This report explores the links between climate change, migration and human trafficking in two distinct areas in India, one affected by slow-onset events and one by rapid-onset events. It finds that climate change has become a new driver of migration and human trafficking. When migration occurs under distress, people are at greater risk of human trafficking. More research is needed on the factors that expose people to human trafficking, why they are pulled towards unsafe migration routes and gaps in social protection during climate events.
This source, drawing on research on Ghana and the Sundarbans region, shows how the negative effects of climate change force people into unsafe migration and increase their vulnerability to forced marriage, debt-bondage, forced labour and human trafficking. It explains how women and children who stay back are also at risk of modern slavery. Families use harmful traditional practices (such as forced marriage) to cope with the negative effects of climate change. Girls and young women who try to escape can be driven to take unsafe migration routes, increasing their exposure to modern slavery. Access to resources and information is key to improving people's resilient and ability to adapt to climate change.
This source, drawing on research on Ghana and the Sundarbans region, shows how the negative effects of climate change force people into unsafe migration and increase their vulnerability to forced marriage, debt-bondage, forced labour and human trafficking. It explains how women and children who stay back are also at risk of modern slavery. Families use harmful traditional practices (such as forced marriage) to cope with the negative effects of climate change. Girls and young women who try to escape can be driven to take unsafe migration routes, increasing their exposure to modern slavery. Access to resources and information is key to improving people's resilient and ability to adapt to climate change.
This report shows how climate change is increasing the precariousness of rural communities in Peru and exacerbating the threat already posed by severe environmental degradation caused by certain business activities. People are driven to undertake unsafe migration to find alternative sources of income. They often end up in situations of modern slavery, in a region where human trafficking and forced labour are already endemic. It is vital to address the effects of climate change, environmental degradation, migration and human rights abuses as joint issues, to reduce people's exposure to forms of modern slavery.
This paper focuses on two Indian regions, one affected by slow-onset events and one by rapid-onset events, where different factors influence households' decision to migrate and their needs throughout their migration journey. Distress migration increases vulnerability to human trafficking and forced labour. Migrants from the slow-onset context were more vulnerable to human trafficking compared to those from the rapid-onset context. This may be because areas affected by slow-onset events do not receive the same level of support and relief as those affected by rapid-onset events.
This document focuses on Kenya and aims to generate knowledge on the link between natural disasters and vulnerability to human trafficking. It pays attention to those cases where disasters impact human trafficking and where they do not, in contexts of short-term vulnerability. Droughts are very common in Kenya. They impact the subsistence of local communities, reduce businesses' ability to produce and generate income, and drive price rises. These situations result in precariousness and need, leading to a rise harmful practices. They can also drive displacement. Human trafficking can thrive in this context. The report finds that droughts increase the vulnerability of affected communities to human trafficking, but to what extent is context-dependent. The effect likely compounds other contributors to vulnerability, such as conflict.
Focusing on Pacific Island Countries, the report finds that climate-induced displacement increases vulnerability to modern slavery. Host communities at destination become more vulnerable when there is competition over limited resources, which can spark conflict. Vulnerability to modern slavery also has a gendered dimension.
This document provides an overview of human trafficking in Bangladesh. It recognises that the impacts of climate change are key drivers of human trafficking, given that people affected by extreme climate change events are directly targeted by traffickers. Climate change also exacerbates precariousness and need, pushing people to migrate in search of opportunities and making them more vulnerable to human trafficking.
This report explores the links between climate change, migration and human trafficking in two distinct areas in India, one affected by slow-onset events and one by rapid-onset events. It finds that climate change has become a new driver of migration and human trafficking. When migration occurs under distress, people are at greater risk of human trafficking. More research is needed on the factors that expose people to human trafficking, why they are pulled towards unsafe migration routes and gaps in social protection during climate events.
This source examines the relationship between climate change and debt bondage in Cambodia. It shows how climate change is a key driver of debt bondage at brick kilns. Climate change makes it increasingly difficult for rural communities to farm, putting pressure on them to take on unsustainable debt. They then resort to borrowing from and working for brick kiln owners, trapping them in debt bondage. The document highlights how debt bondage in brick kilns has ties to the construction industry (in supplying its raw materials) and the global fashion industry (given that garment offcuts are burned to power brick kilns).
This report uses the case of the Indian Sundarbans to explore the links between climate change and vulnerability to human trafficking. It aims to provide further evidence on the issue to inform integrated strategies on climate change adaptation, environmental protection and anti-trafficking.
Argentina's submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, explores the impact of climate change events on the agricultural sector. It provides contextual information on Argentina's legal framework around human trafficking, on the national programme for the rescue and support of human trafficking victims, and on the work of the Office of Domestic Violence of the Supreme Court of Justice (OVD CJSJN) and the office of the prosecutor for the trafficking and exploitation of persons (PROTEX).
The Brazilian government's submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, provides contextual information on Brazil's legal framework and efforts to end human trafficking. The document places high importance on targeting social inequalities and on the particular vulnerabilities of indigenous communities. It also reports an increase in child trafficking in the municipality of Governor Valadares and recognises the specific vulnerabilities of people with disabilities during climate events.
Eswatini's Report to the United Nations Special Rapporteur provides an overview of the government's understanding of and response to vulnerability to human trafficking for forced labour and commercial sexual exploitation, in the context of climate change.
Mexico's submission presents a wide range of legal and policy measures addressing climate change and human trafficking. They recognise that human trafficking in the context of climate change is a particular threat to those people most likely to experience discrimination and that certain population groups, such as indigenous peoples, women and girls, and people with disabilities, are especially exposed. Climate change and vulnerability to modern slavery are also worsened by extractive business activities.
This report explores the link between modern slavery and natural resources in Ghana, specifically in the cocoa and gold mining value chains. It seeks to inform practice in the financial sector, in particular to address exposure to modern slavery. The report recognises the connections between climate change, environmental degradation and heightened vulnerability to modern slavery.
The report focuses on the intersection of climate change, migration and conflict in Asia. The case study on Myanmar identifies the Rohingya people as being vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and human trafficking. The authors recognise the complexity of establishing a direct link between these issues, particularly when climate change acts as a threat multiplier and systemic socio-political and economic challenges also play a role. They highlight the importance of providing adequate support to immobile groups, who are also vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
This source looks specifically at the impacts of climate change on children, whose needs are generally overlooked by governments' responses and research on climate change and migration.
This source focuses on the links between modern slavery and environmental change in fisheries, fields, forests and factories specifically. The authors recognise the role of capitalism in fuelling environmental degradation, climate change and exploitative business practices (e.g. logging/deforestation or brick kilns), which exacerbate modern slavery. They advocate for a more interconnected analysis of the issues to further our understanding of the links between environmental change and modern slavery.
This source focuses on the links between modern slavery and environmental change in fisheries, fields, forests and factories specifically. The authors recognise the role of capitalism in fuelling environmental degradation, climate change and exploitative business practices (e.g. logging/deforestation or brick kilns), which exacerbate modern slavery. They advocate for a more interconnected analysis of the issues to further our understanding of the links between environmental change and modern slavery.
These case studies demonstrate how workers in the forestry and related sectors may experience modern slavery and how deforestation can increase vulnerability to human trafficking. They focus on two provinces in Mozambique, Tete and Niassa, affected by deforestation as a result of illegal logging and construction respectively. Deforestation worsens climate change events and their negative effects on local communities. These communities are then driven to work in extractive and exploitative industries or to migrate in search of alternative livelihoods. Further exploration is needed of the mechanisms through which environmental degradation exacerbates poverty and, therefore, vulnerability to modern slavery in the logging industry. The report also recognises the link between consumer demand and deforestation and its negative impacts.
