A World in Crisis: Global Humanitarian Crises and Conflicts Increase Human Trafficking Concerns
Date of Publication
1-1-2023 12:00 AM
Security Theme
Human Rights
Keywords
Trafficking, Haiti, Human trafficking, financial systems, human rights
Description
Haiti has been grappling with an intensifying crisis since 2018, further escalated by the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, recurring natural disasters, and a cholera resurgence. A UN report accentuates the daily struggles Haitians face, leading to demands for increased UN support. The Haitian populace, amid pervasive poverty, is at significant risk of kidnappings, violence, and exploitation. Vulnerable communities, especially the poor and marginalized, are susceptible to modern slavery and trafficking both within and outside Haiti. The U.S.'s 2022 Trafficking in Persons report frequently mentions Haiti, indicating rampant human trafficking. The UNHCR has appealed to states to stop forced returns to Haiti during this crisis. The financial sector is pivotal in countering trafficking, especially during conflicts. The Inter-Agency Coordination Group Against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) emphasized in December 2022 the necessity of the financial sector's involvement in curbing slavery and human trafficking. However, Haiti's financial system struggles with financial inclusion, further strained after being 'Grey Listed' by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2021 for money laundering and terrorist financing concerns. A study by UNU-CPR’s Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAST) initiative, in collaboration with Haiti's INURED, explored Haiti's financial needs regarding modern slavery. The research underscores financial inclusion as a pivotal protective measure, stressing that limited financial services intensify vulnerabilities, particularly in rural locales.
A World in Crisis: Global Humanitarian Crises and Conflicts Increase Human Trafficking Concerns
Haiti has been grappling with an intensifying crisis since 2018, further escalated by the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, recurring natural disasters, and a cholera resurgence. A UN report accentuates the daily struggles Haitians face, leading to demands for increased UN support. The Haitian populace, amid pervasive poverty, is at significant risk of kidnappings, violence, and exploitation. Vulnerable communities, especially the poor and marginalized, are susceptible to modern slavery and trafficking both within and outside Haiti. The U.S.'s 2022 Trafficking in Persons report frequently mentions Haiti, indicating rampant human trafficking. The UNHCR has appealed to states to stop forced returns to Haiti during this crisis. The financial sector is pivotal in countering trafficking, especially during conflicts. The Inter-Agency Coordination Group Against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) emphasized in December 2022 the necessity of the financial sector's involvement in curbing slavery and human trafficking. However, Haiti's financial system struggles with financial inclusion, further strained after being 'Grey Listed' by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2021 for money laundering and terrorist financing concerns. A study by UNU-CPR’s Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAST) initiative, in collaboration with Haiti's INURED, explored Haiti's financial needs regarding modern slavery. The research underscores financial inclusion as a pivotal protective measure, stressing that limited financial services intensify vulnerabilities, particularly in rural locales.
