HUMAN TRAFFICKING LINKAGE WITH MONEY LAUNDRING AND TERROR FINANCING

Exploitation of weaker human beings by a stronger human being for profit purpose is the most heinous crime against humanity. It is in existence in the world since the time of ancient Greek & Romans to Portuguese, Spanish, Englishman & Arabs in medieval time. Human trafficking is a crime against a person because of violation of the victim's human rights as per international convention. Human Trafficking is a low risk high profit industry generating billions illicit profits every year.

Human trafficking broadly means the trade of human beings, most commonly for the purpose of forced labour, sexual slavery or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others. It encompass the recruitment, transport, transfer, holding a person by threat, force, abduction, coercion, deception or fraud for exploitation for the purposes stated before. Accordingly, the process involves, action, means and purpose. Human trafficking need not be confused with migrant smuggling though the difference is mostly very fine and at times overlapping. Migrant smuggling is always with consent of affected person, transnational in nature and profit is made in human transportation. Exploitation in it ends after human cargo reaches the destination.

According to the international Labour Organisation (ILO), Human Trafficking is the 2^nd largest criminal activity generating an estimated $150 billion as on 2014 in illegal money per annum out of which 99 billion is from sexual exploitation, 43 billion from forced labour and 8 billion from domestic servitude. In 2012, the ILO estimated that 21 million victims are trapped in modern day slavery, Out of which,14.2 million (68%) were exploited for labour, 4.5 million(22%) for sexual torture and 2.2 million(10%) were exploited for state-imposed forced labour.

Human smuggling, international adoptions and illegal organ trafficking are estimated to the tune of USD 35 billion , 1.3 billion and 1.2 billion respectively. However the actual figure may be much higher. The sufferers are 49% women, 21% girls ,18% men & 12% boys.

The global trafficking pattern, identifies 127 countries of origin, 98 transit countries and 137 destination countries for human trafficking. Five countries i.e. Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, India & Uzbekistan account for 58% of trafficking. It is estimated that 45.8 million persons are affected by slavery across the globe. Many other forms of human exploitation remain unreported/under reported .

The intended purpose of human trafficking can be listed as below.

• Sexual Exploitation
• Forced or compulsory labour(Agriculture/Horticulture)
• Forced Marriage(Middle east)
• Debt bondage or indentured labour(Brick kiln/forestry etc.)
• Forced Organ Removal
• Domestic Servitude
• Child Soldier( for tenant outfits )

The huge volume of illegal funds generated in the process is used for money laundering & terror financing effecting the economy & peace of various nations . For victims it causes Psychological stress, trauma, health hazards i.e. HIV Aids, malnutrition and Poverty.

The major challenges faced in the battle against Human Trafficking

• Gathering of accurate information to get a true picture of the phenomenon .

• Improving international cooperation and coordination, particularly in relation to developing information exchange & operational cooperation.
• Mobilizing the support of NGOs, IGOs, Governments & the community at large.
• Absence of anti-trafficking legislation in some countries.
• Law enforcement Officials & prosecutors might not be properly trained to detect & prevent it .
• Situation of human trafficking are mistaken for situations of migrant smuggling can result in inappropriate and inadequate sentences applied to crimes.
• Corruption in various agencies/departments responsible for control of trafficking.
• Unwillingness of victims to cooperate with criminal justice system where they have been threatened and intimidated by traffickers .

Efforts for prevention of human trafficking

Human trafficking is a crime of such magnitude and atrocity that it cannot be dealt with successfully by any government alone. This global problem requires a global, multi stakeholder strategy that builds on national efforts throughout the world. UN.GIFT AIMS to mobilize state and non state actors to eradicate human trafficking .The most effective way to investigate human trafficking is through a collaborative, multi-agency approach.

As the problem is of global nature the United Nations general assembly in the year 2000. adopted a protocol to prevent, suppress and punish human trafficking especially of women and children . The protocol came into force on 25^th Dec 2003 and it supplements the united nation convention against transnational organized crime under jurisdiction of UN office on drugs & crime (UNODC). The purpose of U.N. Protocol is to prevent & combat trafficking, protect & assist victims and to promote cooperative army states to meet the objective. In nutshell a sustained global efforts is the need to meet this challenge.

Bankers have a challenge to develop red flag indicators to track transactions indicating movement of funds generated through such activities and file SAR reports with  country's FIU.

SNEH DEEP AGNIHOTRI CAMS