An Integrated Theoretical Framework to Describe Human Trafficking of Young Women and Girls for Involuntary Prostitution

Abstract

The United States State Department, the United Nations and Kevin Bales (2009) independently estimate that 27 million people are victimized by human traffickers each year. In this paper, the practice is defined and disparate theoretical explanations are presented. This paper then consolidates these theoretical explanations to describe the widespread proliferation of this modern form of slavery by taking a multi-disciplinary approach based on rationale choice, demand theory, victimology, economic and constitutive theories. The paper concludes with epidemiological theoretically derived policy solutions, with special mention of public health, justice, victim support and investigation of human trafficking, (Akers & Lanier, 2009). An integrated multi-disciplinary perspective may provide essential information useful to devise strategies to respond to human trafficking of women for sexual exploitation, (Lanier, Pack & Akers, 2009).