Important: trafficking in human beings (THB) differs from people smuggling!
THB is the practice of humans being tricked, lured, coerced or otherwise removed from their home or country, and then forced to work with no or low payment or on terms, which are highly exploitative. The practice is considered to be trade or commerce of people, which has many features of slavery, and which is illegal in most countries. The victims of human trafficking can be used in a variety of situations, including prostitution, forced labour (including bonded labour or debt bondage) and other forms of involuntary servitude. The sale of babies and children for adoption or other purposes is also considered to be trafficking in those children.
People smuggling means that people voluntarily request the smuggler’s service for a fee, and there may be no deception involved in the (illegal) agreement. On arrival at the destination, the smuggled person is usually free, to find their own way.
The THB victim is not permitted to leave and is required to work or provide services of some kind on an exploitative basis to the trafficker or others. The arrangement may be structured as a work contract, but with no or low payment or on terms which are highly exploitative.
Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world with the total annual revenue for trafficking in persons estimated to be between 4 and 8 billion Euros. Human trafficking across international borders requires close cooperation and collaboration between states if it is to be tackled effectively.
border21 offers a training programme to increase operational awareness on recognising and detecting human trafficking at border control points for control staff from border agencies and other relevant law enforcement agencies involved in border control.
border21 ’s highly qualified experts are basing all training modules on booklets approved by the EU; the training handouts will be translated into the national language where the training course will be provided.
This training may be complementary and build upon previous training provided by border21 experts to border officials in terms of recognition of forged travel documents and profiling/screening.