Heather Smith-Cannoy et al., "Sex Trafficking and Human Rights: The Status of Women and State Responses" (Georgetown UP, 2022)

About this episode

The episode discusses the impact of state responses to human trafficking, particularly focusing on women's rights and the effectiveness of international human rights law.

Human trafficking for the sex trade is a form of modern-day slavery that ensnares thousands of victims each year, disproportionately affecting women and girls. While the international community has developed an impressive edifice of human rights law, these laws are not equally recognized or enforced by all countries. Sex Trafficking and Human Rights demonstrates that state responsiveness to human trafficking is shaped by the political, social, cultural, and economic rights afforded to women in that state. While combatting human trafficking is a multiscalar problem with a host of conflating variables, this book shows that a common theme in the effectiveness of state response is the degree to which women and girls are perceived as, and actually are, full citizens. By analyzing human trafficking cases in India, Thailand, Russia, Nigeria, and Brazil, they shed light on the factors that make some women and girls more susceptible to traffickers than others. Heather Smith-Cannoy (PhD, UC San Diego, 2007) is a Professor of Political Science/Social Justice and Human Rights at the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University. She is currently serving as…

People in this episode

Guest: Heather Smith-Cannoy

Topics covered

• human trafficking
• sex trade
• women's rights
• human rights law
• state response
• modern slavery

Keywords

• human trafficking
• sex trafficking
• women's rights
• human rights
• state response
• modern slavery
• political rights
• social justice

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Georgetown UP

Places: India, Thailand, Russia, Nigeria, Brazil

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