Human Trafficking Is A Crime Against Humanity

Sex trafficking is essentially systemic rape for profit. Force, fraud and coercion are used to control the victim’s behavior which may secure the appearance of consent to please the buyer (or john). Behind every transaction is violence or the threat of violence (Axtell par. 4). Just a decade ago, only a third of the countries studied by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime had legislation against human trafficking. (Darker Side, par.1) Women, children, and even men are taken from their homes, and off of the streets and are brought into a life that is almost impossible to get out of. This life is not one of choice, it is in most times by force. UNODC estimates that the total international human trafficking is a

Trafficking in human beings is a serious crime and an unrefined violation of human rights. It is often linked to organized crime and is one of the most profitable criminal activities worldwide (Access to European Union Law, 2014). There are many different forms of human trafficking, and they progress with changing socioeconomic circumstances. It targets women and men, girls and boys in vulnerable positions (Trafficking in Human Beings, 2013). The International Labor Organization in June of 2012 covering the period 2002-2011 estimated the number of victims of forced labor globally (NPR, 2013). The estimate also included forced sexual exploitation which was, 20.9 million at a global level, with an estimated 5.5 million children being trafficked (NPR, 2013). Europe had a human trafficking matter for decades, where it began with the trading of slaves. The 1400’s marked the start of the European slave trade in Africa when the Portuguese transported people from Africa to Portugal to use them as slaves (Timeline of Human Trafficking, 2011). Later on throughout the 1600s, other countries became more involved in the European slave trade (Timeline of Human Trafficking, 2011). Recent studies have stated, more than 23,600 people were victims of human trafficking in Europe during a recent three-year period (NPR, 2013). It is important to understand what human trafficking is considered in Europe, why stricter laws need to be created, and how human trafficking can be prevented. By

A young African girl, Gracie, was persuaded into having sex with strange men and packaging illegal drugs, all under the watch of child traffickers. Gracie’s family was murdered when she was eleven years old; shortly thereafter, an older man claimed to be a friend of her deceased family. This man brought her to a home where Gracie was forced to engage in sex with men she’d never met; “sometimes it was 3 or 4 men a day” (NSPCC).

According to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, Bangladesh is a source, transit, and destination for human trafficking involving women, men, and children (1). Bangladeshi men and women are lured into work under false pretenses within their own country or into neighboring countries (2). A large proportion of cross- border trafficking in Bangladesh is due to migration in search of employment. Most are subjected to forced labor or forced prostitution (3).

Human trafficking is a global issue, existing in some form in every country of the world; with statistics showing that victims are trafficked ‘from 127 countries, to be exploited in 137 countries’ (The Freedom

“No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.” (UN-Universal Declaration of Human Rights-Article 4) According to IRIN Human Traffickers make about 7-12 million dollars annually just from the US. This makes it the second highest criminal active just passing Weapon Trafficking, and fastest growing, and yet in most countries there is little to no punishment if you get caught. But wait, what is considered Human Trafficking? According to the UN, Human Trafficking is recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of violence, of abduction, fraud, deception, the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability

Human trafficking is still lingering in South-East Asia as of today, and we do not expect to leave any time soon in the near future. The reality is that South-East Asian countries are mainly “affected by domestic trafficking or trafficking from the neighboring countries” (UNODC, 2014). There is an approximate “12 to 27 million people enslaved and exploited by human trafficking”, which this crime network brings in approximately “$30 billion dollars annually” (Collins, 2014). It is detected that today we see that (1) South-East Asia is still the origin area for victims of human trafficking around the world, (2) the vast majority of victims are females (either adults or underage girls) and children, (3) what’s surprising is that forced labor is well known among victims than sex exploitation, and (4) offenders are usually within the region (UNODC, 2014).

Human Trafficking is one of the 3 largest criminal industries that take advantage of victims through slavery, organ trade, sexual exploitation and forced labor. Usually a victim is legally transferred to another country so that the people of this crime are benefited financially. Human Trafficking has become a modern form of slavery. When people hears the word ‘slavery,’ it is a harsh reality for many people who finds themselves bought and sold like objects, and treated with no dignity. Human Trafficking is like slavery due to the same method of transportation against their will to another country to benefit others. It not only involves women but also men and children, however, it is mostly known for selling women. These victims are usually

Every day 3,287 people get sold, kidnapped, and forced to be involved in the slavery of sex (“Volunteers,” 2010). Out of the victims of sex trafficking, adult women make up the majority of victims of sex trafficking (“Sex Slavery/Trafficking,” 2012). Some people have been forced into the sex trafficking industry by people that they are around daily. A person’s parent, boyfriend, friends, even neighbors can sell them into sex trafficking (“Sex Slavery/Trafficking,” 2012). Some who is forced into trafficking is likely to be underage when it begins. Many of the females underaged that sex trafficking has exploited were forced by men much older than they are (“Sex Trafficking Happens,” 2014). People that are forced into trafficking are uncertain of what will happen to them, and they want to get out of their current situation, but escape could mean either life or death for the victim. When females are forced to be involved in the sex trafficking industry, escaping becomes very difficult (“Deshpande,” 2013). What people don’t know is that victims are put into a state where they won’t be able to escape, even when they

Sex trafficking is the act of someone using force, fraud, or coercion to cause a commercial sex act with an adult or causes a minor to commit a commercial sex act (“What is Sex Trafficking?”). Men and women around the world are affected by sex trafficking every day. Even though awareness of the issue of sex trafficking has increased, people around the world are uneducated on the subject. The industry of sex trafficking affects millions of people around the world, from the victims, to the traffickers themselves, and the “innocent” bystanders.

Human trafficking could be seen from California to New York. Just because it’s not obvious to the average citizen, the truth is, the person who’s in charge of trafficking their victims are notorious for hiding the crime in a undisclosed location. In Bangladesh, for example, it’s known for having the most human trafficking cases in the world, for not only are young girls and women lured into human trafficking, but also men as well (Samant, 2013). Rescuing the victims, at times, is a difficult task do for law enforcement officers, especially if the victims are hostages. In other words, rescuing human trafficking victims in Bangladesh is harder than most places since not only are human traffickers involved, but also hard working professionals

Most girls who work in the human trafficking industry tend to lack proper medical attention and resources to fully survive. But that is not surprising considering the main aspect of the trade is to break young girls minds. Although as severe as the situation may be, most victims of the trafficking world are not just used in means of sex. Some are sold as nannies and servants and from my personal experience I have seen girls in Bangladesh and India work under the age of 20, some as young as 13 or 14. With the continuation of the trade, it hampers their mental and physical growing process, underrage marriage of girls as young as eight to ten to men much older, and the current rate of the industry could grow two to three times more in the next

According to the HDI of India gender inequality is still an issue (except in the more southern areas of India). Boys are favored over girls; girls are seen as an economic burden because in order to be married the family has to provide a dowry. Instead of paying for the dowry some families sell daughters into slavery; approximately 12% of individuals were given to human traffickers by relatives (Silverman et al. 2007). More than half of the individuals caught in human trafficking are illiterate/uneducated, therefore unlikely to report their situation to anyone who could help. Low education levels and gender inequity are serious culprits holding back the improvement of this condition. Overall, historical influence, surging population, intents poverty, limited education, and high gender inequity have all exacerbated the human trafficking issue in India.

Sex trafficking has become prominent in almost every country. People of different age and gender are victims of sex trafficking, though, mainly women and girls are taken. In 2016, it was reported that 96% of sex Trafficking victims are women and girls. Children are greatly affected by sex trafficking. “About 2 million children are exploited every year in the global commercial sex trade.” This is just an estimate, not every act of sex trafficking is reported (“Sex” 1). The people taking these women, girls, boys and men are called traffickers. Anyone could be a trafficker but typically, are older men. Traffickers come from all of social groups and countries. Traffickers sometimes affiliate with gangs or criminal groups, but many are often seen as outstanding members of society. They are very

Human trafficking is a topic that is not discussed very often in society. Many people fail to realize that human trafficking still exists today. Human trafficking violates basic human rights. It takes away the freedom and security of men, women, and children world wide. The diversity and widespread execution of human trafficking make it difficult to regulate and prosecute.