Human Trafficking Essay

Here in Michigan, Michigan state police and Michigan state attorney general say some of their cases of human trafficking happen on Mackinac Island. Human trafficking--mainly labor trafficking--has occurred in this area right here in our own homeland; human trafficking can happen anywhere and affects those that are most vulnerable. Although human trafficking is a complex social problem that preys on society 's most poor and vulnerable, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act hopes to address prosecution of traffickers and justice for the trafficked. This paper will explore the economic, political, ideology, social movement 's, and history of human trafficking and how the TVPA can relate and is working towards change.

Human trafficking is a public health problem within the United States and Internationally. The victims subjected to the lifestyle of human trafficking can have sexually transmitted disease, HIV virus, and AIDS. It is an estimated 30,000 victims of human sex trafficking dying each year from abuse, disease, torture, and neglect. According, to U.S. government an estimates, of 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders annually, and up to 17,500 people are trafficked into the United States each year (Hodge, 2008). “According to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), over the past 30 years, over 30 million children have been sexually exploited through human trafficking” (Random Facts, 2015, para. 24).

Out of the thousands of people that have been human trafficking victims each year, only an insignificant amount of them is actually reported. Imagine being in 8th grade. Having all sorts of hopes and dreams. Now flash forward to dreams being taken away by a pimp that lures people into human trafficking. In short, this is true for Holly Austin Smith, a survivor of human trafficking. The punishment for the pimps that ruin the lives of these young girls is not severe. Therefore, there is not much help for the girls after they get rescued from this tragedy. A realization Holly had soon on and explains, “...Although I was soon recognized to be a victim, the specialized aftercare needed for a trafficking victim did not yet exist... Twenty years ago, there were no anti-trafficking laws in place. This pimp, who raped and lured a child into prostitution, served only 365 days in jail” (Smith). This young girl had recovered from this horrible incident all by herself. Many other girls in her position have gone through similar experiences and have been hurt by their pimp. In addition, the pimp will not receive much punishment. A sad story repeated across America and is very prominent in other countries. In America, most of the time victims are the ones that usually serve time in jail since in some cases it’s considered prostitution, even if it was forced by the pimp. In most cases, the pimps stay uncovered and if the victims of trafficking come forward as to who their pimp is, they

Rape is one of the harsh punishments the women face. One trafficker, Tajuan, explains how she and others were forced to watch her best friend get raped as way of proving that punishment would happen if quota was not met (Calhoun 2). The same trafficker shares stories of others and herself being starved, being forced to take drugs, or being killed (Calhoun 2). In one instance, Tajuan said, “ In the next eleven years, I worked for many traffickers; I’ve been left for dead. I still have a scar where my throat was cut with a straight razor” (Calhoun 2). All of these acts violate human rights given in Article Five of the United States Constitution: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” (youthforhumanrights.org). All human beings should have the right to walk away from the torture or get help for relief, but in some cases, it is not that easy. Many victims share the same story as Tajuan when asked “why can you not just walk away?” Tajuan’s reply is like many others; she could not escape because it was the only life she knew. The struggle for protection, food, and no other way to make a living is what prevents the victims from escaping the life of human trafficking. “You feel as if you have nowhere to go” (Calhoun 2).

The response to victims was the ‘visas’ system. The Federal Government also the “Support for Victims of People Trafficking Programs” This was integrated into the visas system, this program provides individualized case management. A person is identified as eligible by the

Mexico is a Tier 2 source, transit, and destination country. It’s primary forms of trafficking are sexual exploitation and forced labor. Men, women, and children are trafficked, but the most vulnerable populations are indigenous peoples, migrants, mentally and physically disables, and LGBT individuals. Victims are forced into labor in the agriculture, domestic, manufacturing, food processing, construction, begging, and street vending services. Many victims are lured by fraudulent recruiters, possibility of romantic relationships, extortion, debt bondage, and the possibility of harm to family members. Women’s shelters and rehabilitation facilities become agencies for traffickers into forced labor and sexual exploitation. Child sex tourism flourishes and tourists come from the United States, Canada, and Western Europe. Many Mexican citizens and families exploit children into the commercial sex trade. Organized crime is actively involved and make men, women, and children engage in illicit activities, become assassins, aid as lookouts, and help in the production, transport, and sale of drugs. Government officials at every level either actively participate of are complicit in human trafficking. Many law enforcement, judges, immigration officials extort bribes, partake in sexual services from women and children, falsify documents, facilitate movement across borders, threaten victims if they choose to file a formal complaint, operate and patronize brothels, and refuse to respond

Human trafficking is considered to be another form of slavery and very common in many countries around the world. Several countries throughout the world are sites of cause, travel, purpose, and/or inner trafficking. There are many cases of human trafficking that have been reported in all fifty states within the United States. Human trafficking is a market-based economy that exists on values of supply and demand. It thrives due to circumstances, which allows for higher earnings to be obtained at low risk. With that being said, it is important to understand how human trafficking is defined. According to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the legal definition

Some of the worst nightmares possible to imagine actually happen to women and children across the United States. In this country that americans are so proud of, every single day, including today there are dozens to even hundreds of people that are suffering deeply from being a victim of human trafficking. No one ever thinks that it could happen to them but there are men and even women recruiters for the trade that lure their victims. Since human trafficking is so unknown around us people tend to forget about it and have a tendency to “throw it under the rug”. Human trafficking in the United States must end because the variety of laws from state to state do not encourage a cohesive front against the practice, the victims are completely taken advantage of, and the level of disturbing and detrimental situations that these victims go through warrant an end to human trafficking.

Today, building on the strong record of the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and its member agencies, the President is announcing several initiatives” (fact sheet 1). It is also stated that, “President Obama is committed to protecting vulnerable individuals as government contractors and subcontractors perform vital services and manufacture goods procured by the United States. As the largest single purchaser of goods and services in the world, the U.S. Government has a responsibility to combat human trafficking at home and abroad, and to ensure American tax dollars do not contribute to this affront to human dignity” (fact sheet 2). Though actions were being taken by U.S. diplomacy to combat human trafficking it was during this time that criticisms

The issue of child sex trafficking is difficult to compromise with. When looking at the big picture of child sex trafficking it is taken into account that this is, in fact, a crime. With the consequences and effects this crime has on the children involved the opinion held by many is that it should be stopped immediately. There are current anti-trafficking laws in place to protect victims and children at risk. In 2000 the U.S. Congress passed the “Trafficking Victims Protections Act 2000” and is updated and reauthorized every two years, but TVPA only applies to federal cases tried in federal courts (Californians Against Sexual Exploitation, 2012). With these type of laws children are protected from potentially being trafficked. On the NPR website an interview took place between NPR interviewer Arun

The public believes that if there was an organization, whether the government funds it or non-profit organizations it should be able to help the victims from being vulnerable to human trafficking. Human trafficking has been around for decades, and in considerations in other terms modern-day slavery. Unfortunately, human trafficking is a terrible crime, against children, teenagers, women, and men who are being targeted. However, there are certain populations that are especially vulnerable to human trafficking, it has to do with the ones that feel less valued in society, with fewer rights and protections, such as youth, women, LGBTQ individuals, and those who are homeless or from low-income backgrounds (CSEC Community Intervention Project

Human Trafficking is a horrendous crime that takes advantage of people through the illegal trading of human beings for purposes of forced labor, and commercial sexual/child exploitation. Traffickers tend to prey on the vulnerable, those who want a better life, have little or no employment opportunities, very unstable, and have a history of sexual abuse. With this being popular in society, anyone can easily become a victim. By being an undocumented immigrant, runaway and homeless youth, and a victim of trauma and abuse, you have already put a target on your back. The most popular victims are the undocumented immigrants due to the lack of legal status, language barriers, limited employment options, and social isolation. ("The Victims.")

Despite many efforts to stop human trafficking in general, there are still many underground dealings of trafficking that happen while we speak. People who were kidnapped, and have yet to be seen, have not been crossed off as possible victims of this horrendous act. Why has the government done nothing to stop human trafficking dealings if it outlawed slavery? Because they are frightened to reveal the horrors of the world to its people and they want to control us by promising us something will be done, but it is often never mentioned again. The American government enacted the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, better known as the TVPA, in 2000 and it expired in 2011. After six years, they finally decided to reintroduce this bill and hoped Congress

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.

many academics, public officials, law enforcement authorities, and the news media believe human trafficking to be among the most tragic and horrendous transnational criminal activities facing us today. Victims are typically transported from