IOM: Helping to Stop Trafficking of Women and Children

by Md. Shahidul Haque

Trafficking is a dark side of migration. It is an abhorrent phenomenon, and the most serious abuse committed against migrants. Trafficking is the movement of a person by deceit, force, threat, debt bondage involving exploitation and violation of human rights.

Some two million women and children are trafficked across international borders annually.

During the last ten years (up to 1999), an estimated 200,000 women have been trafficked out of Bangladesh. Generally, women and children from Bangladesh are trafficked into or through India and to Pakistan or the Middle East.

There are three basic trafficking approaches in Bangladesh: Children and women being sold to traffickers by close relatives; children and women being tricked into going away with traffickers or previously victims of trafficking based on promises of a job, a marriage proposal, or better life; and children are being kidnapped.

Established in 1951, International Organization for Migration (IOM) works with Governments and migrants to provide a humane and orderly response to migration challenges including trafficking. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits all migrants’ origin and destination countries.

IOM’s prime objectives are:

  • To promote humane and orderly migration and combat irregular migration, including smuggling and trafficking;

  • To foster economic and social development of countries of origin, transit and destination;

  • To better link diasporas with the socio-economic development of origin country;

  • To uphold the human dignity and well being of migrants.

IOM’s strategy to counter people trafficking includes:

  • Mass information campaigns;

  • Capacity building/technical cooperation (especially anti-trafficking legislation and training of government officials);

  • Assistance, protection and voluntary return and reintegration of victims;

  • Prevention of and assistance regarding sexually transmitted infections and reproductive health;

  • Development of transnational cooperation network among authorities, NGOs and intergovernmental organizations;

  • Research and forum activities.

Currently, IOM is implementing counter-trafficking projects in 60 countries including Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, it is working with the Government to help law enforcers and local politicians to prevent trafficking in women and children.