LAW enforcement teams recently cracked down on a human trafficking gang, rescuing 11 women from a house in Pyigy­idagun Township, Mandalay. The gang, based in Mandalay, used social networks like Facebook and TikTok to lure women with promises of marriage to foreigners. This incident has alarmed Myanmar society, emphasizing the need for families to remain vigilant against human trafficking activities.

Human trafficking gangs primarily target women for recruit­ment, often selling them abroad. Despite the Anti-Human Traffick­ing Police under the Myanmar Police Force intensifying efforts to combat trafficking, these gangs continue to exploit individu­als through forced marriage, surrogacy, illegal prostitution, forced labour, debt coercion, illegal adoption, child selling and forced begging.

Cases of human traffick­ing often arise from internal instability based on internal armed conflicts, limited job opportunities, high living costs, and poverty. As a re­sult, some people seek em­ployment in neighbouring countries to improve their earnings, but many of these job seekers end up becom­ing victims of trafficking each year. According to data from relevant departments, 56 per cent of trafficking cases occur within the country, while 44 per cent involve cross-border trafficking.

Human traffickers now use modern techniques, in­cluding online scams with promises of incentives, to lure victims. While most trafficked individuals were previously uneducated and vulnerable due to poverty and limited job opportunities, recent cases show that educated people are also falling prey to traffickers. Although authorities impose severe penalties on traffickers, the number of trafficking cases has not decreased. Human trafficking continues to be a widespread issue not only in Myanmar but also in many developing countries."

Human traffickers recruited girls from Yangon Region, Ay­eyawady Region, Bago Region, and Nay Pyi Taw to exploit them in other countries. The recent arrest of a human trafficking ring in Mandalay has further revealed that these traffickers were also involved in selling Myanmar girls at border regions and to other countries as their businesses.

The global economic downturns, driven by the economic crises in many countries, the decline in socioeconomic status fol­lowing COVID-19, and rising unemployment, have pushed several developing nations into severe poverty and high unemployment rates. Illegal migration, often resulting from internal conflicts and instability, has contributed to the rise of human trafficking. Vulnerable groups in these countries are particularly at risk, and women, in particular, must be vigilant to protect themselves from falling victim to trafficking.