Women, trafficking, and forced prostitution in Africa

Abstract

The chapter interrogates the illicit transportation of women within Africa and their attendant forced prostitution. The argument is that a multiplicity of factors such as the collapse of primary commodities, globalization, and the emergence of numerous non-state actors such as Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb, the Tuaregs, Al-Shabaab, and the Boko Haram has impelled numerous conflicts and a refugee crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa causing a migratory wave of young persons who often move from West Africa to East, North, and Southern Africa in search of better living and with the intention of crossing into Europe if offered the opportunity. It argues that the existing asymmetry in the international political order, feminization of poverty, and bad governance create a duality even within Africa that impels poverty stricken and marginalized women to seek employment and better well-being. But unfortunately these women often fall prey to criminal syndicates who force them into commercial sex work for profit maximization. Many of these women did not set out ab initio to prostitute but rather went in search of pink jobs which turned out to be a mirage and were subsequently forced into prostitution. The axis of evil crosscuts the eastern, southern, and northern regions of the continent, but often the victims originate from West and East Africa. The chapter recommends bridging the imbalance in trade, mainstreaming gender, and making migration policies open to all to cut off criminal syndicates.