Abstract

The current state of international law and human rights provide a rich context for a critique of the discourse of human trafficking: how the discourse is framed, how it is used and what the effects of this use are. This research suggests that the discourse of human trafficking is often employed in a binary, dualistic manner in its framing, conceptualization and common manifestations. The binary determination of human trafficking as a human right violation or a crime was particularly evident in the negotiating process for the definition of human trafficking contained in the UN Trafficking Protocol, which represented an opportunity to re-visit several controversial questions â including prostitution, consent and slavery â which have continued to influence the discourse. Looking at the human trafficking discourse through two of the predominate dialogues of human trafficking â a human right perspective or a criminal law perspective â is perhaps helpful in representing the issue to a wider academic or policy-making audience, but it may ultimately yield policy options that are pre-determined, ineffective or contradictory; at the very least, potentially useful alternative understandings are often side-lined. Further, the human trafficking discourse has itself become a medium in which larger, more socially-fundamental vocabularies of freedom, exploitation, power, restriction and morality are negotiated and confirmed. The research concludes by suggesting that a sustainable analysis of the issue is possible - an analysis that is viable and relevant in spite of the heavy normative dualisms inherent in the debates, and one that offers a plurality of policy options.

School

School of Global Affairs and Public Policy

Degree Name

MA in International and Comparative Law

First Advisor

Sayed, Hani

Document Type

Thesis

Rights

The American University in Cairo grants authors of theses and dissertations a maximum embargo period of two years from the date of submission, upon request. After the embargo elapses, these documents are made available publicly. If you are the author of this thesis or dissertation, and would like to request an exceptional extension of the embargo period, please write to thesisadmin@aucegypt.edu

Download

Share

COinS