The United Nations defined human trafficking in the Palermo Protocol from 2000.
A child is defined as anyone < 18 years of age.
Elements:
(1) stages in the trafficking process
(2) means used to promote trafficking
(3) goals
(4) consent of the trafficked person
Stages in the process:
(1) recruitment
(2) transportation
(3) transfer
(4) harboring
(5) receipt
Means used to achieve:
(1) force
(2) threat of force
(3) other forms of coercion (threats to family and friends, etc.)
(4) abduction
(5) fraud
(6) deception
(7) abuse of power
(8) taking advantage of another's vulnerability
(9) offering money or other benefits to obtain consent of a person in control
(10) any or none of the above if a child is involved
Goals:
(1) sexual exploitation (prostitution, pornography, etc.)
(2) forced labor or slavery
(3) servitude
(4) removal of organs
Whether the trafficked person has consented or not is irrelevant to the definition.
