Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Advanced Research in Social Sciences
Year: 2024
DOI:
[PDF]
Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants: The Most Extensive Forms of Cross-Border Organized Crime
Nicoleta-Elena Hegheș
ABSTRACT:
In recent years, countries in Europe have seen an unprecedented flow of migrants and refugees across their borders. Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants are two distinct phenomena, even if they have certain common elements – both smuggling of migrants and human trafficking are transnational crimes; both are crimes involving the transfer of human beings for the purpose of making a profit; both smuggling of migrant and human trafficking are forms of illegal migration. The phenomenon of human trafficking often gives rise to controversies and confusions, being likened to the smuggling of migrants, to prostitution, and the victim of human trafficking to a prostitute. In practice, it can be difficult to draw the line between human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, as elements of exploitation and abuse may occur during transit or at destination, even in the presence of the migrant’s initial consent. The paper proposes to analyze the similarities and differences between these crimes at the national level, respectively in Romania in order to eliminate any controversies, as well as the legal instruments adopted at the national and international level.
keywords: crimes, human beings, human rights, illegal migration, legal instruments