Human trafficking in China

Abstract

It is identified as a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking, issues of human trafficking in China range from forced marriage to forced labor, forced sex work, sale and profitable adoption of babies and human smuggling. Internationally, the illegal, undocumented migrant status of North Korea defectors has made them easy targets for kidnap and abduction, forced sex work, forced marriage and forced labor in factories and agriculture. Although forced labor, forced marriages and forced sex work are significant human trafficking issues in China, the current Chinese laws and campaigns have failed to emphasize these issues. The government should replace the top-down crackdown strategy with a partnership with grassroots organizations and women’s groups to help prevent forced labor and identify trafficked victims, while at the same time providing legal redress to the victims of forced labor, forced marriages, forced sex work and the sale of children for the abuse they have endured.