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The Issue of Human Trafficking

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When we think about slavery, we think those days are long behind us. We think about the 19th century when people used others to do their labor in exchange for shelter and food. What we don’t realize, however, is that the act of slavery is still a very prevalent issue today, under the name of human trafficking. Human traffickers are those who victimize others in their desire to profit from the existing demand. People of all ages, even children, are recruited and taken from all around the world and forced into acts such as prostitution, war, and extreme labor. Many people are not aware of these events occurring at all, and more awareness needs to be brought to this topic. Human trafficking exists for a few reasons. …show more content…

Labor trafficking may also occur in agriculture. Children as young as five or six years old are forced to harvest crops, raise animals in the field, and pack plants, orchids, and nurseries. Many children and teens immigrate to the U.S. and become involved in the agricultural industry to help support their parents. These victims are forced to work long hours in the sun, and beaten and threatened when they attempt to take a break. Many traffickers threaten to deport their victims back to their country if they try and object. Like factory labor, agriculture labor becomes trafficking when forced and lies and threats become involved.
Another less common but still active form of trafficking is war trafficking. The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers estimates that there are tens of thousands of children exploited in conflict all around the world. Although most of the children are abducted for war purposes are thrown into combat, some may also be unlawfully made to work as porters, guards, cooks, guards, messengers, or spies. These children are forced to commit physiologically scarring crimes against their family or community. Many child soldiers are severely injured and when they return from war to their home, they are often rejected. Most of these children, male or female, are sexually abused and are at risk for STDs.
Lastly, humans may be trafficked for their organs, most popularly kidneys. In many countries, the transplant waiting list is very long.

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