Drugs can be bought and sold once, while a human being can be bought and sold over and over again. Human Trafficking, which is the “parent” topic to sex trafficking, is the modern day practice of slavery. In more detail, Human Trafficking is defined as a criminal activity in which people are recruited, harbored, transported, bought or kidnapped to serve an exploitative purpose, such as sexual slavery, forced labor, or child soldiery (Wiktionary.org). Human Trafficking is every person’s issue, for it affects many lives worldwide. With the help of specialized organizations and awareness to the public, we can end this modern day slavery.
“Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world, generating billions of dollars in profits at the expense of victimizing millions of people around the world. It is the second largest organized crime today. Sex trafficking is one of the most lucrative sectors regarding the illegal trade of people. Sex trafficking includes prostitution, pornography, bride trafficking, and the commercial sexual abuse of children” (Polaris Project).
In 2005, the U.S. government estimated that approximately 600,000-800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year (Zarrin T. Caldwell). In the most recent studies, it is estimated that approximately 2.5 million people throughout the world at any given time are being trafficked (UNODC). Mostly women and young girls are victims of this modern day slavery. They are being forced into prostitution or otherwise being exploited sexually. Around the world, 50 to 60 percent of the children trafficked into sex slavery are under the age of 16. 25 percent of all child sex tourists around the world are U.S. citizens (Oprah.com). The United States of America is the #1 country of destination for trafficked victims. The largest number of people trafficked into the U.S. come from East Asia and the Pacific. (The next highest numbers of people come from Latin America, Europe and Eurasia (U.S. Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, State, Labor, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. 2004).
The first time I heard about Human Trafficking was actually when watching a movie on Lifetime Movie Network titled Human Trafficking. The movie was an insight for me into this issue. I, like so many people in the world today, had no idea of this modern day slavery world that is out there. The scary part is that most of the time this takes place right before our eyes. Sex trafficking of woman and girls can go “unnoticed” so to speak from the authorities because it is easily disguised as street prostitution. Sex Trafficking can also be found in underground systems like brothels. After I first heard of this issue, I was completely appalled at the fact that this is taking place all over the world today.
Woman and children are being tricked into becoming human slaves. Traffickers are using different physical and psychological means to get their victims to do as they wish. Victims are threatened, their families are threatened, and/ or they are coerced, abducted or forced into it. Some different examples of luring techniques are a promise of a good job in another country, a marriage that is false turns into a bondage situation, being sold into the sex trade by parents or significant others or being kidnapped by traffickers. Victims are also “prepared” by their captors in many different ways. Some examples of these methods are starvation, confinement, beatings, rape, forced drug use and threats of shaming the victims by revealing their activities to loved ones.
In watching the movie Human Trafficking and in my research on this topic, I learned that the physical and psychological damage to these victims is unbelievable. These victims have physical risks and injuries such as drug and alcohol addictions, broken bones, burns, genital tears, memory loss, forced abortions, STDs and other diseases, such as, hepatitis, malaria and pneumonia. The psychological trauma can almost be worst than the physical damage. Victims have disorders such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, acute anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Also, they have tremendous amounts of fear, distrust, self-hatred and suicidal thoughts (Department of Health and Human Services).
In conclusion, I’d like to say that I could never imagine being forced into this type of a life style. I do not know how one can go on living after being exposed to this. There is so much physical and psychological trauma. My heart goes out to all the victims of this horrific world of human trafficking. I am thankful for the non-profit organizations and government agencies out there who are fighting to stop and help treat the victims of this modern day slavery. Organizations such as Polaris Project and Make Way Partners are fighting against Human Trafficking and aiming for a world without slavery. There are such government agencies such as United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that are also fighting the war on Human Trafficking. Without committed organizations like these, this epidemic would be far worse then it currently is today.
References
Caldewell, Zarrin T. OneWorld US. April 8, 2005 Human Trafficking 101
Department of Health and Human Services Sex Trafficking Fact Sheet
En.Wiktionary.org.
Oprah.com UNICEF. U.S. Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, State, Labor, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and the U.S. Agency for International Development 2004
Polaris Project. Polarisproject.org
UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC eNewsletter March 22, 2009 UNODC launches Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking
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