Toward a Framework for Global Public Health Action Against Trafficking in Women and Girls

Trafficking in women and girls is a serious human rights violation that has deleterious consequences for many individuals and communities worldwide. Although numerous anti-trafficking programs and policies have been implemented, the majority have adopted a law enforcement approach that has yielded little progress. In this article, we draw on the public health lens to discuss a set of principles that aim to guide anti-trafficking interventions toward a more comprehensive framework of action to address trafficking in women and girls. Given the complex causes and consequences associated with the issue, anti-trafficking interventions must address a range of factors, from the social determinants enabling the gender discriminatory norms and conditions that facilitate the problem, to the diverse health needs of individuals throughout the trafficking process. Additionally, anti-trafficking policies and programs should be implemented with the best available evidence and in partnership with relevant stakeholders, including the survivors themselves, while incorporating the unique opportunities and challenges of the different trafficking contexts.