Sesan1. Pre-Departure stage
The pre-departure stage is the initial period in the trafficking process and encompasses the time before a victim enters the trafficking situation. This stage may influence a victim’s vulnerability to be trafficked. It is reasonable to speculate that some of the factors that may negatively influence an individual’s physical and psychological characteristics during this early stage may also influence them to being trafficked (e.g., poor living conditions, poverty, unemployment, and political instability).
2. Travel and transit stage
The travel and transit stage begins when a victim agrees to go or is forced to depart, with a trafficker (whether he or she is aware that she is being trafficked or not). This stage ends when the victim arrives at the work destination. It can also include travel between work destinations and often involves one or numerous transit points. A victim can have several periods of travel and transit, such as when he or she is sold from one work destination and “re-trafficked” to another.” During this time, victims may be exposed to dangerous modes of transportation, high-risk border crossings, arrest, threats and intimidation, and violence, including rape and other forms of sexual abuse. {1} Events during this period can pose the risk of injury and death, cause extreme stress, and establish a victim’s vulnerability to later risk and ill-health. This period frequently represents the beginning of the cycle of harm to come. The travel and transit stage is generally the time when illegal activities and movements begin. Crimes include abduction, use of forged documents, facilitation of illegal border crossings, harboring and employing undocumented persons, rape, and other forms of violence.
3. The initial trauma
While many victims leave their homes with hope and courage, these feelings are frequently accompanied by uncertainty and anxiety. This is particularly common in cases of trafficking where the women perceive that a portion of what is taking place may be less than legal (e.g., forged documents, illegal border crossing, unregulated employment). Many discover during the journey that their anxiety was merited as they learn that they are now in life-threatening danger with little or no way out. {2}
4. Buying and selling of victims
It is during this phase that the main financial transactions generally take place, as the victim is made aware of his or her “debts” and repayment obligations, or his or her debts are transferred to another trafficker or employer and he or she is effectively “sold”. In a majority of trafficking cases, the arrangements for travel and the expenses incurred are tallied and multiplied, putting the victims in a situation of “debt-bondage”. {3} The psychological effects of this type of “merchandising” of victims is completely barbaric, being assigned a monetary value or being “traded” is a humiliating, dehumanizing process that has serious social and psychological implications. Physical and sexual violence frequently accompany these first transfers of victims, especially women. While in transit women are vulnerable to abuse by any individual along the route, including trafficking agents, escorts, drivers, border officials and anyone else who may be involved in her transport. Regularly on the move, unfamiliar with their surroundings, often unable to speak the language, without legitimate papers or status and treated like “cargo”.
5. Destination stage
The destination stage is the period that a victim is put to work and his or her labour is exploited. The destination stage exemplifies the range of abuses most often associated with trafficking and the dangers and violence that pervade the victim’s work. {4} The potential abuses and outcomes during this stage are so wide-ranging. The multiple forms of abuse (e.g., physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, forced and coerced use of drugs) often occur simultaneously and can compound or worsen each another in ways that increase morbidity and risk of fatality.{5} For victims who have been trafficked internationally, this array of abuses takes place in a foreign country, which can increase their vulnerability to harm as they are in utterly unfamiliar surroundings, often do not speak the language, perceive they have no legal rights, and feel alienated physically and psychologically. {6}
REFERENCES
{1} Wijers, M. and L. Lap-Chew, 1999.Trafficking in women, forced labour and slavery-like practices in marriage, domestic labour and prostitution. Utrecht:Foundation Against Trafficking in Women, Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women.
{2} Barry, S., 2002. Personal communication on 25 May.
{3} United Nations, 2000. Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations convention against transnational organized crime, in G.A. res. 55125, annex II, 55 UN GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 60, us: Doc. Al45149 (Vol. l).
{4} IBID
{5} Kozhouharova, N., How we help women, survivors of trafficking, in Trafficking in women. Questions and answers, A.A. Foundation, Editor. 2001, Animus Association Foundation: Sofia.
{6} International Organization for Migration, 1995. Trafficking in women to Italy for
Sexual exploitation. 10M: Geneva.