The United Nations Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking in Asia: A Critical Evaluation

Running head:
The United Nations effort to fight trafficking in Asia, could they do more/be more affective in
their attempts to counter trafficking?
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

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Acknowledgement
I would like to convey my gratitude towards the people who guided me in every possible way to
conduct my dissertation study. These people assisted me to be familiar with my strength and
weaknesses and my potential and utilize it in the best possible manner to commence on the
research study. I would also like to put across my gratitude towards my mentor and guide for the
nonstop monitoring and outstanding supervision, which helped me to complete my research in
proper time. The unconditional guidance and support provided by my mentor has not only helped
me with the research and to understand the secondary research process but will also help me
throughout my life for other purposes also. Lastly, I would like to thank friends and family, who
lent me a constant encouragement and support for completing my study.

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Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................6
1.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................6
1.2 Background of the study........................................................................................................7
1.3 Research aim and objectives................................................................................................10
1.4 Research questions...............................................................................................................10
1.5 Significance of the research.................................................................................................11
1.6 Structure of the study...........................................................................................................12
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.......................................................................................13
2.1 Human Trafficking..............................................................................................................13
2.2 Human Trafficking in Asia..................................................................................................14
2.3 Factors that Triggers Human Trafficking in Asia................................................................17
2.4 Facts & Figures Representing Current Status of Human Trafficking in Asia or Southeast
Asia............................................................................................................................................20
2.5 Impacts of Trafficking on Victims and Traffickers.............................................................23
2.5.1 Impact on Victims:.......................................................................................................24
2.5.2 Impact on Traffickers...................................................................................................25
2.6 Policies Undertaken by the United Nations to Address the Social Issue of Human
Trafficking.................................................................................................................................26
2.7 How Far the Policies Successful in Combating Social Crime of Trafficking in Asia.........28

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2.8 What Measures could be taken by United Nations to Have Further Positive Impact on
Reduction of Human Trafficking in Asia?................................................................................29
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...........................................................................33
3.1 Research onion.....................................................................................................................33
3.2 Research philosophy............................................................................................................34
3.3 Research purpose.................................................................................................................34
3.4 Research approach...............................................................................................................35
3.5 Research strategies...............................................................................................................35
3.6 Research design...................................................................................................................36
3.7 Time horizons......................................................................................................................36
3.8 Data collection process........................................................................................................37
3.9 Data analysis process...........................................................................................................37
3.10 Ethical consideration.........................................................................................................37
3.11 Limitation of the study.......................................................................................................38
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS, FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATION...............................39
4.1 Data on human trafficking with a focus on Asia.................................................................39
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................68
5.1 Linking with the objectives.................................................................................................68
5.1.1 Linking with the first objective.....................................................................................68
5.1.2 Linking with the second objective................................................................................69

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5.1.3 Linking to the third objective.......................................................................................70
5.2 Recommendations................................................................................................................71
5.3 Future scope of the study.....................................................................................................72
References......................................................................................................................................74

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Abstract
The research study aims to explore the issue of human trafficking across the Asian regions and
the effectiveness of the anti-trafficking policies and laws undertaken by the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). This is a vast research subject that revolves around a very
serious crime in the world. Human trafficking is rising over the years as 25,000 cases have been
reported in 2017 alone compared to 20000 in 2014 and 17000 in 2013, although the UN and
other related agencies and the governments of the countries are taking various measures to
prevent and eliminate human trafficking. The paper explores various aspects of human
trafficking and secondary data is collected from sources like UNODC reports, news articles and
journal articles. The data is analyzed using descriptive method under qualitative analysis process.
It has been seen that although the UN and the respective governments are taking multiple
measures to prevent trafficking, yet the number of conviction is not increasing as expected and
the number of men, women and children trafficked across the world is increasing, reducing the
effectiveness of the policies of the UN. The paper also presents some recommendations to
improve the policy effectiveness of the United Nations to combat trafficking in persons.

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
Human trafficking (HT) is a serious concern in the world since the historic ages.
Currently, human trafficking is often termed as modern day slavery and has come into the focus
of the world during the last decade. As stated by Ross-Sheriff and Orme (2015), globalization
has led to the rapid increase in the transnational migration and this trend has been amplifying
economic disparities across different regions of the world and increasing the vulnerability of the
oppressed population to human trafficking. Three major types of trafficking are: labor
trafficking, sex trafficking and war slavery (Weitzer 2015); and these three types of trafficking
were prevalent for the past few centuries. The incidence of trafficking is very high in the Asian
region and children, and women are the most vulnerable group to human trafficking. The United
Nations and many other voluntary organizations have been working towards combating this
serious issue that violates the human rights in a severe manner. This research study will explore
the initiatives and efforts taken by the United Nations to fight the serious concern of human
trafficking in Asia and evaluate effectiveness of those efforts and initiatives. The study will also
provide some recommendations regarding how to improve the effectiveness of the measures
taken by the United Nations to counter fight the issue of trafficking in Asia.
The chapter will commence with the background of the study, followed research aim,
objectives and research questions and these will help the readers to understand the rationale of
the research.

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1.2 Background of the study
Human trafficking is considered as a crime. It is a modern day slavery which involves the
illegal transport of individuals by force or by deception for the purpose of sexual exploitation,
labor work or some activities, such as, organ removal and selling illegally, in which other people
conducting the crime get benefitted financially (Encyclopedia Britannica 2019). The trend has
been going on for ages and economically and socially backward classes of the world are most
vulnerable to become victims of this crime. This is a global problem that affects the people of all
ages. As highlighted in Weebly.com (2017), slavery was first recognized around 1200 although
the trend has been present since pre-historic ages. Over the years, the crime of trafficking not
only remained limited to labor slavery, but other types of exploitation, such as, sex exploitation,
illegal organ trading, selling for participating in life threatening illegal games as seen in the
Middle East etc. have come into the light. Initially, the rich white people were the ones who
started this trend of human trafficking from the colonies as they started transferring people from
the colonies to their home countries for slavery, and with time, the nature of trafficking has
remained almost same but it has spread mostly in the war torn regions and less developed
economies.
Over the years, the incidences of human trafficking have not only increased but also are
taking a serious turn especially in the war torn regions (de Wildt 2018). According to the reports
of the United Nations, it is estimated that each year around 1 million people become the victims
of trafficking globally and it is also found that around 20000 to 50000 victims are trafficked into
the United States, as it is one of the biggest destinations for sex trafficking. After the civil war
crisis started in the Middle East, there is a significant increase in the number of refugees