This book focuses on the international trafficking of women and children for forced labor and prostitution. The anthology takes a broad geographical and economical perspective while also dealing with the specificities of the socio-political background, poverty, opportunity structure, legal conditions, the role of the state, gender structure, and the organization of the trafficking business. The essays create a link from country to country, demonstrating the worldwide nature of the problem.
Global estimates of human trafficking range from 600,000 to four million victims each year with the majority being victims of sex trafficking. Victims of sex trafficking may be forced into pornography, prostitution for the military or militia, spousal prostitution, and prostitution for the sex-tourism industry. In response to the problem of sex trafficking, many nations have either misunderstood the definition or failed to comprehend the magnitude that have occurs within their borders. The United Nations has defined 'human trafficking' as 'the recruitment, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons by threat or use of force.' In this book sex trafficking is discussed in terms of its multiple purposes and its victims. The essays provide information to build up knowledge on the subject of sex trafficking and the legislative responses to human trafficking by the various countries. This collection provides a general profile of geographic regions in terms of demographic characteristics and political conditions that may support the growth of sex trafficking, and it is written on a basic information-supply-level to provide readers with a foundation on human trafficking throughout the world.