Human Trafficking, The Rights of Victims and Government Obligations under the International Laws

Abstract

The concept of human rights is a powerful tool. One hundred and eighty Nine countries today are members of the United Nations. These government have indeed made a commitment to human rights principles as enshrined in the United Nations Charter and in the Universal Declaration of human rights (UDHR 1948). The UDHR establishes the principle that fundamental human rights and basic freedoms are guaranteed to all persons. Trafficking in person is a serious violation of human rights; it is an issue of growing concern from the International Community. International organizations, regional bodies, and National government are all working on programmes and policies as well as creating new laws to eradicate this complex crime (human trafficking). But however it is sad to observe that most of these initiatives and actions are of criminal concern and grossly neglect the human rights of victims or the trafficked persons they protect the interest of the state rather than the interest of the victims hence trafficked persons are often revictimised again in the remedial process. This paper therefore aims to present a conceptual clarification of trafficking in persons through human rights perspectives. The definition of human trafficking under the United Nations trafficking protocol will also be examine. The paper generally calls for a greater understanding of the concept of trafficking in persons as involving human rights violations.