As a travel journalist, one of the most difficult things to witness at an airport is the sight of individuals being taken into or out of the airport by representatives of the local social welfare or overseas employee welfare authorities.
While there are no recent figures as of press time, a 2022 report from the United Nations’ International Organisation for Migration (IOM) declared that over 50 million people are in forced servitude / modern slavery.
Furthermore, it is estimated that almost 80 percent of all international human trafficking activities run through official border control points, especially sea ports and airports.
With this in mind, what exactly is the global aviation sector doing to protect the rights of those unjustly being taken through borders against their will?
IATA steps in
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has long taken a hard stance regarding the prevention and alleviation of human trafficking through international aviation.
In the Passenger Experience and Policy section of its website, IATA declares:
“Aviation is often referred to as the business of freedom. The global connectivity provided by airlines link businesses to markets, reunite families and friends, and facilitate tourism and cultural exchange. Unfortunately, the global air transport system can also be misused by criminals for the illegal trafficking of men, women, and children.”
Indeed, prior to the publication of the IOM report, the Association approved a resolution during its 2018 Annual General Meeting.
Then-director-general Alexandre de Juniac remarked: “Aviation is the business of freedom, flying four billion people to every corner of the earth [in 2017]. Some, however, try to use our networks nefariously. Trafficking in people creates misery for millions, and funds criminal gangs and terrorism. As a responsible industry, our members are determined to help authorities stamp out human trafficking,”
The 2018 IATA resolution outlines three key areas to combat human trafficking across commercial aviation and global airports.
These are:
- The sharing of best practices among airlines Many airlines are already active in the fight against human trafficking, and the best practices they developed over time have become the basis for the IATA Human Trafficking Guidelines which were designed to assist airlines to take the right response to this challenge;
- The training of operational staff The resolution likewise mandates airlines to train relevant operational staff to identify potential trafficking situations and take appropriate action that does not compromise the safety of the victim; and
- Cooperative effort in reporting Government authorities must establish clear, practical and discreet mechanisms for the reporting of potential trafficking activity in the air transport system. After all, many human traffickers operate in plain sight and can only be stopped with the full cooperation of all parts of the value chain, especially airport operators, ground handling agents, and other air transport system stakeholders.
Not without risk
As solid as IATA’s guidelines are, they are not entirely foolproof.
In 2019, by way of its own Human Trafficking Report, Airports Council International (ACI) pointed out that the joint role of airports and airlines to mitigate human trafficking can be hampered by a number of factors.
Per the report: “The role that airports and airlines can play in anti-trafficking efforts is limited somewhat by local law-enforcement agencies’ willingness to act and the local laws applicable.”
The Council also pointed out that it is not the role of airports to act as police authorities, especially as they do not have jurisdiction to take action against suspected traffickers.
Nevertheless, airports can raise awareness among their staff members and the public, whilst lobbying on local and national levels for appropriate measures to be put in place.
The report goes on to say: “Where possible, airports can also support the activities of governments, charities and non-governmental organizations that are involved in preventing human trafficking. Airports can also wield significant lobbying power to encourage countries to take action.”
By drawing attention to the issue and working with the relevant regulatory or security bodies to determine appropriate responses when trafficking is suspected, airports are able to formulate and implement more effective controls.
