Using DNA Technology to Help Fight the Trafficking of Children

The global trafficking of children for reasons of illicit adoption, prostitution, forced labor, or for recruitment of minors as child soldiers is a serious problem of international concern. In recognition of the magnitude of the problem, the United Nations launched (March 2007) their Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT). Under the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the mission of the UN.GIFT program is “to eradicate human trafficking by reducing both the vulnerability of potential victims and the demand for exploitation in all its forms; ensuring adequate protection and support to those who fall victim; and supporting the efficient prosecution of the criminals involved, while respecting the fundamental human rights of all persons.” In order to carry out its mission, UN.GIFT has endeavored to “increase the knowledge and awareness of human trafficking; promote effective rights-based responses; build capacity of state and non-state actors; and foster partnerships for joint action against human trafficking” (UN.GIFT Progress Update 2009). The International Labor Organization and the UNODC/UN.GIFT has estimated that the minimum number of persons in forced labor, including sexual exploitation, as a result of human trafficking at any given time is approximately 2.5 million. Of these, the majority are found in Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Northern Africa. However, the problem is not limited to just these areas of the world; virtually every country has been affected by human trafficking (Table 1).

In 2004, Dr. Jose A. Lorente from the University of Granada (UGR), Genetic Identification Laboratory suggested the development of worldwide DNA registries consisting of parents with a missing or abducted child, homeless children found living on the street or in shelters, and children found in orphanages or illegal adoption centers. From this idea the UGR launched DNA-Prokids (Program for Kids Identification with DNA Systems). DNA-Prokids is an international humanitarian effort to help identify missing children in order to reunite abducted and homeless children with their parents and to provide law enforcement agencies a scientific methodology to help deter the human trafficking of children. The initial funding for DNA-Prokids was provided to the UGR by the Spanish Government, the Government of the State of Andalusia, and donations from private companies and foundations within Spain, including financial institutions such as the BBVA Group, Caja GRANADA, Fundacion Botin (BANCOSantander). In 2009, the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification (UNTCHI), Fort Worth, Texas, partnered with the UGR to further the development and expansion of DNA-Prokids throughout the world. The UGR will continue to act as the headquarters for DNA-Prokids and along with UNTCHI will support the establishment of the program within all participating countries (Table 2). The UNTCHI with its high throughput processing capability will assist countries in the generation of DNA profiles as well as spearhead the development of the international databases to facilitate comparisons and help identify familial relationships. The UNTCHI and the UGR have been leaders within their respective countries, as well internationally recognized Centers of Excellence, for the identification of missing persons and unidentified human remains. The cooperation and collaboration between these two entities dates back to the early 1990s. The principal investigators and directors of these two entities have invested the vast majority of their scientific careers towards the application of genetic testing methodologies to help solve and deter crime and improve the quality of life for society especially as it relates to children.