Slavery was the first form of Human Trafficking in the world and even though it was abolished in 1865, different forms of slavery still linger today. Human Trafficking takes many forms; from sex trafficking to labor trafficking. In the past this issue was highly overlooked, but according to Farrell (2014) the problem has received growing coverage in the media; anti-trafficking activism has skyrocketed; and most countries have created new policies, laws, and enforcement mechanisms to tackle the problem.
Research has proven that social inequality, poverty and limited jobs were and remain the main drivers of both migration and trafficking in Eastern Europe (Akee et al. 2007; Anastasijevic 2008; Aronowitz 2001; Bruckert and Parent 2002; Cameron and Newman 2008; Chand 2008; International Organization for Migration [IOM] 2006). In addition to these socioeconomic conditions, other factors (illiteracy, corruption, and certain policies and laws) increase migrants' vulnerability to fraud, trafficking, and exploitation (Demir 2003; Pizarro 2008; Rajbhandari 2008; Shahinian 2008). Belarus, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine are among the most important source countries of human trafficking within Europe, according to …show more content…
According to Farrell (2014) the definition of human trafficking in federal law and most state laws is premised on the denial of a person’s liberty as opposed to their actual movement. A person is found guilty of human trafficking when they recruit, harbor, transport, provide, or obtain a person for labor or commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Farrell (2014) notes that the federal law and some state laws specify that if the victim engaging in commercial sex is under the age of 18 it is not necessary to prove the elements of force, fraud, or