Dr Ndiweteko Jennifer Nghishitende is the Wilberforce Institute's Wiseman Khuzwayo Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, where she is undertaking a new research project, Returning “Home”: A Crucial Exploration of Belonging and Identity Among Namibian Returnees Following Denied Asylum in the UK.
In this blog, for the UN World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on 30th July, Dr Nghishitende explores the impact of trafficking on children.
It is estimated that millions of people worldwide have been subjected to various forms of exploitation classified as human trafficking. However, the precise number of those affected remains a topic of debate, primarily due to the questionable reliability of counting methods. Nevertheless, children make up a significant percentage of those affected by trafficking worldwide, with one in three victims of human trafficking being a child, and girls being disproportionately affected.
Human trafficking impacts people's lives in various ways, often with devastating, life-threatening, and life-limiting consequences that can alter life courses. People’s lives are typically interrupted for extended periods while they are in trafficking situations. These interruptions often extend long after they leave those situations, as they may either cycle back into exploitation due to a lack of support, or face lengthy processes within support systems such as National Referral Mechanisms.
Human trafficking is, therefore, considered a grave human rights violation, and global efforts to combat it have been recognised as a priority. To this end, global campaigns for #EndHumanTrafficking are held annually on July 30th. The year 2024 marks the tenth observance of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, with the theme "Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking." This theme underscores the global campaign calling for urgent action to eliminate child trafficking.
Eliminating any form of trafficking is complicated and multifaceted, just as the conditions that make people vulnerable to trafficking are. Factors such as global economic disparities, climate change, armed conflict, racial prejudice and discrimination, and tough stances on immigration, to mention a few, all contribute to people’s vulnerabilities to trafficking. Addressing these issues is crucial in reducing the vulnerabilities that lead to trafficking.
Furthermore, those who have exited situations of trafficking must be supported adequately, with support that is culturally competent, unbiased, and that sees people in their humanity rather than as mere statistics, to ensure that re-exploitation is prevented. In tandem with the theme for 2024, focusing on ending child trafficking is essential. However, this effort must include comprehensive measures to ensure adequate support for all children. This focus should also extend to children who are a direct consequence of trafficking.
Thus, in the spirit of leaving no child behind, reflecting on how children who were conceived and born as a consequence of human trafficking are supported after they exit such situations, with or without their parent (usually their mother), is crucial. As Rebecca Surtees and others have found, from birth, these children are exposed to the violence and abuses of human trafficking, in addition to witnessing the exploitation of their mothers. While these children are usually given mainstream support, they may have additional needs stemming from their exposure to the trafficking conditions of their mothers. These needs may negatively affect their progression in life and may be missed if these children are not treated with the awareness and consciousness that they have been exposed to such situations.
As we mark the tenth observance of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, may we ensure that our efforts genuinely echo the theme for 2024, truly encompassing every child that may have been affected by trafficking either directly or indirectly. Global solidarity and sustained, multifaceted efforts are essential to ensure every child is supported, protected, and allowed to thrive.
Find out more about the UN World Day Against Trafficking in Persons taking place on 30 July 2024.