[info_box color=”red” width=”100%” float=”left” text_align=”left”]Human trafficking is the recruitment and transportation of persons by means of threat, use of force or other forms of coercion, for the purpose of exploitation. It happens to both adults and children[/info_box]

The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) is the main international instrument in the fight against transnational organised crime. The convention is supplemented by three protocols.

The  Palermo Protocol, adopted by the United Nations in 2000 seeks to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons. It defines human trafficking as:

  1. The act (what is done). The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons.
  2. The means (how it is done). By means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person; (where a child is involved, the above means are irrelevant).
  3. The purpose (why it is done). For the purposes of exploitation, which includes (but is not exhaustive) exploiting the prostitution of others, sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery or similar practices and the removal of organs.