Human trafficking entails the recruitment or transfer of persons, by force, fraud, or by abusing their vulnerability, for the purpose of exploitation, including sexual exploitation, forced labour, or even slavery. It is one of the most hideous crimes of our times, an increasingly widespread phenomenon which parallels migratory fluxes at the global level, causing serious human rights violations.
The issue is dealt with by the international community mainly by fighting crime associated with such practice, while less attention is devoted to the victims. These are vulnerable men and women, that often lack access to proper education and working opportunities, and that live in poor and marginalized contexts, where they are more easily exposed to exploitation and abuse. Women and girls often end up being forced into prostitution in neighboring Thailand, or are lured into arranged abusive, exploitative marriages, especially in China. Men are commonly exploited on fishing vessels in Thailand. And they are not the only ones suffering, as they leave behind their families and communities in despair.
It is easy to forget about these people, not only when they are trafficked, but also when they eventually return home. Back into their disadvantaged communities, with the trauma and stigma from their experiences, they are often neglected by the State and struggle to find their place in society, risking to disappear again and become definitely invisible.
This project is an attempt to tell their stories, so that they are not forgotten.
* The photographs were taken during a series of field visits in Cambodia (together with the staff of NGOs Healthcare Center for Children and Winrock International, to which I owe great gratitude and admiration) and, minimally, in Thailand.
50 million people worldwide in modern slavery: Latest estimates show that forced labour and forced marriage have increased significantly in the last five years
Watch the roundtable discussing the Report on Al Jazeera
In 2021, the United Nations launched the campaign “Victims’ Voices Lead the Way: incorporating survivor perspectives into counter-trafficking conversations and responses” to mark The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, appropriately highlighting the importance of learning from victims as key actors in the fight against human trafficking, and including them in counter-trafficking conversations and responses. To learn more, watch the video below:
Read the interview by Alessandro Fodella “Making Invisible Problems Better Known“ about illegal labor migration in South East Asia at the Salzburg Global Seminar
Read Alessandro Fodella “Freedom from Child Labour as a Human Right: The Role of the UN System in Implementing ILO Child Labour Standards“ in Child Labour in a Globalized World
If you would like to support the victims of human trafficking, plase consider donating directly to the UN Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking (you will be redirected to the UN Trust Fund website)
This is a fully independent documentary research project that is not institutionally sponsored nor financed. If you would like to provide your support to the author for his work, you can make a donation using the form below. Thank you!
