Summary:

Ms Powys explains that trafficking in persons is modern day slavery involving victims who are forced, defrauded or coerced in labour or sexual exploitation.  The main victims are women and children and many are not even aware of what is happening.  In some cases people are lured by promises of job opportunities. Human trafficking involves having control over another person for the purposes of exploitation.  It is a threat depriving people of their human rights and freedom.  It is a global health risk that fuels growth for organised crime.

There are approximately 40 million people living with HIV/Aids globally.  Women and Children are particularly vulnerable to trafficking and HIV.  It must be understood that once a person is trafficked, they generally face a powerless situation in an unknown environment that increases their risk to contracting HIV/Aids.  Women that are trafficked are more susceptible to contracting HIV and their chances are higher compared to a person that engages in sex work out of their own choice. 

Women that are trafficked are forced to have unsafe sex with multiple partners – Victims may be injected with drugs to force compliance or drugs may be used as a coping mechanism.  Victims may also receive medical or surgical treatment which may include forced or voluntary terminations of pregnancy in unsanitary conditions by unqualified practitioners my means of contaminated surgical instruments. Blood transfusion may also be effected using unscreened blood supplies which again increase the risk.  Most victims of Human trafficking are poorly educated and their knowledge of the risks of HIV factors are likely to be very low.