Causes of Trafficking

Abstract

Causes of trafficking are typically characterised as either ‘push’ or ‘pull’ factors. Socio-economic factors in source countries such as poverty, gender inequality and lack of employment opportunities (Farr 2005) are seen as ‘push’ factors that not only encourage the migration of women, but also support a profitable market for a trade in human labour. ‘Pull’ factors in destination countries typically include the promise of a more affluent lifestyle, the availability of employment opportunities and the demand for cheap labour. ‘Demand’ is often highlighted as a major ‘pull’ factor for trafficking, with Article 9 of the UN Trafficking Protocol calling upon nation states to reduce demand for trafficked labour. Abolitionist activists perceive this as a call to reduce demand for sexual services. They argue that it is not the demand for ‘trafficked sex’ that is the problem, but demand for commercial sex per se.