cut-off differed slightly for the Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, and English version. In an exploratory descriptive analysis on subregions, refugees from West Africa had a substantially higher prevalence (33.3%, 8 out of 24) for human trafficking within our sample, especially women. However, when we excluded this region from our analysis, we found no significant gender difference for the rest of the sample. Conclusions: The high prevalence of trafficking in most regions, regardless of gender, suggests that more effort is needed to identify and protect all trafficked persons. The designed screening tool seems to be a promising tool to detect an especially vulnerable group of refugees and provides assistance in identifying survivors of human trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trafficking poses a global humanitarian and public health concern, particularly affecting women and migrants in many countries. This article assessed existing policies and laws addressing human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women in the Caribbean nations of the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago. It identified the legislative frameworks and procedures for anti‐trafficking efforts in the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago through a comprehensive review of academic literature and policy documents. The analysis focused on evaluating the successes and challenges in implementing these policies. Findings revealed that while both countries had established anti‐trafficking laws, several structural, economic, social, and political barriers prevented effective interventions catering to the needs of vulnerable populations. Based on the analysis, recommendations were made to mitigate country and regional human trafficking, with a focus on the protection of women. Key recommendations include enhancing economic opportunities, strengthening social protections, and improving the criminal justice system's capacity to combat trafficking. A reduction in trafficking and sexual exploitation in the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago requires comprehensive policy implementation strategies aimed at protecting and supporting at‐risk native and migrant populations, providing sound economic opportunities and social protection, and strengthening effective legal responses to combat trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the sexual exploitation of children on dating apps, and their revictimisation as adults. Findings showed that, from a sample of 9,987 Australian dating platform users surveyed, 8.8 percent had used these platforms while under 18 years of age. Of these, 59.3 percent reported receiving at least one sexually exploitative request from another dating platform user who knew they were under 18. Respondents who were victimised on dating platforms while under 18 were more likely to be revictimised as an adult through online and offline sexual violence. They also experienced a greater number of harms. These findings highlight the risks associated with underage dating platform use, the potential for revictimisation as an adult, and the need for these platforms to implement additional safety measures to reduce access among children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Akin to the activity on the high seas broadly, underwater cultural heritage below the surface of the high seas is beyond the scope of policing of any one state. As such, the historical, cultural, and financial value of shipwrecks is vulnerable to crimes such as looting, trafficking, forgeries, and then illicit sales, rather than providing cultural benefit to all, as articulated in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. The emergent United Nations High Seas Treaty provides some hope of unclouding this complex space and providing protections for these culturally rich, priceless, and often nationally contested objects. Shipwreck ownership is contested not only on the high seas. Shipwrecks found within a state's exclusive economic zone may be susceptible to questions of ownership, further challenging the questions of how crimes against underwater cultural heritage can be collectively prevented and protected. Drawing on a shipwreck example from Southeast Asia in which ownership was contested, the Geldermalsen, this article considers, within the framework of international law and increasingly available technology, that it may be possible to "design out" criminal vulnerabilities through a lens of situational crime prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trafficking, especially the exploitation of women and children, is a serious problem that threatens humanity in the ASEAN region. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has an important role in tackling this phenomenon. This research aims to analyze ASEAN's role in tackling human trafficking, with a focus on the exploitation of women and children, as well as to identify challenges and provide recommendations for improvement. The research method used is the normative juridical method, which examines various legal materials as the main basis for answering research problems. A statutory and conceptual approach is used to examine relevant legal instruments and examine concepts related to human trafficking, human rights, and the protection of women and children. Data was collected through document studies and secondary literature, then analyzed qualitatively to evaluate ASEAN's role and effectiveness in tackling human trafficking. The research results show that ASEAN has adopted various legal instruments, including the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons (ACTIP), but implementation and coordination between member countries is still a major challenge. The role of civil society and non-governmental organizations is also important in supporting efforts to combat human trafficking in the ASEAN region. Recommendations are suggested to strengthen policy implementation, increase regional cooperation, and strengthen protection for victims, especially women and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing subset of peacekeeping literature focuses on explaining peacekeeper sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) of civilians within postconflict protection. However, what happens after the abuse has received limited attention. Most of the time, peacekeepers do not receive any type of punishment following abuse allegations. What explains why peacekeepers are punished for abuse allegations? I argue that the presence of child victims increases the chances that peacekeepers are punished. Two mechanisms are highlighted through which the presence of child victims increases the chance of punishment: (i) the increased moral and legal obligation of UN member states to protect children and (ii) the increased shaming and media focus on child victims, which heightens public focus. The empirical analyses of UN and Troop-Contributing Country punishment actions between 2007 and 2017 provide robust support for the argument that the presence of child victims increases peacekeeper punishment. This research builds on studies of SEA, peacekeeping dynamics, and victimhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on how child welfare systems respond to children forced into labor, using a case study of California. Topics include the intersectionality of race and sexuality in human trafficking responses, the misperception that major labor violations against children have been addressed, and the varied legal perceptions of human trafficking based on coercion and exploitation rather than industry.

In recent decades, an anti-trafficking legislative and policy framework has been developed in Spain, coupled with the funding of initiatives related to the protection of trafficked persons, especially women, largely carried out by faith-based and secular organizations. Using 25 interviews conducted with people employed in programmes targeting trafficked women in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, this article provides deeper exploration of this under-studied subject with a view to gaining a better understanding of the work experiences of professionals involved in these initiatives, with special attention paid to the challenges they face in enacting anti-trafficking activities while avoiding producing violence on assisted persons. The experiences of these professionals highlight that the neoliberal outsourcing of services to non-governmental organizations nevertheless contributes towards making anti-trafficking an apparatus in which violence materializes and reproduces. Significantly, this violence involves not only the people who are being assisted as trafficking victims but also some anti-trafficking professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverse actors, including foreign and national states, international agencies, donors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and private ventures, demand, fund, and implement anti-trafficking activities worldwide. Bissau-Guinean Quran schoolboys begging in Senegalese cities are defined as victims of child trafficking, and their teachers as traffickers. This article aims to explore the Quran teachers' understanding of begging and their response to being accused of child trafficking. It rests on data collected during anthropological fieldwork in Guinea-Bissau and Senegal since 2009, including interviews and participation in religious events. The Quran teachers, some of whom admit colleagues might exploit their students, highlight four aspects of begging: allowing poor populations economically to study the Quran; contributing to humbleness, humility, and empathy with underprivileged groups; redistributing resources across generations; and allowing the acquisition of knowledge, liberation, and power. They maintain that the NGOs are profiting from funds provided to "rescue" the students and act as real traffickers, and together with funders, they aim to eliminate Islam. Embedded in layers of coloniality, the Quran teachers keep their position as community leaders. Banning begging is bound to fail if the anti-trafficking NGOs ignore their understanding of meaningful suffering and begging, including the economic and religious aspects of alms-seeking and its reciprocal nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of technology in the current era is also utilized in creating environmentally friendly products, amidst the industrial world that is beginning to have social and environmental impacts, which can influence lifestyle and societal behavior, influenced by factors such as economic ability, awareness, and the abundance of goods proportional to the increasing needs of individuals, where appearance is a very important factor to be considered to enhance beauty. With increasingly fierce competition, the Somethinc brand creates quality and environmentally friendly beauty products while still considering the impact on the environment in the future. To address this challenge, this study aims to investigate the factors influencing the purchase intention of Somethinc products. Research data were obtained through an online survey involving 200 respondents. Data analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Model (SEM) with the SmartPLS 4 analysis tool. The results show that Product Innovation does not affect purchase intention, while green marketing and brand awareness influence purchase intention. Brand image mediates the influence of product innovation, green marketing, and brand awareness on purchase intention for Somethinc products among Generation Z in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on COVID-19 as a determinant of antitrafficking efforts. While the impacts of COVID-19 on trafficking itself (including the increased awareness of new forms of exploitation and heightened vulnerabilities to trafficking) have been relatively well documented , , , , , , the impacts of the health emergency on governments’ antitrafficking efforts have received less attention. This article seeks to address this gap in the literature, building on the findings of the “Determinants of Anti-Trafficking Efforts” research project funded by the U.S. Department of State Office for Combatting Human Trafficking and implemented by the authors at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article critically interrogates the political effect of portraying drug-related organized crime in the Americas as a resilient market phenomenon. It works out how both drug demand and supply are constructed as immune to repressive policy interventions of the War on Drugs. Drug demand is seen as a pathologic consumer habit which is inelastic to price changes brought about by interdiction. Drug supply, in turn, cannot be permanently suppressed as the 'balloon effect' ensures that trafficking routes merely shift from one country to another. In this discursive framework, policy making is consigned to perpetual adaption rather than purposive social transformation. In consequence, the political horizon of international policy making is limited to living with danger. This discursive move is facilitated by the resilience approach which consigns human communities to coping with threats and upheavals they can no longer have any hope of overcoming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transnational anti-trafficking networks seek to 'rescue' cisgender women who sell sex in India. This article puzzles out why cis female sex workers might narrate themselves as victims of trafficking in need of rescue despite making comfortable livings as independent sex workers who control their own labour. I draw data from my own ethnographic observations, interviews with 130 Telugu-speaking sex workers, as well as publicly circulating media clips, all from fieldwork conducted in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana between 2009 and 2018. The victim narratives analysed here were told by sex workers familiar with arguments in favour of decriminalising and destigmatizing sex work. My research suggests that many women who sell sex value the material goals of the sex workers' rights movement while nevertheless longing for the immaterial moral security touted by anti-traffickers. I argue that publicly performing trafficking narratives allows women who sell sex to disavow moral agency in participating in what they often refer to as tappudu pani (bad work) while nevertheless accessing the material benefits of sex work. Participating in what Lindquist has called the aesthetic of trafficking, therefore, enables them to plead for sympathy from not only faceless donors but their own moral communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian law prescribes 'protective custody' for sex workers, placing them in carceral shelters after police and NGO-initiated raids and rescues. Frequent allegations of abuse and incidents of escape are followed by media and judicial scrutiny, leaving shelter detention itself unquestioned. This article situates shelter detention in two ways. It examines its legal prescription in the Indian socio-legal context and its connections to global anti-trafficking and anti-immigration contexts. It also engages with Foucauldian concepts and feminist, socio-legal, historical, and anthropological work on India to analyze the power shelter detention instantiates. Next, the article critiques shelter detentionby drawing upon my ethnography at a Mumbai shelter and reflections on methods and ethics, and by tracking how the media and judiciary responded to an escape. Through these methods, approaches, and findings, I argue that shelter detention curtails sex workers' mobilities and impedes their livelihoods through: 1) Its legal prescription, authorizing multiple forms of governance; 2) Its implementation, shaped by challenges of governance delaying sex workers' release; and 3) Media exposés and judicial interventions further intensifying surveillance. The article shows, further, that sex workers' escapes and acts of resistance illuminate not just 'exceptional' abuse, but the routine, ever-expanding forms of governance animating shelter detention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern Europe there is still an obstacle to achieving equality between men and women that turns the human body and human relationships into a commodity. The phenomenon of sex industry affects such as increase of human trafficking, violence and discrimination against women. Most often, victims of sexual exploitation in Europe are the less protected segments of the population: women, children, economically disadvantaged people, refugees an even usual migrants without sufficient experience of living in the new country. Average users of sex industry are men and sexual exploitation is the result of their demand and financial support in the form in which it is now. Traffickers, pimps and just people who involve women in prostitution make huge money, sacrificing the lives and the health of people in difficult situations. Legalisation of prostitution leads to greater demand. For people in poor or precarious economic circumstances it is the way to find "quick money" to survive or avoid intolerable living conditions. They pay for that with their mental and physical health, they are subjected to violence and various violations of rights, they are under control and exploitation, they can be isolated and intimidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trafficking thrives in the shadows, and the rise of social media has provided traffickers with a powerful and unregulated tool. This paper delves into how these criminals exploit online platforms to target and manipulate vulnerable populations. A thematic analysis of existing research explores the tactics used by traffickers on social media, revealing how algorithms can be manipulated to facilitate exploitation. Furthermore, the paper examines the limitations of current regulations in tackling this online threat. The research underscores the urgent need for collaboration between governments and researchers to combat algorithmic exploitation. By harnessing data analysis and machine learning, proactive strategies can be developed to disrupt trafficking networks and protect those most at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NGOs play a crucial role in safeguarding human dignity, especially in developing countries like Indonesia, where they strategically work to address pressing human rights issues. However, NGOs encounter various challenges that impede their efforts. This research specifically focuses on the challenges faced by NGOs working in human trafficking and exploitation in Indonesia. The analysis is based on data obtained from interviews conducted with four NGOs and an independent worker specializing in the exploitation and trafficking of underage individuals. Moreover, this study delves into the socio-economic problems underlying human trafficking in Indonesia. Drawing inspiration from Marxist theories of labor and poverty, it posits that the issue of human trafficking in Indonesia is closely intertwined with socio-economic instability— particularly affecting the most impoverished segment of the population. The research identifies poverty as a key factor fueling exploitation and trafficking in Indonesia. Furthermore, the study reveals implementation challenges and a lack of alignment with international conventions, such as the Palermo Protocols, in enforcing Indonesia's national law against human trafficking (Law No. 21/2007). These issues are particularly apparent in cases involving underage victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organized crime has emerged as one of the most formidable challenges globally, existing as an unavoidable reality with such severe implications that the international community is compelled to unite eff orts to counteract it. Its intricate criminal structures and the multiplicity of its criminal activities characterise it. Owing to its pervasive infl uence across various crucial sectors, notably the economic, security, and social realms, many nations have been overwhelmed by their inability to tackle it independently, thus underscoring the urgent need for innovative mechanisms to mitigate its adverse impacts and ramifi cations. Therefore, updating and approximating legislation is an essential proactive step to combat organized crime by providing modern legal tools that allow the security and judicial agencies to keep pace with the evolving methods of this crime, starting with formulating a comprehensive defi nition of organized crime that includes all its components and characteristics, and enacting laws that criminalize all organized criminal activities, such as Drug traffi cking, money laundering, and human traffi cking, enacting other laws that allow the confi scation of profi ts from organized crime and their reuse in anti-crime programs, and establishing mechanisms to enhance cooperation between security and judicial agencies and other government bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The understudied bodily harm women experience after commercial sex (CS) may be partially explained by the prominence of Cartesian mind–body dualism in psychological science. Accordingly, we qualitatively explored the mind–body relationship among 79 female sex trafficking survivors. Survivors reported long-term negative alterations in feelings about the body, sex, and physical touch posttrafficking and these negative outcomes did not differ across women who self-perceived as consenting and women who self-perceived as forced. Implications for future research are presented, particularly on measuring dehumanization in CS which contributes to extensive harm even in the absence of physical aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholarly works on sex work and sex workers are mostly confined to discourses on human trafficking and the incidence of HIV/STIs among sex workers. Although crucial, this restricted focus has neglected the reality that sex workers are a diverse community, and while their challenges may appear to be linked at first glance, they differ greatly. While extensive research has been conducted on sex workers working in more open settings like brothels, hotels, and streets, there is a scarcity of research on sex workers working in more private spaces, such as, for instance, their own homes. Within the hierarchy of sex workers, home-based sex workers (HBSWs) among the indoor sex workers dominate commercial sex transactions. However, they are often overlooked due to their covert nature and invisible landscape. This chapter addresses the knowledge gap by examining the work lives and conditions of home-based female sex workers (FHBSWs) in Punjab. The study analyzes the complex lives of sex workers who use their home as both a family unit and a workplace. A detailed analysis of the risks and vulnerabilities they face in their daily lives and their coping strategies is also examined in this chapter. The study points out that although working from home may have positive outcomes for sex workers, the integration of sex work into the home environment exposes them to several challenges. Hence, the study emphasizes the need for tailoring interventions for sex workers who operate in different physical environments so that their unique needs and challenges are well addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic causes serious economic and social consequences at a global level, which affect the problem of human trafficking. The pandemic is not the cause of human trafficking, but it can intensify the factors that contribute to the exploitation of people, especially those from the most vulnerable sectors. The aim of this publication is to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on human trafficking worldwide, with a focus on Bulgaria. We will explore how COVID-19 has changed the dynamics of human trafficking, how the conditions for exploitation of the victims have changed and what measures have been taken to combat human trafficking in the period of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a brief background to the crimes of human trafficking, slavery and the slave trade which often take place in and as a result of conflict situations, such as in Ukraine. These crimes are, however, often conflated and misunderstood: not only by the general public, but also by professionals working in this field. Even though these crimes are commonly conflated, each crime has specific requirements or elements, and address egregious conduct. Their legal histories and policy base are distinct yet complementary. Their dual juridical availability could provide meaningful, effective redress for women and men, both adult and child survivors. The article intends to contribute to untying the knots, to disentangle the misconceptions of human trafficking from the slave trade and slavery. The endeavour is not theoretical, but practical. It is done to fortify the pursuit of human trafficking as a transnational crime and the slave trade and slavery as international crimes. In short, this article aims to explore, distinguish, and harmonise the available jurisdictions for human trafficking, slavery and the slave trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the author examines the relationship between trafficking in persons, slavery and the slave trade, arguing for a context-specific case-bycase assessment, especially with respect to the investigation and prosecution of the underlying conduct. The legal concepts are closely related; in some jurisdictions they subsume the other, while in others they consist of parts of the other. While the specific ways in which these concepts are connected may be fluid and relate to multiple moving parts, this is not purely an academic reflection -- there are real-life consequences for survivors and victims, as diverse remedies are available for each. It is in the interests of justice to consider how to improve overall access to justice and especially to effective remedies for victims of all three crimes (especially considering the persistent impunity gaps, lack of accountability for these crimes, and low conviction rates). The author reviews the relevant legal frameworks and then goes on to identify some moving parts -- areas of overlap, divergence, and ambiguity, presenting a few visualizations of the relationship between the crimes before considering how these moving parts work in practice by examining investigative challenges which are also reflected in caselaw. While trafficking in persons is often equated with slavery in contemporary discourse, the author puts forward some aspects which could help differentiate the crimes and posits that there is value in recognizing the differences between them. The conclusion put forward by the author is that all three legal concepts must be seen as complementary and mutually reinforcing if the international community will become effective at closing the impunity gap for the heinous and exploitative conduct that characterises all three crimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accountability for trafficking in persons remains limited. The consequences of such continued impunity include limited access to justice and effective remedies for trafficked persons and continuing failures of prevention and protection. UN Security Council Resolution 2331 (2016) recognises that 'trafficking in persons entails the violation or abuse of human rights, and underscoring that certain acts or offences associated with trafficking in persons in the context of armed conflict may constitute war crimes'. Further, it recognises that '[...] trafficking in persons in areas affected by armed conflict and post-conflict situations can be for the purpose of various forms of exploitation'. Despite this recognition, limited progress has been made in promoting accountability and access to justice for victims of trafficking in situations of conflict. This article deals with trafficking in persons in conflict and the failures of protection and accountability; the application of international criminal law to trafficking in persons; child trafficking and the continuing invisibility of child victims; the principle of non-punishment of victims of trafficking; and the gender dimension of trafficking: moving beyond stereotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This research is about the power of documents as recorders of history and preservers of institutional memory. Specifically, the study examines Project 1012, a municipal reform project in Amsterdam's famous Red-Light District. Methods: We performed a critical discourse analysis on 10 policy briefs leading up to and following the implementation of Project 1012 between 2007 and 2020. Results: Our study reveals that the documents actively evoke certain narratives about sex work, its historical connections to the city, and its social problems to support the reduction of the industry. The documents omit other information about the history and origins of the problems experienced in Amsterdam's Red-Light District, including policymakers' own roles in the creation of these issues. Conclusions: The research concludes that policy documents have deontic powers and can be considered "folded objects" that consistently present certain narratives as truthful by omitting or downplaying the historical context of social issues. By folding these narratives in themselves, they have the power to shape the futures of the city and its citizens, executing a myriad of changes that have significantly impacted the lives and work conditions of local sex workers. Policy Implications: This research highlights the importance of being aware of the power and potential biases inherent in policy documents. Policymakers should strive to create policies that are based on accurate and comprehensive information and consider the voices of marginalized groups, such as sex workers, who are disproportionately affected by the policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: People who trade sex face violence and discrimination across individual, community, and systemic levels. The goal of the current study is to examine the impact of the terms used for people who trade sex (e.g., sex worker, prostitute, individual who sells sex, whore, escort) on people's perceptions of individuals who trade sex within the United States. Methods: The current study used a prototype methodology to understand the impact of these terms. Data were collected in 2022 and participants were asked to provide 5 characteristics of each term describing a person who trades sex and designate these characteristics as positive, negative, or neutral. Results: Participants attributed more negative than positive characteristics to people who trade sex, broadly. When describing a Prostitute, an Individual who Sells Sex (ISS), and a whore, participants reported markedly more negative characteristics than when describing a Sex Worker or an Escort. Conclusion: Greater attention to the language used to describe people who trade sex is needed. Policy Implications: At present, the term prostitute and/or prostitution is used consistently in legal statutes and literature. Given the markedly negative perceptions associated with these terms, reforming social and legal policies utilizing this and other stigmatizing terms is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]