What is human trafficking (1)?

Lately, I am getting more and more confused about the concept of human traffic as applied to women migrating to work.

As always, the authoritative definition in these cases can be found by taking a look into a UN protocol.

Art. 3  of the UN-Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime  (Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000) defines trafficking in persons as follows:

 "Trafficking in persons" shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs;

My first question relates of course to the title: "especially women and children" Because they are more often victims? Because they are  defenceless? Because we are being paternalistic?

It cannot be affirmed with any degree of certainty whether more men or women fall victim to trafficking. What can probably be said is that worldwide more women and children become victims of trafficking, although this may not be true of particular regions and countries, where young men and boys are often trafficked into bonded labour or as child soldiers.

IOM, 2007: The IOM handbook on the Direct Assistance to Victims of Trafficking.

From Himalayan villages to Eastern European cities, people - especially women and girls - are attracted by the prospect of a well-paid job as a domestic servant, waitress or factory worker. Traffickers recruit victims through fake advertisements, mail-order bride catalogues and casual acquaintances.

Upon arrival at their destination, victims are placed in conditions controlled by traffickers while they are exploited to earn illicit revenues. Many are physically confined, their travel or identity documents are taken away and they or their families are threatened if they do not cooperate. Women and girls forced to work as prostitutes are blackmailed by the threat that traffickers will tell their families. Trafficked children are dependent on their traffickers for food, shelter and other basic necessities. Traffickers also play on victims' fears that authorities in a foreign country will prosecute or deport them if they ask for help.

from: The UN Office on Drugs and Crime website