A critical analysis of laws in Zambia on human trafficking

Abstract

Trafficking in persons is a modern - day slavery. Annually approximately 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders; millions more are enslaved in their own countries. The common denominator of trafficking scenarios is the use of force fraud or coercion to exploit a person for commercial sex or for the purpose of subjecting a victim to involuntary servitude, debt bondage, or forced labour. The use of force or coercion can be direct and violent, or psychological.

The lack of awareness, failure to detect and identify the victims of trafficking, lack of research and data collection, the nature of the problem and fear or reporting all contribute to this problem. However the most fundamental factor is that which pertains to lack of legal framework to curb the trend.

In Zambia the problem of human trafficking has only emerged as an issue, although statistical data is lacking, the evidence is mounting that more and more people particularly women and children are being recruited and transported across Zambia's borders and around the world.

In view of the above therefore, this dissertation will adopt a critical study of human trafficking and address the issue of the inadequacy of a legal frame work by ensuring that the government enacts laws to protect trafficking victims.