Graeme Acres Published on Oct 9, 2019

China’s former one-child policy created a surplus of around 34 million males in the country, driving demand for trafficked ‘brides’ from poorer neighbouring countries. But now, activists and experts fear another of Beijing’s flagship policies is fuelling the crisis.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an ambitious effort to build new infrastructure across the globe, has spawned construction projects along the border that are luring migrant workers, and in turn creating opportunities to exploit them.

While it is difficult to get reliable data, Heather Barr, acting co-director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, says there is reason to be concerned about a link between BRI and trafficking. To read more…