What are the causes? The vulnerable are most at risk for trafficking. Vulnerability leads to exploitation. There are as many causes to trafficking as there are forms of trafficking.20 Some causes include: Legalized prostitution Pornography Poverty and unemployment Drug and alcohol abuse Corruption Expansion of organized crime Low status of women and girls in many countries Illiteracy and lack of education Inadequate or non-enforced laws Lack of political will to end the practice Natural disasters War and political unrest
There are three main ways that women and girls are trafficked into the sex industry. • They are sold by a family member. Under extreme poverty, many have no other choice for the survival of their entire family.
• They are tricked.
Traffickers give false hopes of a job in another city, but actually put victims in a brothel.
• They are kidnapped.
Traffickers will steal victims from their homes, and force them to work as a prostitute under threat of violence.