The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recently released a report entitled "Human Trafficking: New Directions for Research". In the report, the IOM purports to "assess the current state of trafficking research, identify current knowledge gaps, share innovative research and data collection methods and highlight the importance of evaluation and assessment of counter trafficking programmes." Unfortunately, the report fails to address the key issues that impede international anti-trafficking programs.
The primary way forward is to stop fighting the definition of human trafficking that is contained within the UN Protocol. More time, energy and resources are spent fighting the definition of human trafficking than in fighting the problem of human trafficking. In the report, the authors argue against the definition of human trafficking and advocate broadening the definition to accomodate different cultures and social concerns. A broad, vague definition of human trafficking would make human trafficking difficult to prosecute because it would create confusion as to what actions constitute human trafficking.
The authors also complain that the trafficking of men and boys, as well as labor trafficking, are never studied. However, as long as people are focused on fighting the definition of human trafficking, these issues will never be addressed.
Finally, countries that legalize prostitution should not use the legalization of prostitution as an excuse to forgo passing anti-trafficking legislation.
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