The Human Trafficking Continuum and COVID19: Rights, Risks and Recommended Protective Actions

Abstract

COVID-19 is not simply a public health concern, but also a potential glocal crisis. It is a socio-economic and health challenge that  threatens to exacerbate the disparities faced by victims of trafficking while also impacting the ability of countries to respond effectively. This pandemic will have both short- and long-term impacts on the socio-economic, psycho-emotional, behavioural, spiritual, cultural and academic lives of individuals, groups, communities and organisations. This paper builds on debates on the role of disasters in the human trafficking continuum. It looks at how disease outbreaks, specifically COVID19,put individuals at risk of trafficking and impact service provision to those trafficked. The paper applies a rights-based approach in the discussions presented and gives select examples of protective measures that could be introduced and implemented in order to safeguard at-risk individuals and those trafficked.

Keywords: COVID-19; Human trafficking; Human rights; Vulnerability; Interventions