ASSIGNEMENT QUESTION:
Using clear examples, discuss how human trafficking may affect university students outlining
the various ways in which students may be lured.
INTRODUCTION
Human trafficking is a serious human rights violation (Bales 1999). It affects millions
everywhere, especially a significant number of university students. Young adults frequently
have particular vulnerabilities that traffickers take advantage of as they make the move to
higher education. Human trafficking can significantly impact university students in various
ways, often exploiting their vulnerabilities. In Zimbabwe, the issue is particularly pressing,
as economic instability and high unemployment rates create an environment where young
adults are vulnerable to exploitation. As they transition into higher education, students face a
myriad of challenges such as financial pressures, social dynamics, and emotional
vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit to lure them into dangerous situations. Some clear
examples of how students may be lured into trafficking situations includes false job offers,
social media manipulation, cultural and language barriers, academic pressure and debt and
substance abuse. As this essay unfolds, human trafficking is going to be discussed providing
clear examples and how it is affecting university students outlining the various ways in which
students may be lured.
The unlawful trade of people for the purpose of forced labour, sexual exploitation, or other
forms of exploitation is known as human trafficking. According to United Nations, human
trafficking refers to the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons
through force ,coercion, or deception for exploitative purposes. Men, women, and children
can all be victims of human trafficking, which can occur both domestically and
internationally. Millions of people worldwide are impacted by human trafficking, which is a
grave violation of their human rights. Lured refers to the process of manipulating or
recruiting individuals into exploitative situations often using false promises of employment,
education. False Job Offer
.
False scholarship opportunities
This is another example of how millions are lured into human trafficking. This is whereby
traffickers from abroad countries provide false scholarship offers. That is, the offers will be
very affordable and many wants to be part of it. Students facing financial stress might be
more susceptible to trafficking. Traffickers may prey on their desperation by offering
scholarships or financial aid then it escalates into exploitation. For example, a student
struggling with tuition might be promised a scholarship but later coerced into sex work. Due
to academic pressure and debt, one ends up being in this situation. Financial debt and
academic pressure are two important variables that can increase college students'
susceptibility to human trafficking. Many students experience increasing stress from
academics, competition, and the financial pressures of living expenses and tuition as they
negotiate the demands of higher education. Traffickers take advantage of these weaknesses by
luring students into abusive situations with the hope of receiving financial assistance.
Cultural and Language Barriers
International students, in particular, may be more vulnerable due to cultural and language
differences. Traffickers may exploit these students by offering to help them navigate the new
environment, but instead, they may become isolated and coerced into trafficking situations.
For example, a student from abroad might be promised help with housing but ends up in a
controlled living situation. University students' susceptibility to human trafficking can be
greatly increased by linguistic and cultural difficulties, especially for overseas students
studying in Zimbabwe. These obstacles are frequently used by traffickers to control and
manipulate victims, placing them in precarious positions. Creating successful preventative
efforts requires an understanding of how these elements affect the likelihood of trafficking.
For international students, language problems can lead to isolation and make adjusting to
their new surroundings challenging. For instance, it could be difficult for a student from a
non-English speaking nation to interact with peers, employers, or even locals. Their
susceptibility to exploitation may increase due to misunderstandings resulting from this lack
of communication.
Social media manipulation
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