Special Issue on "Human Trafficking in the Global South: An Academic Exploration”

2024-10-14

You are invited to submit a paper for possible inclusion in a special issue of the Journal of Underrepresented and Minority Progress (JUMP). The Journal of Underrepresented & Minority Progress (JUMP) is a refereed interdisciplinary publication (Print ISSN 2574-3465 & Online ISSN 2574-3481) dedicated to the educational, economic, and social progress of minority and underrepresented communities around the world. It is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed, and international, open-access journal published by STAR Scholars Network and is indexed on SCOPUS, one of the major indexing databases for peer-reviewed literature.

Ashley Dawson calls the literature that represents the motif of human trafficking “a form of cargo culture, an aesthetics of people who have been turned into illegal but nonetheless highly profitable cargo” (2010, pp.180). Human trafficking, as a grave violation of human rights, affects millions across the world, particularly in the Global South, where socio-economic, political, and cultural conditions often exacerbate vulnerability. Countries like India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Congo, Peru, Tanzania, and so on in the Global South face unique challenges related to human trafficking, including sex trafficking, forced labor, and child trafficking. In fact, sex trafficking is described as one of the most serious and growing crime problems in the world, and it has gained a prominent position not only in media, but also in politics and research (Doezema, 2010; Erez et al., 2004; Goodey, 2003; O’Brien, 2018; Soderlund, 2011). Diving deep into these areas is essential not only for understanding the scope of the problem but also for creating meaningful interventions that address the root causes and provide sustainable solutions.

This special issue, “Human Trafficking in the Global South: A Comprehensive Exploration” aims to highlight issues of socio-economic inequality, gender and social discrimination, conflict, and governance with reference to human trafficking. The issue invites research articles focusing on the unique conditions of the Global South across literary and media genres, scholars can contribute to the global fight against trafficking by analyzing some of the causal factors at macro (or mezzo level) and micro level. At the former level, poverty and economic vulnerability, social and cultural practices, lack of human rights protections, lack of education, conflict and natural disasters, lack of safe migration options, the effect of neoliberalism in Global South, corruption, weak legislation and political instability can be analyzed. At the latter level, the aspects like low self-esteem, being abused and neglected, homelessness and being in foster care system are expected to be speculated. The scholars are urged to propose solutions that are rooted in the specific historical, cultural, and economic contexts of the respective regions through their articles. Besides, the issue also invites ethno-autobiographical articles encouraging writers to explore their personal experiences within the context of their cultural background, offering unique insights into diverse communities.

This form of writing bridges the gap between individual narratives and broader societal perspectives, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of cultural identity and heritage. By intertwining personal stories with cultural analysis, these texts offer authentic representations of lived experiences, contributing to a more inclusive and diverse literary landscape.

We invite paper submissions to the following topics, but are not limited to:

Sex Trafficking: In the Global South, sex trafficking is rampant, with women and girls being the most vulnerable. Poverty, gender inequality, and patriarchal norms push many into the sex trade, while organized crime syndicates exploit their vulnerability. Movies like Love Sonia (2018), Mardaani 2(2019), Khuda Haafiz (2020), shed light on the networks that lure women and children into forced prostitution. Further novels like The Pakistani Bride (1990) by Bapsi Sidhwa touch upon the trafficking of young girls through arranged marriages, where women are treated as commodities, reflecting patriarchal structures that perpetuate gender-based exploitation.
Forced Labor: Forced labor is one of the most widespread forms of trafficking in the Global South. Victims are coerced into working in hazardous conditions with little or no pay, and many are trapped in cycles of debt bondage. Regions where agriculture, construction, and domestic work dominate the economy often see the highest rates of forced labor. Darwin’s Nightmare(2004), a documentary, although focused on the environmental and economic impact of the fishing industry in Tanzania, uncovers the forced labor and exploitation faced by workers in the region, many of whom are trafficked from nearby areas. Quite recently, a movie Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life (2024), has drawn much attention to the evil of forced labor coupled with the themes of alienation, migration, and displacement
Child Trafficking: Children are trafficked for various reasons, including labor, begging, prostitution, and even illegal adoptions. The Global South, with its high levels of poverty and conflict, sees significant child trafficking activity. Regions recovering from war or environmental disasters often have vulnerable children trafficked across borders. Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - Academy Award-winning film - portrays the harrowing experiences of children in the slums of Mumbai, many of whom are trafficked into begging rings or forced labor. It provides a gripping narrative on how child exploitation is deeply tied to trafficking networks. The Kite Runner (2003) by Khaled Hosseini explores child trafficking indirectly, showing the vulnerability of children in a war-torn society. It highlights how children in conflict zones are at risk of exploitation, forced into servitude, and even sexual abuse.
Organ Trafficking: In some parts of the Global South, the illicit trade in human organs, particularly kidneys, is another form of trafficking. Desperate individuals, driven by poverty or debt, are exploited and coerced into selling their organs, often for meager sums. Stolen Daughters (2018) documentary primarily covers the kidnapping and trafficking of young women by Boko Haram, it also delves into the wider trafficking network, including organ trafficking, which occurs across borders in the Global South. Q & A (2005) by Vikas Swarup indirectly touches on the harsh realities of human trafficking, including organ trafficking, as part of its broader exploration of exploitation and poverty in India. Rocky Handsome (2016), movie also narrates an engrossing plot woven around the theme of organ trafficking.
Domestic Servitude: This type of labor frequently involves isolation, underpayment or no pay, and abuse, assault, or threats against the workers, making it easy for it to cross over into human trafficking. Due to socioeconomic differences, gender inequality, a lack of education, and the informal nature of domestic employment, domestic slavery is a particularly common form of human trafficking in the Global South, which includes nations in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and portions of the Middle East. Abi Daré's novel The Girl with the Louding Voice (2020) is set in Nigeria and tells the tale of Adunni, a fourteen-year-old girl forced into domestic labor. She is driven into an exploitative environment where she is treated more like a thing than a person, crushing her aspiration of an education. Adunni's tale captures the brutal reality that many young girls in West Africa must deal with—poverty and gender inequality frequently contribute to this kind of exploitation. Mehri Yalfani's The Paradise of the Rich (2001) depicts the life of an Iranian domestic servant who relocates to Canada, but it also raises important questions about how migration from impoverished to affluent areas can result in domestic servitude. The narrative addresses themes of exploitation, compulsion, and helplessness that domestic workers frequently experience abroad.

Forced Crime: It happens when people—who are frequently the victims of human trafficking—are pressured, tricked, or forced into breaking the law. This is a little-known but important facet of human trafficking, in which traffickers use their victims as tools, forcing them to commit violent crimes, theft, fraud, and drug trafficking, among other illicit activities. Many times, victims are forced to stay in situations from which they cannot get out because of debt bondage, threats of violence, or fears of family retaliation. The central theme of City of God (2002) is the growth of organized crime in Rio de Janeiro's favelas. While the video largely discusses the terrible reality of gang violence and poverty, it also illustrates how children and adolescents are used and driven into a life of crime. In the setting of poverty and exploitation, young boys are frequently forced to join gangs, engage in drug trafficking, and commit violent crimes; this is an example of forced criminality. Maria Full of Grace (2004) centres on Maria, a young child who turns to drug trafficking as a way out of poverty. Maria has the option to become a mule, but her circumstances show how traffickers take advantage of people's need and force them to do crimes like drug trafficking. Victims of human trafficking, many drug mules are coerced into hazardous and illicit labor under threat of violence or pushed into debt bondage.

JUMP seeks to provide a venue for meaningful, purposeful, and actionable scholarship and invites articles, dialogues, and further remarks in accordance with its editorial policy (see https://ojed.org/index.php/jump/about/submissions).

Submission Guidelines

An email to humantraffickingjump@gmail.com with the paper’s title, authors, and abstract will serve as your “intent to submit” notification. After receiving your letter of intent, we’ll email you our author guidelines. The selection criteria will involve relevance to the theme, methodology, paper clarity, intellectual significance, argument (theoretical framework), and originality. The full manuscript should be submitted to the guest editor as a PDF file by the given deadline.

Important Dates:

Intent to Submit: December 5, 2024

Acceptance/Rejection of Abstract: December 31, 2024

Full Version: April 15, 2025

Decision Date: June 30, 2025

Final Version: December 2025

Guest Editors:

Please direct inquiries to the guest editors below:

Dr. Manju, PhD

University Institute of Liberal Arts and Humanities

Chandigarh University, Mohali (India)

Email: manju.uila@cumail.in