Human Trafficking Is A Serious Violation Of Human Rights

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).

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.

Human trafficking has been a controversial issue for many years. There are different types of trafficking, which helps makes it a widely diverse issue. In Thailand, traffickers rely on the poor desperate people of other countries as well as their own to fulfill their needs financially, physically, and emotionally. Thailand has various reasons why they use human trafficking; sex exploitation, forced labor, and obtaining their organs for an organ transplant. Sex exploitation has been used by mainly men for a long time. They choose both women and children to violate, sometimes even men. The prettier the woman is the more she is worth. All men, woman, and children could be forced into labor. This varies from what the owner wants from them. People can also choose to go and work for them because they think this is their only way of making money, but they usually do not see much of it. Finally, others purchase them just for their organs. There are very long waiting lists on some organs, by the time one comes about the person in need of the organ has already passed away. There are a number of steps and reasons that are involved in human trafficking. With all of these issues of; sex exploitations, and forced labor, and organ trafficking, the trafficked can become physically and mentally injured.

Human Trafficking and Slavery universally happens in the world when individuals are placed or maintained in and exploitive situation for economic gain. Women, men and children are trafficked for a range of different purposes; forced and exploitative labour in factories, farms and private households, sexual exploitation, and forced marriage. Trafficking can happen to all people if the circumstances are right.

Human trafficking, commonly known as modern day slavery, is a secretive crime that has generated billions of dollars worldwide and currently enslaves more than twice the total number of people involved in the 350-year African Slave Trade (Bates & Soodalter, 2009 cited in Richards, 2014). Approximately 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders and 14,500 to 17,500 of those individuals are being trafficked within and across the United States border annually (Richards, 2014). Trafficked individuals experience many health issues and nurses are one of the first health professionals to be in contact with trafficked individuals during their captivity and upon their release (Holland, 2014). The researchers are gathering information to educate nurses on evidence based practice for victims of human trafficking and the key health assessment techniques. Providing community resources and patient and family education are topics that will be discussed pertaining to the nurse’s role in intervention. With the assistance of the Colorado Human Trafficking Council, the researchers were in contact with a local registered nurse involved and human trafficking advocate. The findings will be discussed.

Other researchers found that Immigrants are smuggled into Canada hoping to pursue a better life, only to realize upon arrival that they are being subjected to forced labor. Immigrants legal documentation is confiscated by the traffickers upon arrival in Canada where they are then threatened, abused, and manipulated (Martinez,Martinez,& Hanley, 2001, p.17).Victims are misled to believe that they coming to Canada to participate in legitimately work as nannies, household caretakers, and waitresses but are instead sold as sex-slaves working in undercover brothels and massage parlors (Mohajerin,2006, p.125). The majority of victims to human trafficking are young women but also consists of children and men. Children are often trafficked for illegal adoption and forced to work as sex slaves. The trafficking of men also occurs, although not as commonly, in which situations men are forced to work in factories under poor conditions (Martinez,Martinez,& Hanley, 2001, p.17) . Human trafficking is a global multi-billion dollar industry that is becoming more common in countries all over the world.

Human trafficking has received increasing global attention over the past decade. Trafficking of women and girls for forced sex work and, to a lesser extent, domestic servitude, were the sole focus of advocacy and assistance. There is recognition in today’s society that women, children, and men are trafficked into many different forms of labour, and for sexual exploitation. In her article, “Understanding and Addressing Violence Against Women”, Cathy Zimmerman and Heidi Stockl focus on the commonality of human trafficking and how evident it is in everyday life. They bring in the health effects and possible solutions to human trafficking to help validate their opinion and argument. In the solutions they offer, Zimmerman and Stockl shine a light on policy-makers/decision-makers, health-care providers, and researchers/funders and what each of these groups of people can do to help combat the issue of human trafficking. In a quote from their article, Stockl and Zimmerman say: “Health care providers and organizations involved with trafficked persons should increase their capacity to identify and refer people in trafficking situations and provide sensitive and safe services to people post-trafficking”. This quote shows how Zimmerman and Stockl believe human trafficking should be combated by caring and talking to those affected by the issue but how they also believe awareness should be made about human trafficking so as to allow people surrounding the issue to identify and help victims of this issue. Zimmerman and Stockl’s view on the ways human trafficking should be combatted relate to those of Soroptimist due to the fact that the two groups of people are focused mainly on helping women and girls who have been trafficked and trying to get them to a better life after getting out of the trafficking situation. Both groups focus on helping men as well, providing options to help them such as raising money and awareness, and getting educated on being able to identify victims of human trafficking.

Statistic show between four and 27 million individuals worldwide are trapped in some form of modern slavery (Grace et al., 2014). Of those victims trapped, only 25%-50% of human trafficking victims encountered health care professionals while in captivity, and were not identified and recognized (Grace et al., 2014). As health care professionals, it is important to be equipped with basic knowledge that allows one to recognize victims and properly manage cases of human trafficking. Thus, a policy has been created for policymakers to adopt that effectively educates the health care community and proper steps to follow using evidence- based practice.

Human trafficking is one of the biggest human rights issues facing our world today. This practice makes much money for those who traffic humans, and destroys the lives of its victims. Brothels have been legal in Germany since 2002, and it is no coincidence that Germany 's largest brothel is just a few miles drive from the French border. Prostitution is illegal in France, and due to the Schengen Agreement, French citizens can travel freely to patronize the brothel. Prostitution is a huge business in Germany, which has experienced a boom in sex tourism and now has at least 400,000 prostitutes working within its borders. Germany 's Federal Statistics Office estimates that the country 's sex trade is responsible for €15 billion in economic activity each year. Because of the amount of patrons and money coming in to the industry, traffickers can make a lot of money trafficking victims in for small amounts of money, that lead to huge payoffs. However, it is now a crime to buy sex from someone who has been trafficked. Germany believes that this horrible practice is a very pressing issue, and one that, as the United Nations Human Rights Council, we must solve immediately.

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).

Regardless of “the growing recognition that human trafficking is an important national and global issue, little empirical research containing primary data has been published.” However, there are many that are passionate about this horrific matter and are determined to make a difference. For instance, the Fraser Health Authority is establishing a way that will help health workers identify signs of human trafficking. Their new program is called ‘Help, Don’t Hinder’ and helps workers identify signs of abuse in victims, specific injuries, certain living situations, “long work hours, and a lack of money, documents or permanent homes.” Many times the victim is unable to ask for help. A victim may look like an average everyday worker, customer, or person passing by on the street. This is why the most beneficial thing that one can do to help is to recognize the signs of human trafficking and know how to help. Not only this, but have the bravery to reach out to someone and give them the aid and support that they need. This program is expected to raise awareness over the next three years and increase research as well as legislative responses. All social workers throughout America should follow this example to help raise their awareness so they know when they see this issue happening around them, and help raise awareness in

Commercial sexual exploitation is more prevalent among individuals being trafficked; however, forced labour has emerged in recent cases (Gabriele, Sapoznik, Serojitdinov & Williams, 2014). The use of force, sexual assaults; threats of violence or violence to families or themselves and intimidation are some of the methods used to keep victims involved in this activity (Gabriele, Sapoznik, Serojitdinov & Williams, 2014). Human trafficking is a multifaceted issue with a wide range of victims and circumstances in Canada. Therefore, one size fits all does not work as services have to be individualized based on the victim’s needs and circumstances (Gabriele, Sapoznik, Serojitdinov & Williams,

Human trafficking is a worldwide problem and can happen anywhere, to anyone, and at any time. Human trafficking is known as “modern day slavery”. In this world, there are two types of human trafficking: labor trafficking and sex trafficking. Because human traffickers mostly target teenagers and young children, friends and families are terrified to think that their loved ones can be taken at any moment. It is devastating to find out if a loved one has been, or is, a victim of human trafficking. The friends and families of the rescued victim(s) can be greatly impacted. The situation can negatively affect a victim’s relationship with family members and/or friends, due to the trauma the victim had/has obtained, the victim(s) must be rehabilitated to live a normal life, and the experience allows the families gain more knowledge on the signs of human trafficking.

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.