Essay On Human Trafficking

Sex trafficking, particularly that of children, has become a growing concern in the United States over the past several decades (Kotrla, 2010). By definition, child sex trafficking is “when a child (under 18 years of age) is induced to perform a commercial sex act” (U.S., 2013, para. 4), and includes forms such as prostitution and pornography (Kotrla, 2010). Researchers suggest that children are the most vulnerable to becoming victims of prostitution (Kotrla), and it is estimated that there are at least 100,000 victims in the United States (Estes & Weiner, 2001). Sex traffickers, otherwise known as “pimps,” often lure children with promises of food, clothing, love, and shelter, and then the pimps manipulate the children to keep them in prostitution (U.S. Department of Justice [DOJ], 2015). Awareness of the issue has led to the development of organizations, such as Children of the Night, that seek to help victims escape the sex trafficking industry (Children of the Night [COTN], 2016d).

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in which traffickers use fraud or coercion to profit from forcing victims in commercial sex acts or labor services ("Human Trafficking".) It is a market-driven criminal industry that is based on the principles of supply and demand, like drugs or arms trafficking. Many components make children and adults susceptible to human trafficking. Traffickers target vulnerable people for a variety of reasons, including psychological or emotional issues, economic hardship, lack of safety, or political instability. Unfortunately, victims rarely seek help due to language barriers, fear of the traffickers and law enforcement, or fear of potential consequences. Knowing how to identify signs of human trafficking is the first step in pinpointing victims. Additionally, we can assist victims by modifying criminal policy, receiving more state funds, participating in organizations, and raising awareness.

    Rape. Sexual exploitations. Kidnappings. Poverty. These words all have one thing in common. They are words that describe human trafficking. Human trafficking is defined as the trade of humans, who are often forced into the sex industry or labor. What is prominent about this issue is that there are millions of children and adults that become victims of human trafficking, yet so many people are unaware of it. Tara McKelvey, author of Of Human Bondage, shares information from John R. Miller, a Republican representative of Washington state: “There are plenty of Americans who still say, 'Slavery? Didn 't that end with the American Civil War? '" (qtd. in 18). People are not understanding that there are different types of slavery, and even though slavery with African Americans has ended, there are still many young men and women that are being forced to work or be used for sex. According to Robert Kiener, author of Human Trafficking and Slavery, there are about 21 million people that are in a sort of forced bond for work or sexual exploitation within the United States (473). This displays how common the crime is in the US, but it does not answer the question of why do so many people not know about it. While the main cause of human trafficking is poverty, there are many risk factors that heighten the risk of becoming a victim of trafficking, including a bad economy, poor education, and no support groups to assist families, which often leads

Globally, about 20 to 30 million people are involved in the human trafficking system, and of those, 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked in the United States every year. Human trafficking is more prevalent today then ever before. It is the third largest crime internationally. People are abused and taken advantage of. According to the article, “11 Facts About Human Trafficking,” on average, a person is forced into the system around age 9, and the majority of victims are women and girls, with a small percentage of men and boys. In addition, the human trafficking system is a $32 billion dollar industry. Human trafficking can be defined as the selling and trade of human beings, ranging anywhere from children to adults, for the purpose of

Human Trafficking is the unlawful trade of human beings for various purposes such as reproductive slavery or sex slavery. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC] protocol on trafficking, “Trafficking in Persons is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation” (UNODC).

“43% of victims are used for forced commercial sexual exploitation, of whom 98% are women and girls” (UNGIFT). Women and girls are ensnared in sex trafficking in a variety of ways. Some are lured in with offers of real and legal work in restaurants, massage parlors, or anything else. Others are promised marriage, education and a better life. Still others are sold into trafficking by boyfriends, friends, neighbors or even parents (SOROPTMIST). Many of the girls and women are also forced into pornography. With all of the types of sexual exploitation comes abuse. Sexual, physical, and emotional are all types of abuse put onto females in human trafficking. Many people traffic others in hopes of getting money, work done, or just pure pleasure.

Human trafficking affects our children and our schools more than most realize. It is estimated that more than 200,000 American children are trafficked each year in America. Victims of trafficking often come from vulnerable populations, including migrants, oppressed or marginalized groups, runaways or displaced persons, and the poor (Talati). The children most likely to be targeted by traffickers are those not living with their parents, who are vulnerable to coerced labor exploitation, domestic servitude, or prostitution. Sex traffickers target children because of their vulnerability and gullibility, as well as the market demand for young victims. Studies have shown that it is not just high school children at risk, demonstrating that pimps prey on victims as young as 12 years old. Victims

Human trafficking is a serious problem in modern society. In fact, the United Nations has referred to it as “one of the gravest human rights violations of our times” (“Secretary - General Calls Human Trafficking”). It is a fast growing industry that affects millions. No gender, age, or status is spared from the cruelty that is trafficking. To stress this point again, human trafficking is not just a problem of the “world” or “United States”, in general. As previously seen, it strikes very close to home, affecting hundreds of men, women, and children of our own community. In fact, “North Carolina ranked as a top-10 state for human trafficking with Charlotte being the top destination. It is estimated that more than 1,700 girls are trafficked

”The internet has come so far in the last several years. It is so easy to go online and pretend to be someone you aren’t; and that’s exactly what traffickers do. Some go through Facebook, Myspace, Craigslist, and many more websites. There are over 100,000 ads posted in the United States each day (Our). 70 percent of all underaged sex trafficking victims said they were sold and/or advertised online with a picture, description, and price (Our). The United States is the number one producer of child pornography in the world (Our). The problem is, with today's technology, it’s hard to put a stop to it. These sites are highly secured, but there are still ways to get around it. With the internet, traffickers have the ability to target a much greater amount of victims.

About 62% of girls who are brought into sex trafficking have a huge lack of a stable home life, and a large majority of these girls suffer from childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence at home, poverty, and running away lead to a much greater threat. About 374 girls have trafficked per day in Atlanta alone, and 100 juveniles per night. These girls have come from a difficult a background and need to feel safe in their lives. A vast majority of these girls have not felt loved and have felt endangered in their homes. On March 12, 2017, 168 girls were found in Texas, and only 117 of those girls were reported missing. The girls were all under that age of 18 and victims of sex trafficking. 95% of sex trafficking victims are uneducated not only in school but also about sex trafficking. Also, these girls are young, and a source says that 45% of the victims of sex trafficking have not received a substantial education past the 7th grade. These girls have not been taught about the warning signs of sex trafficking and how to defend themselves. In fact, many girls in America do not even understand the effects of sex trafficking. In the end, these girls are faced with a battle that most are not prepared for, but with assistance and education, they could become more

Many forms of modern-day slavery still exist. The most popular form is human trafficking and it has become one of the most profitable businesses in the world. Overall human trafficking is a problem worldwide, and there are “millions of men, woman, and children around who are victims of it” (Piranty, Human).They are bought and sold as commodities into prostitution and forced labor. Many victims are sometimes tricked and lured by false promises or physically forced into this trade. Human trafficking that ends with teens in sexual slavery is on the rise in South Florida, according to Sun Sentinel, “every family-regardless of income, education, or location-could become a victim” (Sun Sentinel). Human trafficking is a growing epidemic destroying communities all over the state of Florida by depriving an individual of his or her natural right to freedom of will and choice, expanding gang activity, and robbing the innocence of the world’s youth, but in turn we could put an end to it.

I believe that the United States should not sell any products manufactured by companies that use human trafficking. Human trafficking is a very big problem all over the world including the United States. There are several types of human trafficking, but one of the biggest issues is labor trafficking. Labor trafficking is modern- day slavery which forces people, even children, to work long hard hours with no or little pay. In my opinion, labor trafficking is very immoral, and there are several things that our country can do to stop it. We need to spread the news, expose industries, and create new laws.

Every year in the United States, up to 300,00 children, aged 18 and younger, are forced into the commercial sex trade. Sex trafficking not only occurs in the United States but throughout the world. Not only are young girls trafficked but also young boys. Child sex trafficking is highly a major issue because of how victims are targeted, how it effects a child and their life and there are certain signs to look for to notice if a child is being trafficked.

“I had nowhere else to go,” confesses one human trafficking victim explaining why she returned to her trafficker. Tears fill her eyes as she looks down at the crumpled wad of tissues gripped tightly in her fist. “I went back because I didn’t know anybody and I didn’t have any other options,” she sobs as she lays her head in her hands. Sadly, many women and girls like her in Western North Carolina have the same impossible choice to make when faced with the prospect of escaping their traffickers only to sleep on the streets. Unfortunately, life on the streets and the possibility of violence or death often seems preferable to this modern version of human slavery.

According to Hodge, human trafficking is a trade of human beings for the purpose of exploration, typical in a sexual form or forced labor. (Hodge, 2014) Victims of human trafficking are rising worldwide which estimates over a million victims yearly. The United States provides the second largest international markets of human trafficking in the world; Some factors that contribute to this epidemic include, but not limited to, poverty, media propaganda of wealth in Western nations, political instability, and structural dynamics (Hodge 2012) Most victims are recruited under false promises which include modeling contracts, studying aboard, marriage and employment opportunities. (Hodge, 2012) Due to the increased cases of human trafficking amid adolescents,