CMY4803
ASSIGNMENT 1
DUE DATE: 15 MAY 2026
,EXPLICATE THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF CHILD TRAFFICKING, ALONG WITH
THE IMPACT AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON
TRAFFICKED CHILDREN.
1. INTRODUCTION
Child trafficking represents one of the most egregious violations of children‘s rights and
constitutes a serious transnational organised crime that affects millions of children
globally (UNODC, 2024). The trafficking of children involves the recruitment,
transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of children for the purpose of exploitation,
including sexual exploitation, forced labour, child marriage, forced criminality and other
forms of abuse (Todres & Diaz, 2019). This criminal enterprise operates across
international borders and within national boundaries, preying on the most vulnerable
members of society.
South Africa has emerged as a significant source, transit point and destination country
for human trafficking, with children being particularly vulnerable (Maleho, 2025; US
Department of State, 2022). The country‘s situation is exacerbated by socio-economic
challenges, porous borders, corruption and systemic weaknesses in child protection
systems (Bekker, 2025). The COVID-19 pandemic has further intensified these
vulnerabilities, creating what experts have described as “the perfect storm“ for trafficking
networks to flourish (UNODC, 2021).
I will explains child trafficking, focusing on South Africa. It looks at how COVID-19
affected children who are trafficked. It will define important terms, give facts and figures
,about child trafficking, explain how traffickers operate, and discuss the main causes. It
will also explain how the pandemic made things worse for victims. Lastly, it will suggest
ways to prevent child trafficking and use three criminology theories to explain why it
continues and how it can be stopped.three criminological theories will be applied to
explain the persistence of child trafficking and to inform intervention strategies.
2. DEFINITION OF KEY CONCEPTS
2.1 Child Trafficking
Child trafficking is legally defined under international law as the recruitment,
transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a child (any individual under eighteen
years of age) for the purpose of exploitation (UNODC, 2024). The United Nations
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women
and Children (the Palermo Protocol) establishes that when the victim is a child, proof of
force, fraud or coercion is not required, as a child cannot legally consent to such acts
(Todres & Diaz, 2019).
From a public health perspective, child trafficking is recognised as a form of modern
slavery and a rapidly growing, mutating and multifaceted system of severe human
exploitation, violence against children, child abuse and child rights violations (Chisolm-
Straker & Stoklosa, 2017). Modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT) represents a
major global public health concern, with victims exposed to profound short-term and
long-term physical, mental, psychological, developmental and even generational risks to
health (Todres & Diaz, 2019).
Operationally, for the purposes of this assignment, child trafficking refers to any
situation in which a person under eighteen years of age is recruited, transported,
transferred, harboured or received by any means for the purpose of exploitation,
whether sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude, debt bondage, forced
, marriage, organ removal, forced begging or forced involvement in criminal activities (US
Department of State, 2022). This definition encompasses both cross-border and internal
trafficking and recognises that children are victims irrespective of whether they appear
to have “consented“ to their situation.
2.2 Child Exploitation
Exploitation refers to the act of taking unfair advantage of another person for one‘s own
benefit, typically financial gain (Todres & Diaz, 2019). In the context of child trafficking,
exploitation manifests in numerous forms, including commercial sexual exploitation
(prostitution, pornography, sex tourism), forced labour (agriculture, mining, domestic
work, manufacturing), forced begging, forced marriage, illegal adoption, debt bondage
and the use of children in armed conflict or criminal activities (UNODC, 2024).
The distinguishing feature of exploitation is the power imbalance between the exploiter
and the exploited, whereby the trafficker exercises control over the child victim through
physical coercion, psychological manipulation, threats, deception or abuse of a position
of vulnerability (Todres & Diaz, 2019). This control renders the child unable to leave the
situation or refuse the demands of the trafficker.
2.3 Vulnerability
Vulnerability refers to the susceptibility of individuals or groups to harm, exploitation or
victimisation as a result of various risk factors (Todres & Diaz, 2019). In the context of
child trafficking, vulnerability is determined by an interplay of individual, relational,
community and societal factors that increase a child‘s risk of being targeted by
traffickers (Todres & Diaz, 2019).
ASSIGNMENT 1
DUE DATE: 15 MAY 2026
,EXPLICATE THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF CHILD TRAFFICKING, ALONG WITH
THE IMPACT AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON
TRAFFICKED CHILDREN.
1. INTRODUCTION
Child trafficking represents one of the most egregious violations of children‘s rights and
constitutes a serious transnational organised crime that affects millions of children
globally (UNODC, 2024). The trafficking of children involves the recruitment,
transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of children for the purpose of exploitation,
including sexual exploitation, forced labour, child marriage, forced criminality and other
forms of abuse (Todres & Diaz, 2019). This criminal enterprise operates across
international borders and within national boundaries, preying on the most vulnerable
members of society.
South Africa has emerged as a significant source, transit point and destination country
for human trafficking, with children being particularly vulnerable (Maleho, 2025; US
Department of State, 2022). The country‘s situation is exacerbated by socio-economic
challenges, porous borders, corruption and systemic weaknesses in child protection
systems (Bekker, 2025). The COVID-19 pandemic has further intensified these
vulnerabilities, creating what experts have described as “the perfect storm“ for trafficking
networks to flourish (UNODC, 2021).
I will explains child trafficking, focusing on South Africa. It looks at how COVID-19
affected children who are trafficked. It will define important terms, give facts and figures
,about child trafficking, explain how traffickers operate, and discuss the main causes. It
will also explain how the pandemic made things worse for victims. Lastly, it will suggest
ways to prevent child trafficking and use three criminology theories to explain why it
continues and how it can be stopped.three criminological theories will be applied to
explain the persistence of child trafficking and to inform intervention strategies.
2. DEFINITION OF KEY CONCEPTS
2.1 Child Trafficking
Child trafficking is legally defined under international law as the recruitment,
transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a child (any individual under eighteen
years of age) for the purpose of exploitation (UNODC, 2024). The United Nations
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women
and Children (the Palermo Protocol) establishes that when the victim is a child, proof of
force, fraud or coercion is not required, as a child cannot legally consent to such acts
(Todres & Diaz, 2019).
From a public health perspective, child trafficking is recognised as a form of modern
slavery and a rapidly growing, mutating and multifaceted system of severe human
exploitation, violence against children, child abuse and child rights violations (Chisolm-
Straker & Stoklosa, 2017). Modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT) represents a
major global public health concern, with victims exposed to profound short-term and
long-term physical, mental, psychological, developmental and even generational risks to
health (Todres & Diaz, 2019).
Operationally, for the purposes of this assignment, child trafficking refers to any
situation in which a person under eighteen years of age is recruited, transported,
transferred, harboured or received by any means for the purpose of exploitation,
whether sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude, debt bondage, forced
, marriage, organ removal, forced begging or forced involvement in criminal activities (US
Department of State, 2022). This definition encompasses both cross-border and internal
trafficking and recognises that children are victims irrespective of whether they appear
to have “consented“ to their situation.
2.2 Child Exploitation
Exploitation refers to the act of taking unfair advantage of another person for one‘s own
benefit, typically financial gain (Todres & Diaz, 2019). In the context of child trafficking,
exploitation manifests in numerous forms, including commercial sexual exploitation
(prostitution, pornography, sex tourism), forced labour (agriculture, mining, domestic
work, manufacturing), forced begging, forced marriage, illegal adoption, debt bondage
and the use of children in armed conflict or criminal activities (UNODC, 2024).
The distinguishing feature of exploitation is the power imbalance between the exploiter
and the exploited, whereby the trafficker exercises control over the child victim through
physical coercion, psychological manipulation, threats, deception or abuse of a position
of vulnerability (Todres & Diaz, 2019). This control renders the child unable to leave the
situation or refuse the demands of the trafficker.
2.3 Vulnerability
Vulnerability refers to the susceptibility of individuals or groups to harm, exploitation or
victimisation as a result of various risk factors (Todres & Diaz, 2019). In the context of
child trafficking, vulnerability is determined by an interplay of individual, relational,
community and societal factors that increase a child‘s risk of being targeted by
traffickers (Todres & Diaz, 2019).
