Criminalization of the offense of trafficking in human beings in international legislation

Human trafficking is a crime that violates human rights. In order to deter criminals and prevent other crimes, states have an obligation to investigate, prosecute and punish criminals. As the number of prosecutions or convictions for human trafficking offenses seems to be very low in each part of the month, the article addresses how different states in the European Union criminalize the crime in their legislation, the way of investigation and the evolution of convictions, as well as how traffickers manage to lure their victims.