Crime of human trafficking in Turkish Criminal Law

Human trafficking is a series of actions based on exploitation and coercion as a process. Human trafficking, which is the modern path to enslavement of a person, poses a grave threat to human rights. The technological conveniences of our age and the opportunities offered by globalization emerge as important milestones on the way to the enslavement of a person. As a matter of fact, it is now very easy to reach and transport people in different countries. Similarly, it is recognized that individuals who leave their countries and geographical regions with the intention of attaining a superior quality of life create a network between countries in terms of the crime of human trafficking by causing illegal migration flows. This image of human circulation has brought the international community together to create a uniform legislative structure and cooperation against the gravity of human trafficking. The most significant regulations enacted by the international community on human trafficking are the Slavery Convention, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings. In accordance with the international community's obligations, Article 80 of the Turkish Criminal Code No. 5237 addresses the crime of "human trafficking." This article is included in the first section, titled "international crimes," of the second book, titled "special provisions." Due to the crime that typically occurs by committing the means and main or purpose acts against the victim; it becomes possible for the perpetrator to trade through the victim by operating the exploitation mechanism, and the victim's free will, freedom of movement and thoughts are devalued.