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The Pros And Cons Of Human Trafficking

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The business of exploiting human beings is highly lucrative throughout the organized crime world. This illicit human market affects millions of victims worldwide every year. Although it is not widely discussed it has become a business that has flourished throughout the world, especially in third world countries. It is estimated that the human traffickers make $32 billion dollars in profit every year (Smith Katherine, Martin, Smith Hannah 2013). The ending of the Cold War (1991) resulted in regional conflicts and a decline of borders, so many rebel groups turned to human trafficking to fund their military actions (Shelley, 2010). This shameful crime robs people of their basic human rights, dignity, and hope.
Sexual exploitation is the best known and most popular form of human trafficking however, thousands of humans are also trafficked for forced labor, and domestic servitude. Around 80% of trafficking involves sexual exploitation, and 19% involves labor exploitation ("Human Trafficking Facts."). Female victims are normally turned into the sex trade while men are normally put into forced labor. Children are also targeted for sexual exploitation and for pickpocketing. The cost of owning another human being is surprising low. Globally the average cost for another human’s life is equivalent to $90 (Keehn, 2011), so they are considered cheap and disposable.
There isn't one specific profile of a trafficking victim, they are taken regardless of gender, education levels, or

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