Every year, in the world, around 2 million people are the victims of human trafficking.  80% are sexually exploited; the others are victims of forced labor. The average age for the recruitment of victims is 13 years old.  This terrible traffic generates over 30 million dollars a year and it is increasing more rapidly than arms or drug trafficking

What are the causes of this colossal, expanding phenomenon?

Apart from the profit it generates, which makes it particularly attractive, the trade in human beings depends on the existence of supply and demand.

Even though the victims may sometimes be men, or people from so-called developed countries, the supply is essentially from the poorest countries in the world, from the most vulnerable communities in those poorest countries and they are the poorest people in those vulnerable communities. Women and children are victimized and the traffic is on the increase thanks to endemic poverty and lack of job opportunities. It is easy to promise the victims a better future.  Their lack of education, their credulity and the violence to which they are very often subjected to (domestic violence, sexual abuse, harassment…) makes it easy to get them to leave.

The demand for sexual “services,” even if it has always existed thanks to permissive received ideas about prostitution, is further increased by the spread of violent images in the media. In these images exploitation of the weak and tolerance of human trafficking appear to be very normal.

As for “distribution,” meaning trafficking networks, it is made easier by the lack of action on the part of the authorities, the complexity of the struggle, and the explosion of exchanges on the Web

How can we fight against this terrible plague?

As part of its role in the fight against human trafficking, the strategy of Planète Enfants is to take action with respect to both the demand for trafficking victims in destination countries and with respect to the supply in countries of origin. This strategy enables us to take action in France so as to complete our interventions in Nepal. PE intends to extend its action to other countries, whether of origin or of destination.

In France, our vision is that of a society freed from discrimination against women and the tolerance of violence, which would totally reject even the idea of buying the body of another person, even for a few minutes. PE is ready to take on a long term program of information and awareness for the general public, and to intercede with the authorities in order to improve the law and its enforcement.

In the countries of origin our vision is that of a drastic improvement in living conditions, education and the rights of vulnerable communities, so as to guard and protect against violence and trafficking, with solidarity with the victims and their rehabilitation.

What are the means which are used to achieve this?

PE tirelessly conducts programs of prevention with women and children in isolated communities, with children in slums, with candidates for migration, and finally with victims of sexual exploitation in bars and restaurants.

We ceaselessly train and inform uneducated and vulnerable groups about different forms of violence and about one of its cruellest forms: human trafficking. We reinforce their capacity to think and act (informal education, training, sessions of awareness, information centers, and help for education…) and help them better their future and their childrens’ future through community committees of protection against violence, income-generating activities, savings groups, establishing civic status…

We reinforce actions taken nationally, at all levels: local authorities, associations, women’s groups, and childrens clubs. Our aim is not to replace the established groups or networks but to support them financially and technically to develop their skills and to enhance their impact.

We inform and raise awareness in the whole population of a country so that it protects its children. We take part in radio broadcasts, we go into schools, we put up posters in public places, we organise street theater…..

Finally, we assist victims and help them with rehabilitation.  PE thus developed a multidisciplinary approach for the people welcomed in our centers. This approach is based on constant listening to people’s needs and desires, as well as taking account of the local context. It is based on a process that offers services to the people (medical, psychological, legal, socio-economic) as well as establishing minimum standard conditions (number and role of professionals required, policy of the center, type of activities…l) that must be set up so that rehabilitation can be effective.

The victims of violence and trafficking, such as street children, need urgent assistance: they need to be able to eat and sleep in peace, and to be protected from their attackers. But they also, and above all, need to recover their physical and mental health as well as their legal rights, and to achieve a more solid social and economic status.

We also work very closely with the Nepalese government so as to spread this approach to all the rehabilitation centers in the country.