Global Issue: Human Trafficking - Research Paper Example

Global Issue: Human Trafficking GLOBAL ISSUE: HUMAN TRAFFICKING Introduction In most parts of the world, one of the most critical challenges for public policy is the trafficking in humans, which has reached its highest levels in the past decade. According to Mohajerin (2006), it is estimated that at least four million women are trafficked internationally annually, while the revenues for this illegal trade has been approximated at roughly $30 billion. In fact, it is predicted that human trafficking could become more prevalent and profitable than drug trafficking. In defining human trafficking, the UN Convention against Transnational organized Crime considers it to involve the transfer, transportation, receipt, or harboring of persons accomplished via deception, kidnapping, coercion, and/or force (Mohajerin, 2006). While both men and women can be human trafficking victims, girls and women are the primary victims, particularly for sexual exploitation. The fact that this demographic is the most affected by discrimination and poverty makes them a prime target, specifically since their access to educational opportunities, employment, and other resources is impeded (Barner et al, 2014). This paper will seek to explore trends in women trafficking in the past 50 years, improvements in tackling the issue, potential threats to stopping it, and the implications of trends in the practice. International Trends for Trafficking in Women Mohajerin (2006) identifies several characteristics in the last number of decades that are shared by trafficking in humans across all demographics. The largest proportion of trafficked humans involves women, which could involve transfer across or within state boundaries. Most of these trafficked women end up in slavery-like conditions, servitude, or debt bondage, as a result. In addition, trafficking in women has been ultimately driven by demand for services they offer, whether coerced or voluntary, primarily in the sex industry. In the last 50 years, particularly as a result of globalization and easier travel of humans across borders, trafficking in women has become the third most lucrative illegal activity following drug and arms trafficking. Its hidden nature, however, has made attempts to determine its specific magnitude difficult. The US State Department notes that in the past ten years, as many as 700,000 to 4 million women have been sold, bought, held against their will, and transported in slave-like conditions (Mohajerin, 2006). Moreover, the UN Population Fund posits that the clandestine nature of trafficking in humans makes statistics unreliable with estimates not taking domestic trafficking into account. It has been estimated that there are more women being trafficked today in slave-like conditions than at any time in the history of mankind. While forceful capture and transfer in women has existed for thousands of years, trafficking in women has undergone resurgence in the past 50 years because of changes to the global societies and economy (Mohajerin, 2006). Three trends have been most responsible for the rise in women trafficking. First, recent explosion in population growth has resulted in tripling of the population, especially in developing countries where opportunities are limited for women who suffer discrimination and poverty. Secondly, rapid economic and social changes have led to the displacement of many people to urban areas, in which they have no job security and are vulnerable to being lured into prostitution. Finally, an increase in corruption in developing countries has enabled trafficking in women to go unpunished despite being illegal. These trends have combined to make women “cheap and disposable”, particularly in developing countries with minimal implementation of both national and international human rights laws (Mohajerin, 2006). Improvement in Fighting Trafficking in Women International agreements seeking to prevent trafficking in women have existed for the last more than 50 years. Because of the particular effects of trafficking in women, these agreements have sought to provide comprehensive assistance to transit and destination countries in combating the practice (Potts, 2003). They have also been aimed at providing assistance and protection to victims when they are returned to their original countries, including vocational training, legal and psychological counseling, medical care, and safe accommodation. For instance, the UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power seeks to ensure that victims, including trafficked women, can access prompt redress from the justice system (Potts, 2003). The Declaration also requires that governments in their original countries must ensure the victims are given access to social services, while also being informed of available social and health services. However, these measures are mainly aimed at protecting the victims of trafficking in women. Because of the complexities of trafficking in women, the need for a multi-faceted approach has arisen in tackling the practice (Wirsing, 2012). While the anti-trafficking interventions at national level have mostly been focused on prosecution and legal reform, strategies that aim to be successful should move beyond the realm of prosecuting traffickers after the act. NGOs and governmental bodies have taken the lead in addressing trafficking, both in the short and long term, including awareness-raising and educational initiatives, lobbying efforts, and technical cooperation and training programs for the judiciary and law enforcement. Educational initiatives as a form of raising awareness among the general public, as well as vulnerable girls and women, have gained increased relevance (Anonymous, 2003). For example, the US National Advisory Council on Violence against Women came up with a toolkit aimed at providing concrete guidelines for community and policy leaders and NGOs seeking to end victimization of women, including through trafficking (MacClain, 2006). Most of the work in education has mainly been directed at giving girls and women vulnerable to trafficking with information regarding potential dangers (Wirsing, 2012). In addition, telephone hotline services are being set up in the US and EU for trafficking victims. With regards to technical cooperation and training programs, the objective revolves around the provision of technical support, assistance, and instruction for professionals dealing with trafficking in women, such as NGO representatives, medical personnel, immigration officers, law enforcement, and the judiciary. Technical cooperation has also increased in terms of international, national, and regional conferences, which promote cooperation between participating countries to discuss specific challenges and needs. Finally, international and regional NGOs have also been involved in lobbying activity to pressure governments to commit towards tackling trafficking in women and humans in general (MacClain, 2006). These lobbying efforts include engagement with governments to strengthen anti-trafficking legislation, increase allocations meant for protecting victims and provision of services for the victims after repatriation back to their countries of origin. Potential Threats in fighting Trafficking in Women Despite the efforts being put into containing trafficking in women, as discussed above, it is evident that most of these efforts are aimed at helping victims of trafficking, rather than stopping the practice. At the core of trafficking in women, the issue is the result of disproportionate economic status for women, particularly in developing countries where majority of trafficked women originate from (Barner et al, 2014). There has been an increase in the number of women living in poverty compared to men, which has been exacerbated by the fact that women have additional economic burdens, such as childcare responsibilities. Discrimination and sexism have also limited employment opportunities for women, while women in employment are also more likely to be victims of sexual harassment. As a result, it is expected that the number of women looking for employment opportunities in developed nations will increase, especially as the phenomenon of globalization makes it easier to travel across borders, making women vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation (Barner et al, 2014). The recent economic crisis and recession also disproportionately impacted women through loss of social programs aimed at them, as well as high employment rates, making them more vulnerable. Economic disparity between and within countries is another threat to managing trafficking in women. Generally, trafficking in women occurs from countries with low income to those with high income, especially those where there is demand for low status and cheap labor (Barner et al, 2014). Mostly, traffickers are now targeting girls and women who are disadvantaged economically in their home region or country and transporting them to regions or countries that are wealthy enough to support gendered industries like the commercial sex industry. Finally, women’s trafficking has become increasingly lucrative for organized crime. It is estimated that, for organized crime groups, human trafficking and especially in women is the fastest growing profit source. Indeed, majority of recent US trafficking cases have been instances where traffickers bring in ~$4-8 million in a year (Barner et al, 2014). Coupled with the afore-mentioned threat caused by economic deprivation, organized crime gangs now have the ability to traffic and exploit women with the false promise of employment. Implication of Trends in Trafficking in Women With the increasing lucrative nature of trafficking in women and the vulnerability of girls and women portended by globalization and economic uncertainty, the fight against trafficking in women is going to be difficult and complex. This will have a devastating effect on vulnerable girls and women, especially those from developing nations. Trafficked women are at risk of suffering serious problems related to their health, such as mental and reproductive health issues (Bales & Soodalter, 2009). The emotional, physical, and mental impacts of trafficking in women are obvious and have been widely documented, particularly where trafficking is meant for forced labor or sexual exploitation purposes. Other implications of trafficking in women may not be as obvious. One of them is its threat to border integrity as millions of women are transported across national borders annually, mainly under false pretext. Trafficking in women also has grim implications for human health, specifically through the spread of STDs like HIV/AIDS where trafficking is done for sexual exploitation purposes. In this case, it puts a wide range of people at risk, including the victims of trafficking, their clients, and sexual partners of their clients (Bales & Soodalter, 2009). Human trafficking also portends serious implications for international and national security, particularly due to the fact that trafficking in women has now become attractive to organized crime groups (Anonymous, 2003). The proceeds of trafficking may be funneled towards the funding of other criminal acts, for instance, terrorism. Trafficking in women, and human trafficking in general, also has economic implications. Such costs include the resources that nations must use if the proposals by NGOs and international organizations are to be implemented in preventing trafficking, as well as in the prosecution of suspected traffickers. With regards to the element of organized crime involvement in trafficking of women, costs related to legal aid, criminal courts, prosecution costs, and law enforcement involvement are expected to increase. In addition, costs related to witness protection in cases where members of organized crime groups are prosecuted will also increase (Mohajerin, 2006). Despite the fact that these costs related to advocacy and trafficking prevention programs are viewed as discretionary, governments that are party to international trafficking protocols are expected to implement them as part of their responsibility to fighting international crime. Conclusion Human trafficking, of which trafficking in women is dominant, has been around throughout human history. While most countries that are part of the international community have ratified agreements to fight it, the problem has actually increased in the last 50 years. This has been attributed to rapid economic and social changes during this period, which have left women poorer and more vulnerable to human traffickers. The clandestine nature of trafficking in humans and the ease of travel with globalization has made it more difficult to manage the problem. Indeed, majority of victims are “invisible” since they are coerced and promised employment opportunities. The involvement of organized crime in trafficking has made the problem even more difficult to tackle, especially since it has become a highly profitable enterprise. These trends will have serious implications on the victims’ health, border integrity, global security, and economic costs of implementing anti-trafficking measures. References Anonymous. (2003). Mexico Cities Support against Trafficking. Organized Crime Digest, 24 (11), 4. Bales, K., & Soodalter, R. (2009). The slave next door: Human trafficking and slavery in America today. Berkeley: University of California Press. 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