Need for Forensic Victim Profiling and National Database to Combat Human Trafficking

Akhil Jobel and Biju Dharmapalan

Human trafficking constitutes a grave violation of human rights, exploiting persons for sexual exploitation, forced work, or organ trafficking. Human trafficking, a serious infringement of human rights, entraps millions worldwide. The International Labour Organisation believes that there are over 40 million victims of contemporary slavery, with trafficking yielding $150 billion each year. Notwithstanding international initiatives, trafficking networks prosper owing to their covert characteristics and systemic deficiencies in response procedures. This significant global issue necessitates strong preventive measures, efficient law enforcement techniques, and thorough victim support networks. A highly effective strategy to address this crime is the integration of forensic victim profiling with a centralised national database.

Understanding Human Trafficking and Victim Profiling

Human trafficking includes the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receiving of humans via coercion, fraud, or abuse of authority for exploitative ends. Victims frequently endure significant physical, psychological, and emotional suffering. Recognising victims and traffickers necessitates a systematic scientific methodology, such as forensic victim profiling.
Forensic victim profiling is a specialised domain within forensic science that examines the attributes, lifestyle, and socio-economic context of victims. This methodology aids in forecasting possible victims, comprehending criminal behaviour, and augmenting law enforcement enquiries. Forensic profiling analyses victim demographics, psychological characteristics, and social circumstances to uncover patterns that indicate both susceptible groups and prevalent strategies employed by traffickers.

The Role of Forensic Victim Profiling

Forensic victim profiling serves multiple purposes:

1. Understanding the Crime: Profiling provides insights into the victim’s background, lifestyle, and environment, helping investigators understand the crime's context and motives.
2. Identifying Potential Offenders: Profiling methods reveal behavioral traits, recruitment tactics, and communication strategies commonly used by traffickers, enabling authorities to track and apprehend offenders.
3. Assisting Investigations: By analyzing victim and trafficker profiles, law enforcement agencies can focus on high-risk areas, identify vulnerable individuals, and dismantle trafficking networks.  

Types of Human Trafficking in India

Human trafficking in India predominantly manifests in three major forms:

1. Sexual Exploitation: Women and children are often coerced into prostitution, pornography, and sex tourism. Victims are manipulated through violence, false job promises, or debt bondage.
2. Labor Trafficking: Victims are forced into exploitative working conditions in agriculture, construction, domestic work, and factories. Migrant workers and marginalized communities are particularly vulnerable.
3. Organ Trafficking: This illicit trade targets impoverished individuals, deceiving or forcibly removing their organs for illegal transplants. 

Why a National Database is Crucial

Despite various preventive measures, the absence of a centralized system for tracking victims and traffickers hampers effective intervention. A centralized database aggregates data from law enforcement, NGOs, and healthcare providers, offering a holistic view of trafficking trends.A national database can revolutionise anti-trafficking efforts by consolidating information, enhancing inter-agency cooperation, and improving victim rehabilitation processes.

Key Benefits of a National Database:

1. Identification and Protection of Victims:
• The database would store comprehensive records of rescued victims, including demographic details, socio-economic background, and exploitation history. Such data enables authorities to monitor vulnerable individuals and prevent re-victimization.
• By integrating biometric data and social service records, the system would assist in locating missing persons and connecting victims with necessary medical, legal, and psychological support.
2. Tracking and Profiling Traffickers:
• The database would compile data on known traffickers, including aliases, previous offenses, and their recruitment tactics. This intelligence would help law enforcement agencies trace criminal networks and prevent traffickers from exploiting gaps in jurisdictional boundaries.
3. Strengthening Law Enforcement and Policy Implementation:
• By providing real-time data, the database would empower law enforcement agencies to detect trafficking hotspots, coordinate cross-border investigations, and respond rapidly to emerging threats.
• Policy makers can leverage this data to design evidence-based strategies, allocate resources effectively, and tailor prevention programs to address regional vulnerabilities.
4. Use of Technology and Data Security:
• Integrating AI-driven analytics and geographic mapping tools into the database can identify trafficking trends, predict vulnerable areas, and streamline rescue operations.
• Ensuring data privacy, encryption, and restricted access to authorized personnel is vital to protect victims from further exploitation.

India's anti-trafficking efforts align with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

• SDG 5.2: Eliminating violence against women and girls, including trafficking and sexual exploitation.
• SDG 8.7: Eradicating forced labour, modern slavery, and child labour.
• SDG 10.7: Facilitating safe and responsible migration to reduce vulnerabilities.
• SDG 16.2: Ending abuse, exploitation, and violence against children.

By integrating SDGs into anti-trafficking efforts, India can create a robust framework that addresses prevention, protection, and prosecution.

To establish an effective forensic profiling system and national database, India must adopt a multi-pronged approach:

1. Training Law Enforcement: Forensic science experts should collaborate with police, border security forces, and child welfare authorities to improve victim identification and profiling techniques.
2. Strengthening Cross-Border Coordination: Since trafficking networks often span multiple countries, developing bilateral agreements for data sharing, intelligence exchange, and coordinated investigations is essential.
3. Community Engagement: Empowering vulnerable communities with awareness campaigns, self-help groups, and skill development initiatives can reduce their susceptibility to trafficking.
4. Technology Integration: Leveraging AI, block chain, and biometric tools can ensure seamless data collection, analysis, and sharing.

Forensic victim profiling and a national database are essential measures in the fight against human trafficking in India. Integrating scientific profiling with real-time data exchange enables authorities to enhance preventive strategies, accelerate investigations, and deliver extensive support to victims. Proactive solutions are crucial for protecting human dignity and securing justice for survivors of trafficking. Implementing a centralised framework based on forensic science will allow India to adhere to international standards and affirm its dedication to human rights and security.

Akhil Jobeland  Biju Dharmapalan

(Mr Akhil Jobel is an Assistant Professor in Forensic Science, Garden City University, Bangalore, E-mail: crimforensic007@gmail.com ;

Dr. Biju Dharmapalan is the  Dean -Academic Affairs, Garden City University, Bangalore and an adjunct faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, E-mail: bijudharmapalan@gmail.com)