Human Trafficking - Research Paper Example

Human Trafficking Introduction Human trafficking is one of the most shameful and heinous truths of today's world. The study and statistics of human trafficking show that slavery of people from disadvantageous groups is still very much a part of the society. According to the United Nations (UN) report (2007), it is estimated that 2.5 million people have become a victim of human trafficking by being forced into labor and prostitution (p.1). Human trafficking is practiced in 161 countries in the world by being either source, transit or destination for people who are trafficked (UN, n.d., p.1). Sadly, even children are not spared in the heinous crime of human trafficking. On the contrary, the statistics show that children are the largest group of victims of human trafficking. It is estimated that every year, around 1.2 million children become the victim of human trafficking (UN, n.d., p.1). Also, young people between the age of 18 and 24 years are the major part of the population that is the victim of human trafficking (UN, n.d., p.1). These statistics show that people who commit the crime of human trafficking not only supply cheap labor but are also involved in business related to sex, drugs, and slavery. Hence, if human trafficking is to be abolished from the earth, then it is important not only to punish the people who are in human trafficking but also the people who utilize the services of people who are the victim of human trafficking. Definition Of Human Trafficking According to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), human trafficking is defined according to the nature and purpose of trafficking human beings (Department of States.., 2007, p.7). Hence, TVPA defines sex trafficking as an act where “a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age” (Department of States.., 2007, p.7). The TVPA defines other kinds of trafficking as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery” (Department of States.., 2007, p.7). In simple words, the victims of trafficking are forced to work by keeping them captive (Hart, 2009, p. 4). Forced labor is called trafficking even when a person is forced to work against his will in his own country. According to International Labor Organization (ILO), at a given time, around 12.3 million to 27 million people are the victim of "forced labor, bonded labor, forced child labor, and sexual servitude" in different parts of the world (Department of States.., 2007, p.8). This shows that the racket of human trafficking is not only strong but is also widespread. The statistics also suggest that traffickers are not restricted to certain areas or countries. In fact, traffickers increase the vulnerability of the victims by trafficking them to the countries at the vast distance, where the victims feel alien due to a large barrier in language and culture (Department of States.., 2007, p.7). This further removes the chances of victims asking for help or support from people around them. In this way, traffickers use different methods to weaken the victims and make them feel vulnerable, bonded and slave at the hands of the traffickers and customers. Types Of Human Trafficking There are different types of human trafficking like bonded labor, involuntary servitude, domestic servitude, prostitution etc (Hart, 2009, p. 6). People who are the victim of human trafficking are forced to work in various fields and farms to plant and harvest the crop (Hart, 2009, p. 6). Some are made to work in restaurants to do cleanup jobs (Hart, 2009, p. 6). Women and children are forced to work hard as the domestic servant, either by torturing them physically and emotionally, or by promising them good pay and schooling (Hart, 2009, p. 6). They are made to clean the house, work as nannies, cook meals for the masters and do the domestic chores (Hart, 2009, p. 6). Prostitution is one of the most heinous types of human trafficking. The victims are ‘sold' to the customers several times a day, for certain amount of time, during which the customers exploit the victims for sexual favors (Hart, 2009, p. 10). Most of the times, the victims of prostitution are women and children (Hart, 2009, p. 10). Due to a large amount of money involved in prostitution, the large part of human trafficking is prostitution. 98% of the 43% of the victims of human trafficking for commercial sex exploitation are women and young girls (UN, n.d., p.1). Young people and the vulnerable group have been silently suffering the exploitation at the hands of traffickers from a long time. Sadly, there are many social disadvantages that cause the business of human trafficking. Causes and Methods of Human Trafficking There are many causes that are at the root of human trafficking. Lack of employment, opportunities and economic imbalances make people fall victim to the false promises and dreams of good money and the higher standard of living in foreign countries (Shelley, 2010, p. 37). Moreover, corruption, economic imbalance among different regions of the world, gender and ethnic discrimination etc., cause people to think that if they go to other countries, they will be able to find stability and live a respectable life (Shelley, 2010, p. 37). Hence, they get influenced by the promises of the traffickers and fall in their traps. Also, people who are socially and financially disadvantageous, and are living in countries where there are political and social conflicts, think that by going to other countries, they will be able to get peace and freedom from unrest (Shelley, 2010, p. 37). They hardly realize that they are getting stuck into the slavery of modern age, called human trafficking. For example, a 25-year-old Nigerian female, in an attempt to run away from poverty and suffering of her family, became a victim of human trafficking as she was promised a decent job abroad (Aronowitz, 2009, p.5). Her trip began in 2000 and ended in 2002 when she reached Italy with other girls and was sold to a lady (Aronowitz, 2009, p.5). She was forced to work as prostitute saying that she will have to clear the debt of $35,000 that was spent in bringing her to Italy (Aronowitz, 2009, p.5). In this way, victims are lured to travel to other countries and are bounded by unreal debts and torture. At the same time, what has really increased the magnitude of human trafficking is not just the desire for the better life but also the globalization, demands of cheap labor in the global economy, free trade and control over the migration of people in need of employment (Shelley, 2010, p. 37). Due to these problems, people who are in desperate need of employment become easy victims of traffickers. In such situations, traffickers pose themselves as employment agents, promise the parents of young children schooling, payment, and shelter, and persuade them to part with their children (Department of States.., 2007, p.37). Once they are in charge of children, they force children into prostitution, domestic servitude or labor work (Department of States.., 2007, p.37). Being away from their homeland, family, and guardians, children become helpless and remain bonded in the trade. However, what has really fuelled the human trafficking is the demand for labor and services. The Root Factor of Human Trafficking Human trafficking has flourished throughout the world due to a strong demand for cheap labor and services of different kinds. The primary pull factor for human trafficking is an unending demand for cheap labor, and sexual gratification of illegal nature (Department of States.., 2007, p.37). Advanced technology like the internet has made it easy for the sex buyers and pedophiles to get access to illegal sex by getting "instant and undetectable transaction" through the internet (Department of States.., 2007, p.37). A cheap, vulnerable and illegal labor is in demand in affluent and prosperous regions like the US, Asia and Middle East (Department of States.., 2007, p.37). The demands have made it possible for the traffickers to gain huge profit through the supply of cheap human labor and services (Department of States.., 2007, p.37). According to a report by ILO, Geneva (2005), traffickers gained US$31.6 billion in annual profit from human trafficking of all types (UN, n.d., p.2). Sadly, the lack of proper action against the traffickers has led to the expansion and flourishing of human trafficking. The study of action taken against traffickers showed that in 2006, only one person was convicted for the 800 people trafficked (UN, n.d., p.2). This shows that the laws to handle human trafficking are weak. Efforts to End Human Trafficking Some of the countries, where human trafficking is common, have taken commendable steps in helping people become aware of the traps of human traffickers. The government of Malawi has recruited 400 officers to recognize and provide the assistance to the victims of human trafficking (Department of States.., 2007, p.38). In South Africa, the popularity of soccer players was used to spread awareness about human trafficking and the helplines through which help can be sought by victims (Department of States.., 2007, p.38). In Bosnia and Herzegovina, NGO called ‘Vasa Prava,’ provides free legal aid and shelter to the victims of human trafficking (Department of States.., 2007, p.38). In this way, NGOs and government bodies are making efforts to abolish human trafficking. Conclusion The discussion above has revealed how people belonging to financially, socially and culturally disadvantageous groups become an easy victim of human trafficking. However, the real culprit behind human trafficking is the ‘demand' for cheap labor and prostitution. Hence, the only way to abolish human trafficking is to form strict and intense laws not only against traffickers but also against the people who ‘buy' the services from the traffickers. Only a strict and intense action can provide human beings freedom from slavery and injustice. References Aronowitz, A.A. (2009). Human Trafficking, Human Misery: The Global Trade in Human Beings. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. Department of States: United States of America. (2007). Trafficking in Persons Report. Retrieved from http://www.humantrafficking.org/uploads/publications/2007_TIP_Report.pdf Hart, J. (2009). Human Trafficking. New York, NY: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. Shelley, L. (2010). Human Trafficking: A Global Perspective. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge UP. United Nations. (n.d.). Human Trafficking: The Facts. UN.GIFT: Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking. Retrieved from http://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/issues_doc/labour/Forced_labour/HUMAN_TRAFFICKING_-_THE_FACTS_-_final.pdf Read More