Why has human trafficking been a recurring issue throughout history? The word “Freedom” is a right that most humans take for granted each day. Unfortunately, throughout the world, not everyone has this beloved privilege. Millions of unlucky men, women, and children are being executed or forced into what is known as a modern day slavery. The International Labor Organization estimates that there are 20.9 million victims of human trafficking globally, with hundreds of thousands in the United States. For thousands of years, humans have been forced into numerous forms of sexual and physical slavery. Human Trafficking has been a recurring issue throughout history because of its lack of awareness, economical burden on people, and financial gain for smugglers. Initially, human trafficking is a global issue that many are unfamiliar with or unaccustomed to. For example, Jeanne Allert, executive director of The Samaritan Women, which runs the Maryland Rescue and Restore Coalition on human trafficking states that, “There is simply a reluctance to accept that children in this area are victims of sex trafficking,” and “People do not believe it happens in the States.” In most communities, awareness of human trafficking is not present because society does not want to believe that human trafficking exists around them. Communities that have tried to publicly make address the issue of human trafficking have failed because of the confusion regarding who is the victim. In the United States,
Human trafficking is one of the many faces of organized crime. Human trafficking is a broad term which contains trafficking for the purpose of sex along with the exploitation of labor. Currently, there are 20.9 million victims of sex slavery (Stacy.j.cecchet 2014 482) whom have or are suffering suffer inhumane circumstances and consequences. Sex trafficking is one of the largest criminal activities in the world (Stacy 249). Vulnerable women and children are taken advantage of and thrown into sex slavery, yet there is no explanation available as to how women and children are taken and thrown into the industry within countries such as Canada and the United States of America (482 Stacy j Cecchet 2014), which have human rights protection. Sex slavery leaves everlasting mental and physical effects on the abused women and children being trafficked. Even though sex trafficking is a crime it is also, for a lack of better words, an industry which would cease to exist if it was not for the supply and demand for women and children.
Images of foreign lands usually conjure up when the thoughts of human sex trafficking come to one 's mind. The United States of America is not immune to this type of horrific behavior. America is the land of the free and yet something as awful as human sex trafficking occurs in our very own backyard each and everyday. According to the Department of Homeland Security the definition of human trafficking is “modern day slavery that involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act” (“What Is Human Trafficking?”). In this research paper the reader will experience the savagery that comes with human sex trafficking and how it has expanded in the United States over recent years. Within this research
Human trafficking, or the selling and buying of people, is a well-hidden yet prominent issue within today’s society. It is both an immoral and horrific topic that needs brought to attention and dealt with. When human beings are manipulated into work, sexual servitude, or economic hardship, human trafficking is occurring. In the year of 2006, only one individual is convicted of human trafficking per 800 victims (UNGIFT). By looking at straight statistics, reasons human trafficking happens, and the toll it has on people, it is very clear that this is a major issue that is happening in our world.
Everyday millions of people are enslaved, used, and abused in one of the greatest civil rights violations in human history. Modern slavery; better known as human trafficking, is currently spanning the globe and affecting millions of people in hundreds of countries but is widely ignored by society. According to a reporter for National Geographic Magazine, “There are more slaves today than were seized from Africa in four centuries of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The modern commerce in humans rivals illegal drug trafficking in its global reach and the destruction of lives” (Cockburn). This epidemic is sorely in need of becoming a priority for 1st world governments which will only happen with pressure from ordinary citizens. Similar to the civil rights movement in 1960’s America, people are being abused, hurt, and denied their fundamental rights. What’s true now just as it was then is that it is the responsibility of every person to come together to create change.
This past year in the United States, there were an estimated 21,431 calls made to authorities concerning potential human trafficking situations and yet, the average American does not know that forced labor and prostitution is even a problem. (Melissa) Second to drug dealing, human trafficking is the largest criminal industry in the world today, and is growing fast. (Human Trafficking – Exploitation…) This modern day form of slavery takes victims captive against their will by using violence, threats, deception and other manipulative tricks. Even though each trafficking target has a different story, they all have similar experiences because they lose their freedom. In the United States, the First amendment protects all people citizens or aliens with basic freedoms. Therefore, human trafficking goes against ones American civil rights; human trafficking is major issue in the USA that needs to be stopped.
Freedom is an undeniable right that this Country was founded upon. Yet even today, the ongoing practice of human trafficking continues on a disturbingly large scale. Well said by the President, “It ought to concern every person, because it’s a debasement of our common humanity. It ought to concern every community, because it tears at the social fabric. It ought to concern every business, because it distorts markets. It ought to concern every nation, because it endangers public health and fuels violence and organized crime. I’m talking about the injustice, the outrage, of
In 1865 the United States passed the thirteenth amendment of the constitution which formally abolished the practice of slavery in the United States. Over a century has went by since this day, and yet somewhere behind the mask of freedom that our country holds with such pride lingers a hidden trade. This is the trade of modern day slavery that remains prevalent in our country. Despite the freedoms we are granted as a citizen of the United States,- human trafficking is an enormous issue that is often overlooked. In fact very little light is shown on this topic, but the awful reality is there. Every day women, children, and even men are kidnapped, taken from their families, and forced into free labor and sexual exploitation.
Fifty years ago, the abomination of slavery seemed like a thing of the past. But history has a way of repeating itself. Today, we find that human slavery is once again a sickening reality. At this moment, men, women and children are being trafficked and exploited all over the world. The Thirteenth Amendment did not abolish slavery completely, in fact, human trafficking is now the modern day slavery and is a problem in countries all over the world. Sex trafficking, illegal child labor, and illegal immigrant trafficking are all examples of human trafficking. A global underground problem, it is not only happening in the third world countries but civilized countries as well. Very seldom do victims of trafficking ever escape the vicious crime and
During the year 1865, the Unified States passed the thirteenth amendment of the constitution which helped end the act of slavery in across the states. Over a century has passed by since this day, but some place behind the veil of opportunity that our nation holds with such pride waits a shrouded exchange. This is the exchange of the modern subjection of slavery that remains in parts of our own nation. Regardless of the freedoms we are given as residents of the Unified States, human trafficking is a gigantic issue that is frequently ignored. Indeed many people rarely see the reality of this topic, yet the dreadful the truth is there and around out world. Consistently ladies, youngsters, and even men are seized, taken from their families, and
Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons or modern day slavery, is an affront to the most basic of human freedoms. Human trafficking is a crime that strikes at the very heart of the American promise: freedom. In response to this abhorrent crime, government agencies and nongovernmental organizations have formed strong and growing partnerships aimed at ending this violation of fundamental civil rights and human dignity.
When looking at today’s society we look at America as the land of the free, but we forget to recognize the fact that some people such as women, and children are still writhe from brutalization and imprisonment at the hands of others. These victims are becoming commodities, sold to the highest bidder and sometimes for little as pennies. When thinking about the situation it’s a form the presents as slavery, but the act of slavery ended when Lincoln signed in 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation stated that all the people who are held as slaves within the confederate states should be free. Now in modern day human trafficking continues to cultivate in the United States. Millions of women, and children are thrown into the human trafficking market
The common relations of slavery are between slavery and the Civil War. Most would argue that slavery ended in 1865. With this standpoint, we often brush off or neglect to further investigate slavery in its most modern forms. Over the course of history, there are few times we can truly say a social problem was completely solved. Starvation still exists, as does poverty, racism, war, segregation, injustice within government systems, and yes, even slavery. Human trafficking is modern day slavery, and it exists everywhere with two different categories: sex exploitation and labor exploitation. Human trafficking is not new, but what is new is the volume of trafficking taking place, and how little we know about it. How can a problem, so monstrous and so widespread continue with most society being unaware of its existence? The 1800’s, and even years’ prior, were a period of unfathomable abuse towards people considered less than. The 21st century is also a period of unfathomable abuse towards people considered commodities. Now the common place relation between slavery and the civil war must be over, because the monster of modern day slavery has awoken.
Human trafficking has been around for many years, from Greeks to the Roman to medieval times, and even until to today. It is a worldwide issue. People have been exposed to many forms of oppression. The Richmond Justice Initiative told the Holly Austin Smith story. “When Holly Austin Smith was Fourteen years old, she ran away from home with a man. Holly often suffered from depression, but still had dreams of being a singer. Holly exchanged numbers with a man. Then, the man had called her. He asked her questions like, what were her dream? He also got to know her. What she thought was freedom turned into out to be an inexorable clutches of sex trafficking” (“Survival Story”). Trafficking is a dangerous act that can get young people
She’s the girl who’s running away from her abusive past, the one who is impoverished and looking for a way to make ends meet, or perhaps, she’s the girl who naively fell in love with the wrong man. Regardless of the reasons, there are nearly 30 million victims of human trafficking globally. There are more slaves now than ever before. Trafficking of persons is not a subject that should be ignored or taken lightly. In order to fully understand the enormity of this crisis, we will examine the root causes, facts, and the impact of human trafficking throughout the world.
Many Americans remain ignorant of human trafficking within the United States, believing that this inhumane act only occurs in third-world countries. No one likes to believe that it can be happening in our own country let alone in some of our own states and cities. Society rarely takes the time to understand these women and what lead them into trafficking and what factors contributed to them staying in trafficking. This study seeks to voice the ability to raise awareness, enhance penalties for the traffickers/violator’s, and offer rehabilitation for the victims.