The Runaway Teenager – A classic case of Human Trafficking

Editor: According to Wikipedia and the UN in the matter of Human Trafficking:

(a) the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation or the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal, manipulation or implantation of organs;

(b) The consent of a victim of trafficking in persons to the intended exploitation set forth in sub-paragraph (a) of this article shall be irrelevant where any of the means set forth in subparagraph (a) have been used;

(c) The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation shall be considered “trafficking in persons” even if this does not involve any of the means set forth in sub-paragraph (a) of this article;

(d) “Child” shall mean any person under eighteen years of age.

From time to time, we hear of teenagers, mostly girls, running away only to return home a few days later. Undoubtedly, these are classic cases of human trafficking. Why are there apparently no prosecution of these cases baffles many Vincentians. Could it be because of the apparent ignorance of those charged with the investigative responsibility, whose spokesperson said recently, “there is no human trafficking in this country?”

Typically, the runaway teen is about 13 or 14 years old and below the age of consent and defined as a child (under 18 yrs) according to the UN. This means that they are being RECRUITED. They move away from home by some means of TRANSPORTATION. There is usually a mastermind behind this TRANSFER. The person will find a place of abode at the home that is HARBOURING them. Information concerning each of these human trafficking crimes is readily available and can easily be collected. The cellphone and village walkabout are indispensable collection tools.

Perpetrators may use their position of power, violence, manipulation, false promises, fake romance, fraud, deception and money to exploit their victim for profit.

The “clientele” of runaway teens may include those of the protected class whose exoneration is only a “phone call” away. But if we have the will to deter the problem, social workers will do the field work, police will investigate on the beat, the director of public prosecutions would lay the charges, and the magistrate would dispense justice. Our teens deserve our protection.

Anthony G. Stewart, PhD