Addressing Human Trafficking through Health Systems: A Scoping Review
Human trafficking is a lucrative crime and violation of human rights that exploits women,
children and men. It includes trafficking for forced labour, sexual exploitation, forced begging
and military conscription. The health effects of trafficking and the health needs of trafficked
individuals and trafficking survivors are well documented and urgent. WHO European Region
Member States recognize their responsibility to prevent and respond to human trafficking and
to mitigate its health effects. As frontline health professionals may be the sole public servants
to meet trafficked individuals while they are trafficked, the health system also has both a
responsibility and an opportunity to promote and protect the health and other rights of trafficked
people. No country or sector alone can address the ongoing challenges of trafficking, nor of
emerging challenges. This scoping review examines 237 articles, reports and grey literature
containing research from Canada, the United States of America and the WHO European Region.
It summarizes and synthesizes this evidence-informed research to help Member States in
addressing the intersection of health care and trafficking and in attempts to prevent and respond
to human trafficking. While considerable research covers the epidemiology of trafficking and
the service delivery response, there is limited research on prevention efforts. The identified
research shapes the considerations for policies to promote a comprehensive health systems
approach to human trafficking.
Co-author: Peter Geller
Client: World Health Organization
Our Opinion Piece in BMJ: Health Workers are in a Unique Position to Help Identify Human Trafficking (with Hanni Stoklosa and Jozef Bartovic)