modern-day slavery

human trafficking is not human smuggling. human trafficking is modern-day slavery through labor or commercial sexual exploitation, and does not require transportation to occur, though transportation may be involved.

human trafficking is the third most lucrative criminal activity and the fastest growing after drugs and arms trafficking. it is estimated that the annual revenue from all trafficking activities is 9.5 billion dollars, with at least $4 billion coming from the worldwide brothel industry.

each year, an estimated 600.000 - 800.000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders and the trade is growing.

of the 600.000 - 800.000 people trafficked annually across int'l borders, 70% are female and 50% are children. the majority of these victims are forced into the commercial sex trade.

sex trafficking is one of the most profitable sectors of the trade in people and involves exploitation in prostitution or pornography, bride trafficking and commercial sexual abuse of children.

the major myth that prevails is that poverty and inequality are the causes of human trafficking. this is wrong! while poverty and inequality are important factors they are NOT the primary cause of trafficking. trafficking is a criminal industry driven by the ability to make large profits due to high demand and negligible-to-low risk of prosecution. as long as the demand exists and the risks for traffickers are low, trafficking will exist regardless of other contributing factors. by focusing on poverty and inequality as the key factors of human sex trafficking, we deflect the blame from the key actors that perpetuate this activity: the traffickers and their clientele.

trafficking takes away the most fundamental human right - freedom - from its victims, mostly women and children. trafficking in persons is a heinous crime and a flagrant abuse of fundamental human rights and human dignity.

based on the "trafficking in persons" 2005 report (u.s. dept. of state) greece is a tier 2 watch list country along with countries like ukraine, benin, sierra leone, india, niger, gambia, azerbaijan, mexico, the slovak republic and uzbekistan. tier 2 watch list means: countries whose governments do not fully comply with the act’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards, and:
1. the absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is very significant or is significantly increasing; or
2. there is a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year; or
3. the determination that a country is making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with minimum standards was based on commitments by the country to take additional future steps over the next year.

here is the report on greece