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Running head: HUMAN TRAFFICKING 0

Human Trafficking

Elizabeth Weeden

Ottawa University

4/19/2017

Human Trafficking

Introduction

Human trafficking is the present day form of slavery and takes different forms and approaches. It involves stealing and trading on human beings that are used to offer different services like labor, commercial sex, performance of certain rituals as well as for use as specimen in the health sector. Human trafficking is a world menace with serious negative effects in all spheres of life: social, economic, political as well as health wise. It is escalated by a number of factors. Notably human trafficking is increased by factors like globalization, poverty, and prostitution. Governments around the globe are striving to establish measures that would help in controlling the menace if not curbing it altogether. Stringent international policies with heavy penalties are put in place by governments to act as deterrence to human traffickers. Additionally, Non Governmental organizations in collaboration with various governments are working on sensitization and awareness creation to make the members of the public aware of the impending dangers. Moreover, health practitioners and paramedics are also encouraged to work in close collaboration with the governments to help any victims.

On the Rise

Human trafficking is the headache of the present age. In the wake of globalization and international trade, human trafficking has been on the rise. Additionally, it is further propelled by poverty, social and moral decay in the society that leads to inhuman behaviors among human beings. This research seeks to analyze the human trafficking paradigm in the united states of America in the present times, the major reasons for human trafficking, factors that propel the vice of human trafficking, the effects human trafficking has on the trafficked person as well as the family members and the society at large, and finally the possible measures that can be put in place to mitigate the vice. Therefore, this research work is highly recommended for readers to help them get some insights on the understanding of human trafficking as well as the role of everyone in fighting the vice.

Literature Review

This congress report in Trafficking in persons: US policy and issues for congress (Siskin & Wyler, 2012) was aimed at providing the nature and major victims of human trafficking in United States of America. The report also sought to indicate the selected hot points where human trafficking majorly took place. In order to meet the set objectives of the study, the matter was disintegrated into three major components namely reasons for human trafficking, major victims of human trafficking and the hot points with high prevalence of human trafficking. In line with first cadre, the report discovered that the major reasons for human trafficking in USA included but not limited to: need for labor in the firms, industries and domestic works, commercial sex and recruitment into illegal gangs. With regard to the second category of the paradigm, the report found out that majority of the victims of human trafficking were majorly immigrants from Latin America. Quite good number of the human trafficking came from countries like Thailand, Mexico, Haiti, Honduras, El Salvador as well as the Dominica Republic (CdeBaca, 2013). However, the report also pointed out that there were cases of American victims of human trafficking. These were majorly originating from the Americans of color or the black Americans. Finally the research also focused on the major hot points where human trafficking majorly took place. The hotspots consisted of densely populated cities that were close to the boundaries or border points between USA and the neighboring countries. The major hotspots were identified as California, New York, Texas, and Florida. This report was in tandem with a similar report from the department of human trafficking which ranked California as the leading city with cases of human trafficking and Texas the least among the four cities that were under survey. This report is relevant to scholars, human rights organizations as well as civil societies since it identifies the major reasons for human trafficking, the major victims of the vice as well as the locations where the vice is heavily practiced. The federal government should put up a 24-hour patrol in the cities that are earmarked in the report in order to check the frequency of the practice.

Logan, Walker and Hunt (2009)in their work sought to find out the reasons behind human trafficking. The research was work identified three main items that formed the basis of human trafficking. These were need for labor in America, commercial sex, organ transplant and performance of some rituals. The research identified three main areas in which labor was required as the American industries, domestic labor and agricultural sector. In line with the findings of the report, there was intense need for human labor to assist in various industrial activities. Additionally, the research also points out that in the wake of industrialization, firms needed a lot of manpower to run the machines and supplement the machines in some cases. This led to smuggling and importation of people from other countries to come and provide labor in America. Moreover, the research unfolds that the slaves were required because they provided cheap labor while in some instances the firms failed to pay them and even.

The research also points out that rich as well as middle class Americans wanted people who would perform domestic work on their behalf. As a result, they sought to import people from other nations, particularly Latin America. I most cases children were abducted and sent to these destinations where they were subjected to servitude by their masters. As the need for more domestic workers increased, so did the rate of human trafficking increase. Human traffickers walked around most countries enticing young children with some goodies and good jobs so as to capture their interests. Once these people were captured they were taken to their masters where they were then subjected to harsh conditions and frustrations. The laborers were coerced, mistreated and in most cases paid meager. Some masters also threaten even their personal lives whenever they demanded for their wages. Given that these servants did not have the clue of where they would report to, they remained vulnerable and imprisoned by their masters. With the advent of agricultural expansions, large farms were cultivated and this led to need for more human labor to tend to the farms. This prompted owners of the farms to look for potential workers from all corners. Agriculture being labor intensive, these employees were overworked and paid less. Most farm owners exploited their workers. Additionally, during off peak, the laborers were not paid by their masters.

Another reason that led to increased human trafficking was commercial sex and sexual exploitation. The major victims were women and young girls. The perpetrators of this act were majorly criminal gangsters from Mexico and Asia. Young girls were kidnapped and exploited sexually by their kidnapers. Additionally, the servitudes were also exploited sexually by their masters who perceived them as sex object. Moreover, elderly men also engaged young girls into commercial sex where they paid the girls for sex. In some instances, the girls were exploited sexually by these adults who later turned mad on them and failed to pay for the ‘service’ offered by the girls. Latino brothels were another reason for the human trafficking. Some goons owned informal sexual camps where they stocked several women and young girls whom they sold to men who wanted to quench their sexual desires. Owners of brothels held captive the ladies and women whom they used as resources of minting money from men.

Additionally, some people were cheated to offer to donate their organs in aid of other individuals that were sick at some negotiated price. Once these victims had been taken to secluded places they were forced to donate the organs free of charge. This constitutes felony which against human rights and a criminal offence. Most victims of felony were particularly, the immigrants and refugees who did not have a place to call home. In most cases the organs that were targeted included kidneys, eyes, and the liver. Human trafficking was also done to fulfill the demands and needs of some people who wanted to perform certain rituals. The victims were predominantly children who were kidnapped and later used to perform such rituals. Such children would go missing never to surface again.

This research is very relevant to this research work since it expounds on the reasons that led to human trafficking. In this regard, it shows the reasons that make human beings engage into human trafficking and thus helps in fulfilling one of the objectives of this research which is to identify the main reasons that made human trafficking to take place. Additionally, it also sheds light on the areas in which such victims of human trafficking ended up into.

This report by CdeBaca (2013) was aimed at identifying the main factors that escalated human trafficking in America. It also aimed at reporting the findings to the government department of human rights to act upon the matter. The report found out that human trafficking was being escalated by three main forces namely, economic factors, social factors political factors. Additionally, the report also sought to identify the correlation between each factor to the increasing rates of human trafficking. Under economic factors, the main contributors to increasing rates of human trafficking included abject poverty, and globalization. To begin with, poverty makes one vulnerable since it deprives one access to formal education that would help in developing strong reason and argument capabilities. Therefore without acquisition of such education due to poverty, one becomes naïve, fearful and defenseless. This makes one susceptible to human trafficking since such a person does not have the audacity to resist the kidnappers. Moreover, poverty makes one ignorant of several vital aspects of life and can thus be cheated much easier by the kidnappers. Once kidnapped, the family has very little to do in order to trace the kidnapped since they too are equally ignorant; additionally, the kidnapped also lacks any form of wisdom to escape from the kidnappers. This makes the poor to suffer torture and mistreatment by the kidnappers since they cannot escape. Poverty also makes children from such poor backgrounds highly susceptible to child labor. In most instances, their parents push them to go seek employment so as to help them. In the foreign land, these young boys and girls are subjected to several forms of exploitation such as forced labor, low wages and salaries and sometimes servitude. Moreover, since these children are too young to wrestle their way out of the tough conditions, they are in most cases obliged to accept the situation so as to continue living. Furthermore children from poor background who do not have close parental care may hang loose. Such children stand high risks of being kidnapped by kidnapers who then ferry them to foreign lands where they are subjected to exploitation (Wheaton, Schauer, & Galli, 2010).

Another major economic factor that has led to increased rates of human trafficking is globalization. Through globalization, the international trade between different countries has expanded. This expansion has increased porosity of international boundaries thereby making it easy for people to move from one country to another. Additionally, with globalization, the business activates have heightened up thus leading to demand for intensive labor supply additionally, with stiff competition, in the global market, and the need for firms to make profits, demand for cheap labor is inevitable. Firms therefore devise ways of importing human labor from all corners to help in speeding up their industrial activities. Despite the growing demands for labor due to globalization, the immigration rules for many countries remain strict and restrictive thereby creating a barrier for easy movement from one country to another. This leads to illegal immigration plans (Kyle, & Koslowski, 2011). The illegal immigration plans then make the immigrants vulnerable for being mistreated since they are not protected by any law neither do they know even where the embassy of their country is located. Such illegal immigration therefore makes the victims vulnerable to being exploited by the hosts. Rural urban migration by the poor rural dwellers also contributes significantly to increasing rates of human trafficking. Through rural urban migration, the influx leads to a lot of pressure on the resources in the ton thereby making the less privileged in terms of education to have limited options but embark on menial jobs and other low paying activities such as domestic work where they are susceptible to being exploited by their masters and mistresses. Finally, the technological advancement that has accompanied digital migration has made it easy for the organizers human trafficking to plan their activities through a network via the internet which makes it much faster and easier to recruit people into slavery.

This comparative analysis by Oram, Stöckl, Busza, Howard, & Zimmerman (2012) sought to assess the effects of human trafficking on the victims as well as the society at large. The report further pointed that the effects of human trafficking are far reaching and had a number of serious negative implications on all parties that are involved in it. They range from torture, frustration, isolation and exploitation. Additionally human trafficking also has serious negative effects on the health of the victims. Sometimes the effects are fatal in nature. The effects of human trafficking can be broadly classified as social, health and economic. Social effects include but not limited to negative implications on the victims such as torture, frustrations and exploitation. Most victims of human trafficking are subjected to human torture. The masters as well as the natives normally subject their subjects to severe and brutal conditions. In most cases the victims are subjected to long working conditions with poor working conditions and in most cases limited motivation. This leads to fatigue and exhaustion. Additionally, some masters also subject their subjects to physical pain by whipping them, the conditions under which the victims of human trafficking sleep and live are also pathetic. Additionally, the victims of human trafficking are also scolded and this leads to trauma as they are made appear inferior and less important before their masters. Moreover, they also undergo a lot of frustrations that include exploitation, overworking and poor diet.

Health wise, the masters do not take any serious step to provide their subject with any form of medication. Instead, they are left to survive. Victims of sexual trafficking are exposed to greater risk of contracting the venereal disease since they are subjected to unprotected sex that has high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases to the victims (Dovydaitis, 2010). Additionally, the parents and family members of the kidnapped are normally left in grief and sorrow that torments their lives since the loss of a love family member is so painful. Socially, human trafficking has led to weakening of human dignity and moral decay among people. In particular, it has led to the rise of illegal criminal groups and gang stars that are a threat to security not only to America but also to the whole world. Level of banditry has been on the rise following increased rates of human trafficking since the captives can be directed into any form of immoral activity.

Hathaway (2008) sought to establish the parameters that could be used to check the rates of human trafficking from escalating to dangerous levels. He postulates that despite the widespread and alarming rates of human trafficking in the contemporary society, the menace can be curbed when stringent measures are put in place by all governments and major stakeholders. Moreover, he points out that to realize this goal, a concerted effort from all sectors must be put in place towards mitigating the vice. Among recommended approaches that can be used include establishing strong anti-trafficking policies, creating awareness and civic education by activist groups, establishing security tolls at all border points. The policy makers should design policies that champion for equal treatment of every human being so as to appeal to those who are involved in the act to desist since the act is inhuman and demeans the dignity and morality of human beings. Additionally, human rights crusaders need to organize rallies to champion for respect to human rights. Moreover, whistle blowers should raise alarm on any suspected move to kidnap human beings. Governments on their side need to establish strong border points surveillance to help in monitoring entry and exit behavior so as to help detect any alien as early as at the border points. This is another move that can significantly help in reducing chances of human trafficking. Additionally, the department of immigration should work hand in hand with the intelligence units to monitor the number of refugees in a nation and offer them maximum security. The medical sector as well should ensure that survivors of human trafficking are subjected a comprehensive healthcare services that can help in healing them up from trauma and depression.

Conclusion

In the present times, human trafficking remains the main form of human slavery and takes different forms and shapes. Mostly human trafficking demeans the true value of human dignity as it subjects people to behave like animals. Additionally, it contravenes the united nations declaration of human rights and therefore needs to be shunned away by governments, nongovernmental organizations, human rights lobby groups and even the clergy. More importantly, there is need for behavior change and high standards of human development and moral uprightness in dealing with the menace. Every individual should hold with esteem personal dignity and also strive to respect the dignity and the rights of other people alike. Stringent policies that not only create awareness but also provide moral education should be organized so that everyone is made aware of the possible dangers of human trafficking. Work ethics should be upheld by all organizations so as to ensure that all employees that work for an organization are provided with conducive work environments while at the same time remunerated in line with the nature of their work (Chuang, 2006). Governments must up the fight against human trafficking in order establish sanity, respect and peace. For instance all illegal business activities that are likely to harbor captives should be identified and owners jailed. By so doing, the glory and respect to human dignity will be restored.

References

CdeBaca, L. (11 July 2013).’The State Department 2013 Trafficking in Person Report’. United States Department of State

Chuang, J. (2006). Beyond a snapshot: Preventing human trafficking in the global economy. Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies, 13(1), 137-163.

Dovydaitis, T. (2010). Human trafficking: the role of the health care provider. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 55(5), 462-467.

Hathaway, J. C. (2008). The human rights quagmire of human trafficking. Va. J. Int'l L., 49, 1.

Kyle, D., & Koslowski, R. (2011). Global human smuggling: Comparative perspectives. JHU

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Logan, T. K., Walker, R., & Hunt, G. (2009). Understanding human trafficking in the United States. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 10(1), 3-30.

Oram, S., Stöckl, H., Busza, J., Howard, L. M., & Zimmerman, C. (2012). Prevalence and risk of violence and the physical, mental, and sexual health problems associated with human trafficking: systematic review. PLoS Med, 9(5), e1001224.

Siskin, A., & Wyler, L. S. (2012). Trafficking in persons: US policy and issues for congress. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service.

Wheaton, E. M., Schauer, E. J., & Galli, T. V. (2010). Economics of human trafficking. International Migration, 48(4), 114-141.