Human Trafficking or trafficking in persons is unfortunately thriving in the form of modern day slavery.  Asia is not an exception to this reality. The 2014 Global slavery Index (GSI) shows that there are nearly 36 million victims of human trafficking worldwide, of which, 23.5 million, nearly two thirds, are from Asia. The UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking estimates 2.5 million people are in forced labor including sexual exploitation, of which 1.4 million are in Asia and the Pacific. The majority of victims of trafficking are between 18 and 24 years of age. Total profits from worldwide forced labor and sex trafficking could be as high as $150 billion annually. According to the GSI India, China, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Thailand are in the top 10 countries with the highest number of trafficked victims in the world. Individuals may be trafficked and exploited in a variety of ways. The trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation has been the most commonly recognized form of trafficking. Yet, many, if not more, men, women and children are trafficked for such forms of labor exploitation as work in factories, in agriculture, construction, fisheries, textile, and mining industries, and for domestic servitude and care services. Traffickers frequently target children for begging, domestic servitude, adoption, removal of organs and petty street theft. Poverty, unemployment, war, natural disasters, gender inequalities, discrimination, gender-based violence, desperation, cultural and social frameworks are good predictors of vulnerability to being trafficked. However, those who fall prey to traffickers may also be relatively wealthy, relatively educated and from urban areas. While international trafficking is often in the spotlight, people who are trafficked may be transported internationally, regionally or, as is the case with many trafficked persons, within their own national borders.

The trafficked people or victims of human trafficking are first and foremost human beings and hold their undeniable human rights and human dignity. Their rights and security require specific and special protection in all circumstances, which are often denied. In this challenging situation the churches unarguably have a crucial role to play especially in providing support and assistance to victims of human trafficking particularly women and children and advocating for their rights by raising awareness of issues and mobilizing necessary support for appropriate arbitration. The ecumenical family has been engaged in global advocacy on uprooted people for a long time. CCA knowing its theological conviction based on the principle of love of Christ for the stranger and the vulnerable and acting to its prophetic call, has conducted several programs addressing the concerns of migrants and migrant workers crossing the borders of their home countries. However, in the Asian context, the issue of human trafficking has not been addressed adequately through ecumenical platforms except that of an international consultation the CCA had organized jointly with the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches in 2014. These consultations shared the work and experiences of churches in combating and eliminating this modern day slavery. The Churches are called to discover the plan God pursues for victims of human trafficking and forced migrations. Churches need coordinated action to create public awareness and build the capacity of vulnerable groups and professionals working in the field of anti-trafficking; provide support and assistance and advocacy among civil society organizations, faith based organizations, policy makers and legislatures to address the concerns and issues related to human trafficking, forced migrations and luring people for migration leading to human trafficking. Asian churches also are not adequately involved in any advocacy on ratification of existing and relevant international instruments by their respective governments. For example, international instruments introduced to combat human trafficking such as UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons; the Convention on the Rights of Children; and the Optional Protocols thereto on the sale of children, child prostitution  and child pornography ; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and other related instruments that are crucial for protection of trafficked persons and migrants who are vulnerable to being trafficked.

These instruments and their practical applications contextually need to be made aware among the public for which Asian churches can play a major role in several countries. It is in this context that the CCA will initiate concerted efforts to address the concerns of human trafficking through regional and national programs focusing on building the capacity of Asian churches to combat human trafficking. The CCA will also facilitate advocacy networks and build ecumenical alliances and collaborations to help prevent vulnerable people from being trafficked and provide assistance and support to the victims of human trafficking.