A Crossroads in the Fight against Human Trafficking? Let's take the Structural Route: A Response to Janie Chuang. (2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bravo, Karen E.
• Is Part Of: AJIL unbound. Volume 108( 2014)
• Page Start: 272
• Page End: 276
• Publication Date: 2014
• Subjects: International law -- Periodicals; 341.05
• DOI: 10.1017/S2398772300009405
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2398-7723

Abstract

Abstract : Even ten years ago, the phrase "human trafficking" might have evoked blank stares in many circles. Today, the existence of a contemporary trade in human beings has blossomed fully into public awareness. Discussion of and expositions about human traffickingappear not only in sensationalist media reports, but also in many other arenas, such as film dramas, documentaries, books and articles by scholars from a variety of disciplines, activist NGO websites, and legislative chambers across the globe. However, some legal scholars as well as other scholars in the human trafficking sphere admit to a growing unease. Why? There is the sense that the label is a mushrooming monster that encompasses or swallows up all forms of human exploitation, identifies or creates stereotypical bad guys and innocent victims, and yet leaves relatively untouched the root causes of the exploitation.