This class will introduce students to the complex phenomenon of human trafficking (also referred to as a form of modern day slavery) as defined in the United Nations Anti-Trafficking Protocol as well as the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) and its subsequent reauthorizations. In this class, we will discuss trafficking in human beings in its historical, legal, economic, political and social contexts, identifying the scope of the global problem, different forms of human trafficking, regional trends and practices, including trafficking in the United States, and the different actors involved at all levels. We will discuss the complexity of human trafficking in order to understand root causes in a globalized world, as well as the relationship between supply and demand in diverse forms of trafficking. We will examine the roles of government, the international community, civil society and individual actors in addressing the problem and will conclude with strategies that have proven effective in different parts of the world as well as in the United States.
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Define human trafficking;
2. Identify the components of a comprehensive anti-trafficking framework; and
3. Assess critical challenges in eradicating human trafficking in a global society.