Human Trafficking Policy Summary

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.

In the year 2000, the trafficking victim protection act (TVPA) was passed by the U.S. Congress. This law “ criminalizes the forced or deceptive movement of people into exploitative conditions of labor and provides services to victims. This law makes a symbolic distinction (although it holds no legal meaning) between “sex” and “non-sex” trafficking” (Peters, 2013). At the same time in the international community, the Trafficking Protocol was adopted. This protocol

Through reports from two different states – California, and Florida, I further analyzed the efficacy of the TVPA and if it has been a strong foundation in combatting human trafficking.

millions and “Human Sex Trafficking” has been termed the most common form of “modern-day slavery” (Leary). It is an industry that is “woven into the fabric of everyday life”. (Leary) The reasons for human trafficking range from forced prostitution, pornography, forced labor, organ harvesting and drug smuggling. In 2000, the U.S. Congress passed the “Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA)” (Gouty) and as defined in this act of legislation, human trafficking does not require transportation of victims from one location to another and it does not require the crossing of an international border (Gouty). President Obama signed the latest

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 aims to combat human trafficking within the United States as well as abroad. On October 16, 2000, President Clinton signed the bill into law (Ryf, 2002). This statute states that slavery continues through the 21st century and is an issue that must be addressed. There is a three-tiered method to target human trafficking: prevention, protection, and prosecution. Additionally, this law requires the President to assign an interagency task force to monitor and combat trafficking as well as the responsibility to release the Annual Trafficking in Persons Report (Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act, 2000). Throughout this policy analysis, these areas of the law will be discussed in greater detail.

Although, smuggling and trafficking involve both humans, human trafficking differs from human smuggling because it is “compared to a modern day form of slavery”, involving “the exploitation of unwilling people through force” (Schmalleger, 2012, pg.605). Capturing, arresting and prosecuting human trafficking kingpins wouldn’t eliminate the problem, but rather encourage aspiring cartels to continue a “legacy”. However, fighting human trafficking is perhaps the most dangerous and difficult problem because of drugs and weapons, but nevertheless a rewarding accomplishment because “women and children compromise the largest group of victims” who are “often physically and emotionally abused” (Schmalleger, 2012, pg.607). A solution to this problem would probably be awareness, where the Federal government communicates to states, cities and communities to report suspicious activity. Therefore, proper help can be admitted to the victims by allowing new identities to be assigned; in addition, this would lower fraud and provide

The combined act reauthorized anti-trafficking programs and included new protection for victims and survivors of trafficking (Chon, 2013). The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 called to eliminate trafficking both internationally and in the United States (VAWA, 2013). In International persons, the act calls to provide regional plans to fight trafficking. These plans make it an obligation for each region to provide goals and objectives to fight trafficking. The act also provides partnerships between the United States and other countries in risk of trafficking, to help fight trafficking. The act also states that the United States will not use any item made by or with the use of someone who is a victim of trafficking. VAWA also protects and assists victims by providing proper resources such as shelters, hotlines, counseling, and education. It also provides the best practices to remove individuals from trafficking and provide protection for nonimmigrants. Finally, the act prevents child marriage by empowering girls at risk, and also restricts military funding to countries that employ child soldiers (VAWA,

There have been many federal laws that have been developed in the United States due to the problem being more prominent and recognized in the United States. One of the laws in the beginning that helped with combating human trafficking was the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, which the federal law of human trafficking is based on. The Trafficking Victims Protect Act of 2000 states that developed techniques to prosecute human traffickers, stopping human trafficking, and ways to shield the victims of human trafficking, as well as way to survive being involved in human trafficking. This act was developed so that the crimes of human trafficking could be considered a federal crime, so as a result could have harsher penalties to the human

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 United States of America has been fighting human trafficking since the 1800s, when slavery happened to be was outlawed. Since then, several laws have been passed to help the fight against human trafficking. According to the Polaris Project, the “current federal laws” include the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, along with several reauthorizations of the Act during four separate years, the Tariff Act, the Customs and Facilitations and Trade Enforcement Act, the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, The Mann Act, last amended in 1986, the Protect Act, and the National Defense Authorization Act which was passed in 2013 (Current Federal Laws). Each of these laws have their distinct uses, however, these laws were

Also, there is the matter of trust and fear. Victims are often, for example, frightened to believe they can accept help without owing something back. Some survivors are too afraid because they fear their traffickers too much to accept any services. Furthermore, it aggravates victims to find out that the time is takes for cases to be prosecuted and to gain protections is very extensive. Intensifying the existing laws to better defend human trafficking victims is critical.The United States Government, in 2000, certified the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. This act helps prosecute traffickers and support victims. Since then the number of recognized victims of trafficking has risen as well as trials and social service providers working with survivors. Because of this it gives researchers an opportunity to track and study the issue deeper and come up with new solutions (Family Violence Prevention Fund, 2005).

piece of legislation called the DHS Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2016 that will help to

Currently, Polaris Project is calling on the US to stop “Criminalizing victims of human trafficking”- survivors of trafficking are usually arrested for crimes they were forced to commit by their traffickers and reauthorize

The policy this paper will address is the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (TVPA) and its many Reauthorization Acts. It was passed in 2000, and was reauthorized in 2003, 2005, and 2008. The main purpose of this policy is to address the needs of individuals who have been trafficked and is the policy around which all human trafficking legislation is based. The act “established several methods of prosecuting traffickers, preventing human trafficking, and protecting victims and survivors of trafficking” (Current Federal Laws 2016). Overall, it really attempts to combat any type of human trafficking and support victims and punish the perpetrators of this awful crime.

The U.S. government is firm on where the country stands when it comes to human trafficking. For example, the U.S federal government is working on helping Nevada free foreign sex slaves with the help of the Justice Department. Feingold stated that: