It has been estimated that international human trafficking may be responsible for the illegal movement of up to a million people every year. This article attempts to formulate a definition of the illicit trade and identify its root causes in view of social and economic factors, in countries of both supply and demand. More generally, it considers the provisions of international law in attempting to combat such activity and assesses its current strengths and weaknesses.
Specific attention is paid to the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and in particular its protocols against Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling. The effectiveness of these laws is investigated with regards to their relative emphasis on human rights and law enforcement. The anti-trafficking laws of the US are also examined to provide a point of comparison. The investigation shows that the current international instruments, while comprehensive, lack the fundamental foundations, drawn from human rights, to restrain the growth of trafficking globally.