XCPD-702 - Human Trafficking

Course Description

The abuse of vulnerable populations for profit from human trafficking and forced labor

activities has become increasingly sophisticated and complex. Organized criminals and

global supply chains have been able to utilize current technologies, the unrestricted

movement of money and the weak global legal framework to satisfy society’s demand

for sexual entertainment and cheap products.

In this course students will assess what creates vulnerability and how perpetrators

target and exploit their victims. Students will examine the relevance of migration, the

infrastructure of recruitment, corruption and organized crime; the current development

of global legal and regulatory frameworks; failure of certification and voluntary

compliance in ethical global business and supply chain efforts; and the weak

relationships between rule of law, banking, law enforcement, and judiciary that allow

abuse to continue and thrive.

Students will discuss the effectiveness of the anti-trafficking civil society; ESG

investment policies and the efficacy of technology and data initiatives. Throughout the

course there will be reference to research and practice gaps with an emphasis on

critical analysis and evidence-based arguments.

The course will use case studies to discuss the issues, such as sex trafficking and

transnational organized crime, palm oil from Malaysia, tobacco from Malawi, the fishing

industry and tomatoes from Mexico.

Course Outline

At the completion of the course, a successful student will be able to:

• Understand the vulnerability of populations to abuse for profit from sex trafficking and forced labor.
• Understand the failures and successes in efforts to combat the abuse.
• Discuss the methods of perpetrators such as transnational organized crime, corrupt institutions and global business.
• Debate the effectiveness of current law and regulation, industry, ESG investor, banking and governmental responses and policies.
• Understand the efficacy of civil society, law enforcement and technology programs and initiatives.
• Understand issues in industries such as palm oil, fishing, apparel and domestic help.
• Identify research and practice gaps.

Course Objectives

At the completion of the course, a successful student will be able to:
 

• Understand the vulnerability of populations to abuse for profit from sex trafficking and forced labor.

• Understand the failures and successes in efforts to combat the abuse.

• Understand the efficacy of civil society, law enforcement and technology programs and initiatives.\

• Understand issues in industries such as palm oil, fishing, apparel and domestic help.

• Identify research and practice gaps.

• Discuss the methods of perpetrators such as transnational organized crime, corrupt institutions and global business.

• Debate the effectiveness of current law and regulation, industry, ESG investor, banking and governmental responses and policies.

Notes