Specifics of investigating human trafficking

Abstract

Human trafficking is one of today’s most acute problems affecting many countries worldwide. While anyone can fall victim to human trafficking, most victims are women and girls subjected to sexual exploitation. Human trafficking is taking on new forms and threatening fundamental human rights and values. Amnesty International published a report on the state of human rights in 154 countries in 2021/22, listing human trafficking as one of the areas where human rights violations are particularly acute.The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against TransnationalOrganised Crime obliges State Parties to take appropriate measures to prevent human trafficking, listing three key prevention areas:- Detecting and investigating human trafficking and punishing perpetrators;- Protecting victims and assisting with their reintegration into society;- Taking preventive measures.This article focuses on the first aspect, namely the detection and investigation of human trafficking. The paper points out the problematic features of the constituent elements of this crime, analyses some important court verdicts regarding the matter, and puts forward research-based recommendations for the first steps officials must take while investigating human trafficking. Drawing on the experience of non-governmental organisations and case law, the article analyses the key directions of investigations into human trafficking and prevalent issues and presents the specifics of and recommendations for individual pre-trial investigative actions (procedural steps).