The Private Sector's Pivotal Role in Combating Human Trafficking

California Law Review Circuit, Vol. 3, pp. 80-98, 2012

Georgia State University College of Law, Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2012-06

20 Pages Posted: 13 Feb 2012 Last revised: 15 May 2014

See all articles by Jonathan Todres

Jonathan Todres

Georgia State University College of Law

Date Written: February 10, 2012

Abstract

Human trafficking is big business, with industry estimates running in the billions of dollars annually. Much of that profit accrues to traffickers, illegal profiteers, and organized crime groups. However, the private sector also reaps economic benefits, directly and indirectly, from human trafficking. Despite these economic realities, the dominant approach to combating human trafficking has been to rely almost exclusively on governments and social services organizations to do the job. Little has been asked of the private sector. Two important bills - one adopted by the State of California and the other introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives - might signal the beginning of a change in the prevailing approach to combating human trafficking. This essay explores the role the private sector can play in combating human trafficking. It examines the rationale for private sector involvement in anti-trafficking efforts and discusses ways in which policy makers can utilize law to spur private sector engagement in the fight against human trafficking.

Keywords: human trafficking, labor, private sector, corporations, equity, transparency, disclosure

JEL Classification: D62, D63, K20, K31, K34, L21, M14, O31

Suggested Citation

Todres, Jonathan, The Private Sector's Pivotal Role in Combating Human Trafficking (February 10, 2012). California Law Review Circuit, Vol. 3, pp. 80-98, 2012, Georgia State University College of Law, Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2012-06, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2002957

Jonathan Todres (Contact Author)

Georgia State University College of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 4037
Atlanta, GA 30302-4037
United States

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