Human trafficking remains a pressing global challenge which is a source of enormous misery and abuse. In addition to the human security consequences, trafficking also drives broader problems related to organised crime and underground economy. This book represents one of the first comprehensive evidence-based research projects on human trafficking in a region of the world where sex trafficking thrives. The book has been meticulously put together and may serve as a required resource for police authorities, non-governmental organizations and other public entities that are committed to protecting women and children from this most dreadful form of human exploitation.

Human trafficking is a phenomenon that encompasses more than a perceived threat to the sovereignty and security of states and their citizens. It is the ultimate manifestation of the current social, economic, cultural, and political landscape being so entrenched in discrimination, inequality, exclusion, and exploitation across the globe. Based on theoretical and empirical evidence from a cross-country study, this book unfolds the basic structure of these criminal organizations, the sophisticated methods and technology used, and the interactions and roles played by state and non-state actors. Through a more holistic lens, Siddhartha Sarkar examines the complex network of human trafficking governance-transnational cooperation, legislation, and enforcement-required to tackle this global problem.