Vanished woman or discovered woman?: Social media and human trafficking

Description

The trafficking of women remains a critical concern worldwide. Recent reports indicate that approximately 800,000 individuals are trafficked across international borders annually, with women and girls constituting about 54% of the victims. Despite global efforts, fewer than 50,000 victims are identified and rescued each year. According to the latest data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), around 50 million people are living in modern slavery worldwide. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, comprising nearly 71% of all modern slavery victims. This underscores the need to address the plight of vulnerable women and enhance international cooperation to combat human trafficking effectively​.

With the dynamic development of communication technology, social media has emerged as a rapidly growing form of digital media that is increasingly accepted by the public. Social media platforms are characterised by high openness and strong interactivity, which, coupled with the ability to conceal information and facilitate easy camouflage, provide ample opportunities for human traffickers. This raises an important question: does social media offer an opportunity or a more significant challenge in combating trafficking in women?

In this piece, we explore the dual role of social media in both facilitating and combating the trafficking of women in Asia.