Combating Global Trafficking in Persons: the Role of the United States Post-September 2001

Trafficking in persons (TIP) is one of the fastest growing areas of global criminal activity and one that is of monumental concern to the US government and the international community. It is estimated that 800,000–900,000 persons, mostly women and children are bought, sold or forced across international borders every year. An estimated 45,000–50,000 persons are trafficked to the US every year. In fact, current estimate by the International Labor Organization (2005) put the minimum of persons in forced labor at a given time as a result of trafficking at 2.45 million. This lucrative criminal activity generates between $10 and $12 billion annually, making it the third largest illicit business after drugs and arms trade. The paper argues that the 21st century TIP represents a global demand for cheap and vulnerable labor which is facilitated by the process of globalization and the existence of underground and informal economies mostly in industrialized countries. TIP constitute serious problems which affects every country. Post- September 2001, the US has been proactive in fighting to eliminate TIP and persuading other countries to join in the campaign to end this trade. This paper therefore examines the efforts by the US government to combat TIP.