A Growing Invisible Phenomenon

In recent years there has been a significant increase worldwide in recognizing a "phenomena" as human trafficking which exist throughout the world. The abuse of the basic human rights of trafficked persons, who are mainly women and young girls, arouse great concern among governments and the United Nations in many countries, especially the post Soviet era countries. Researchers differ on the numbers of women trafficked throughout the world, however, United Nations (UNDP) reports an estimated 4 million women, men and young girls have been trafficked from one country to another and within countries and it also indicates that trafficking is a 5-7 billion U.S. dollar annual operation.

Human trafficking does not apply only to women and young girls, in search of an employment to support their family, men fall into the hands of the trafficker to be smuggled to the neighboring countries, to perform hard labor for over 18 hours a day, making less than $1.00 a day and in many cases their wages are not paid for months.

Trafficking brutalizes women and young girls exposing them to rape, torture, and to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted and infectious diseases, violence, dangerous working conditions, poor nutrition, and drug and alcohol addiction. Increasing numbers of women and young girls contracting to HIV/AIDS in Armenia has raised major concern. Severe psychological trauma from separation, coercion, sexual abuse, and depression often leaves a life time scar on the victims and leads to a criminal life style of drugs, alcohol addition and sexual violence.

It is a generally a recognized fact that high poverty and unemployment rate, family violence, gender discrimination, wealth inequality, easily attract trafficking agents to recruit victims from the most vulnerable areas and export them to countries with well-organized trafficking networks. The World Bank published a document called, "Armenia at the Glance" , which, indicated that 43 percent of the Armenian population live below the national poverty line with 64 % of the national population living in the urban areas.

Majority of victims of trafficking are of the average age of 15 to 32 years, they originate mainly from poor rural and urban areas in Armenia (mostly Southern region), where they are under a tremendous pressure from family members to make an earning, in any way possible. It is reported by a private investigator that 80 percent of the village women and young girls fall into trafficking by choice, by a close relative, best friend or a neighbor who promises to give them a better life style, hence they run away from a miserable living condition.

On a recent interview conducted in Dubai with 147 young girls (ages of 18-25), majority acknowledged that they were aware of the consequences, only 20 percent were tricked into trafficking. Even if a certain number of the trafficked women knew they will work as prostitutes, they did not know that they would be kept in slavery like conditions being unable to escape from their exploiters.

In June 2004, the US State Department released the fourth annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP). Using a minimum threshold of 100 persons to trigger an investigation, the State Department placed 116 countries into three Tier categories. The report indicated that Armenia is primarily a source and transit country for women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation mainly to the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Turkey , as well as Russia , Greece , and other European countries. There were a few cases of trafficking in women from Uzbekistan to Armenia for sexual exploitation. Advocates expressed concerns about internal trafficking and trafficking of orphans, as well as young mother's carrying their newborn across the boarder to George to sell for a price of $1,500, but as of today no confirmed cases were discovered.

Although the report indicated that the government of Armenia does not fully comply with the minimum standards to eliminate trafficking, but it is obvious that a major effort has been made during the past several months to combat trafficking. Cooperation between police and NGOs increased the number of investigations, and provided police a greater understanding of international and domestic sources of trafficking. A strong consortium was built among the central government, international donors and NGO and due to this continuous significant efforts, Armenia has successfully updated it's status from Tier 3 (non-compliance) to Tier 2 (making significant progress).

Human trafficking caused an enormous concern for the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country. HIV/AID center in Yerevan , established by the Ministry of Health, reported that from 1988 to December 1, 2004 , 288 HIV cases were reported which consisted of 77.8% of men, 22.2% women and 1.4% children. In 2004, 13 cases of HIV-infected women were registered, with 1 case of HIV infection has been registered among children. Overall registered AIDS/HIV cases in Armenia at the end of 2003, as reported by the UNAIDS ranges between 0.1 - 0.2 percent of the population.

In conclusion, human trafficking in Armenia has been kept as a denial by the people and the government. Innocent human beings are being traded as a commodity, moved from one place to another, sold and resold, commit suicide or disappear in unknown lands. Newborns are sold to Georgia and Turkey for less than $1,500 and young girls run away from the orphanages to get away from a brutal treatment they receive by their keepers.

Armenian Diaspora has reached it's peak of 8 million throughout the world. Over 300 organizations has been established to aid Armenia in many form and shape, but only 1 deals with human trafficking. This task has never been publicized nor acknowledged by the community. To successfully combat this act, Diaspora community, specially religious organizations should establish a committee and a mechanism to deal with human trafficking in the country, before it's too late.

To view the full content of the paper on human trafficking, please visit www.grigorianconsultants.com

Hilda Grigorian, MBA