Victims of Human Trafficking - Essay Example

The topic that I have chosen is human trafficking. And as far as my target audience is concerned, I’d like to target parents, police officials, border enforcement agencies, and anyone else who is interested in protecting the public from human trafficking. There are a number of things I’d like for my audience to know. For one, I’d like my audience to know that human trafficking affects people across all economic, social, and ethnic groups. The claim that it only affects the poor is not true. I’d also like for my audience to know and understand that human trafficking is also a billion-dollar industry where men and women are exploited alike. Many think that only women and children are victims of human trafficking; however, this is far from the truth because men are exploited just as much, as coercion, deception, and force are used. And something else for my audience to be made aware of is that the trafficking of humans is not only restricted to sex work; humans are also trafficked to do illegal migrant labor, such as farming and types of factory work, which both have a history of paying cheaply or not at all. Then there is the thought that human trafficking is only believed to occur in underprivileged countries. This is also far from the truth, as it occurs right here on United States soil; my audience needs to be aware of this fact also. Human trafficking continues to be a major problem all over the world, and bringing about awareness will enable it to be better addressed.

First things first, we will bring awareness to the fact that human trafficking does not only affect those who are poor. The rich are affected, too. For instance, there may be people who are rich and living in another country. They have a surplus of money and would like to use it to get to the United States because they believe that coming to this country will afford them better opportunities, such as financial gain and a chance to have greater success. These individuals contact smugglers to help them come here, and they pay these smugglers large sums of money. But one of two things happens that can land the rich being victims of human trafficking. One scenario can be that the one smuggling them may be a part of the human trade, and rather than helping these individuals to just come over to the United States to lead a better life, they can turn on them and make them part of the human cargo they wish to trade and sell. The other scenario can be that once they do get to the United States, they can fall victim to human trafficking in that they are normally left to their own devices after being smuggled and will more than likely not understand how everything works in this country. They will not know where to obtain resources, and they will more than likely not be completely familiar with the laws here (U.S. Department of State, 2005). Their lack of knowledge coupled with being in an unfamiliar place is a perfect recipe for a human trafficking victim.

A second issue in regard to human trafficking that needs awareness is that men are also victims of human trafficking. A number of people may not think that to be possible; however, it does happen, whether people want to believe it or not. One way that men can become victims is because the one trafficking them will use tactics, such as violence, coercion, and force. Even manipulation can be a factor. Men, like women, can be forced into prostitution, and they are subject to brutal treatment, such as rape and violence, in the same way that women are. And because human trafficking is not only restricted to sex work, both men and women are kidnapped to work in factories or do other illegal migrant work, such as working in agriculture. Both factory and illegal migrant work have a sour history of workers being paid cheaply or not at all (U.S. Department of State, 2005).

Then there is the assumption that human trafficking does not occur in the United States and that it is a problem far from us. However, this is far from the truth. Human trafficking occurs right here on our home soil, as women and children are taken captive and sold as slaves or kept as prostitutes. According to an article that is found in the Associated Press, it is stated that the city of San Francisco is one of the largest places where human trafficking occurs in the United States (Thompson, 2007). For instance, women and runaway children are forced to work as prostitutes and the recent raids on massage parlors support this claim. Runaway children are kidnapped because they are not missed, and people will more than likely have given up looking for them after so much time has passed, making them victims of human trafficking and the slave trade. Women, particularly Asian women, have been trafficked over here to work in these parlors as prostitutes, and the American women who are rejected by society are kidnapped and sold because nobody cares enough about them to look for them (Thompson, 2007; Erickson, 2008).

Though human trafficking has been a huge problem, en can be put to it through awareness. Organizations are being set up to bring awareness to the public, so people will know what to look for and report it. Also, these organizations are trying to work on getting new policies passed, so it will be more difficult to traffic people to the United States. If everyone works together as a world effort, an end can be put to this horrid industry, and people will be allowed to live freely with their dignity intact.