Brief Introductory Chapter: New Forms of Human Trafficking

Trafficking in human beings (THB) is not a new phenomenon, it has roots in a number of different practices that threaten the fundamental rights of its victims, particularly slavery and more specifically the trafficking of women. There are also some intersections with other types of criminal actions, such as the exploitation of sexual practices, commonly known as ‘pimping’. As this criminal phenomenon has not followed the same path internationally, there are still many countries and areas in the world where it is not even seen as a criminal act. Many violations of fundamental rights still happen in the twenty-first century and many victims are still manipulated and exploited by criminal agents acting by themselves or at a higher level, often following a specific modus operandi as part of an organised crime group (OCG).