Laws and Organisations on Human Trafficking Issue - Coursework Example

Human Trafficking Introduction Cristina, a 24-year-old woman came to the US with a man she thought to be her boyfriend. However, upon their arrival in New York, she was forced to have intercourse with dozens of men daily and was beaten regularly, all this occurred in a suburban home (Kloer). Concy, a ten year old at the time, was forced to marry and have sexual intercourse with a brigade commander (Concy). Rebecca, from the United Kingdom, was forced into prostitution from ages 14 to 27, and one of her clients was rather violent. The nurses at the hospital allowed her profession to influence to treatment she received; she was sown up without any narcotics, and ended up being paralyzed for three days (Rebecca). One would have to be completely and utterly blind to not see human trafficking as a plague not only to society, but as a menace to humanity. Furthermore, what is more appalling is that only one out of 800 child traffickers are convicted. A UNICEF official states that there are 1.2 million known cases of child trafficking, and to complicate matters further, an estimate of 230 million children are born without birth certificates, making it nearly impossible for any system to keep track of the situation (Havocscope). Human trafficking is an issue because it deprives human beings of their basic rights, and presents them with a bleak, painful reality. Those who are trafficked are exposed to horrendous living and working conditions, and most important is that they are not even properly paid for the efforts that are put into their work. In addition to that, it is a global issue because it occurs on a global scale. Within every country, there are men, women, and children being trafficked. Trafficking has manifested itself in Bahrain as well, and it occurs out in the open, whether it is through outside workers or prostitutes (Monitor). This issue requires immediate action since it goes beyond just the deprivation of human rights. It is immoral, in every sense of the word; children that are trafficked are deprived of an education and are exposed to things that could stunt them. Human trafficking has been an issue for hundreds of years, with countless laws that were passed to tackle the issue, and the formation of organizations to protect the victims (NNC). Human trafficking affects people on a global scale, the US, Afghanistan and the Philippines are examples of that, each country has its own legal ramifications, and organizations that aid victims. This paper looks at human trafficking as a global issue and measures that have been taken to stop it. History Humans have been traded for hundreds of years. The 1400s marked a turning point in history, as it was when Europeans joined the slave trade despite the existence of various forms of slavery before then. The people of Portugal were transporting African slaves to their lands, only then to be joined by the British in 1562. A direct correlation can be drawn from the number of slaves exported and the development of plantation colonies. As the development increased so did the slave trade. As the years went on, other countries also had a hand in the slave trade, including Spain, North America, Holland, France, Sweden, and Denmark (Becker). Then some 300 years later, in 1904, the International Agreement for the Suppression of White Slave Traffic was made official. This act served as protection to women of all ages, from being involved in ‘white slave traffic’, as this was created before the civil rights movement. White slavery broaches on the topic of deception, when white females are deceived into prostitution (Kangaspunta). A little over a two decades later, the League of Nations was founded in 1927 after World War 1. The war left the world in a state of chaos, and turbulence. They wanted to ramify their current situation, so their goal was to maintain world peace and focus on international issues. (Kanaspunta). The UN held the fourth World Conference to address the issue of trafficking, specifically the trafficking of women. This meeting categorized trafficking under the umbrella of violence against women, and the concept itself was further defined (NNEDV). In addition to that, actions to be taken against traffickers were developed. Actions included enforcing international conventions on trafficking and human slavery factors that encouraged trafficking was addressed. (U.N.). Less than a decade later, Brown students Katherine Chon and Derek Ellerman officially founded the Polaris Project. Upon hearing of a brothel near their college, they envisaged a society in which modern-day slavery was abolished. Through the launching of the project, they developed a hotline which allows them to receive information regarding trafficking. Furthermore, they advocate for more legislation, as a result awareness reaches record highs, and law enforcement are trained to deal with trafficking issues (Polaris). A 2013 statistic showed that eight out of ten victims are for sexual purposes, another study conducted shows that sexual exploitation makes up 87% of trafficking cases (prostitution, stripping, online sex ads, etc.). Solutions In order to combat the growing issue, new protocols were introduced to the Transnational Crime Commission, which also aided in the banning of trafficking. The Palermo Protocol was then devised with the help and support of the American government. Congress then passed the bipartisan TVPA, signed by President Clinton in 2001, this act included labor and sex trafficking, and slavery (ATEST). The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 acts as a deterrent to human trafficking. This reauthorization of this act provides support to foreign governments in scouring businesses, which might appear to have children staffed, or trafficked individuals. In addition, Title IV of the act includes the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008. A child in this case is defined as anyone below the age of 15, and a child soldier is anyone that takes part in government hostilities (U.S. Department of State). Title XII of the Violence against Women Act (VAWA) provides women with comprehensive support and effective responses to crimes, which negatively impact their rights. Sanctioned in 1994, it was the first federal legislation acknowledging sexual assault as a crime (NNEDV). The FBI works with other agencies, and other experts on the issue, they also work hand in hand with victim based advocacy groups, and 88 human trafficking task forces. U.S. attorney offices and other NGO assistance service providers advise victims, educating them on their rights, all through the FBI. It also participates in the Human Smuggling Trafficking Center (HSTC), formed in July 2004 by the Secretary of State, and of Homeland Security, and the Attorney General. This Center provides pivotal information on human smuggling and trafficking through careful analyses and investigators from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, and Homeland Security (FBI). Finally, in 2011, President Obama declared January to be Human Trafficking Awareness month. In addition, the 11th of the month was set to be the National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. One of the most famous anti human trafficking coalitions, The Alliance to End Human Trafficking began to lobby for the renewal of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Their point of exercise was not only spread awareness, but to instigate new efforts on the matter (Kloer). Being a tier one country, every state and territory follows the laws implemented which deal with the prosecution of traffickers, and the protection of victims. The TVPA is what determines the tier in which each country is ranked, and so it is by far one of the most important laws passed on the issue. At the beginning of the 21st century, there were 700,000 reported victims of trafficking. The United States of America has been ranked by the Department of State as a Tier one country (U.S. Department of State). However, despite having the highest ranking, that does not mean that the country is free of the problem, it simply means that its government fully complies with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The States stands as a source, transit and destination country, meaning that people are trafficked to and from there; and that victims have to briefly stay there until they reach their final destination, illegally of course (King). The annual figures of those who are trafficked into the US are in the range of 14,500 to 17,500 from 50 different countries. On top of that, the number of US nationals being trafficked nationally is even higher (U.S. Department of State). Afghanistan is a Tier 2 country, following the TVPAs standards, meaning that its government is making significant efforts to comply with the minimum standards (U.S. Department of State). Afghanistan’s Law Countering Abduction and Human Trafficking, enacted in 2008, marks as a step forward in the issue, as life imprisonment is the result of sex trafficking, and a “maximum” term sentence for those who engaged in labor traffic, which in this case is eight to 15 years (U.S. Department of State). Article 516 of the penal code prohibits some forms of trafficking, which only emphasizes the complicity of the government regarding the issue. Philippines, a tier two country, is mainly a source country, and to a lesser extent a transit and destination country. People of both genders are prone to sexual trafficking, and forced labor. Estimates put the number of men, women, and children who have fled the country seeking employment and are subjected to trafficking at 10 million. Debt bondage has not forsaken the people of the Philippines, as the migratory workers who seek skilled or unskilled jobs are affected through factory work, construction sites, aboard fishing vessels, even as nurses or engineers. Migratory workers are often stripped of their documents, and are faced with inhuman living and working conditions (U.S. Department of State). Traffickers in the Philippines work hand-in-hand with the organized crime industry, and corrupt officials. In Philippine, trafficking occurs as a result of poverty. Dependency burdens have resulted in parents succumbing to pressures and exposing their children to forced labor. In addition, the lack of documentation per citizen makes it more difficult for organizations to keep up with what happens to each individual (U.S. Department of State). To handle the issue, the government enacted the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act in 2003, making trafficking a criminal act, their definition of trafficking included sex tourism and slavery, child prostitution; and furthermore, child trafficking is now seen as a crime against humanity (News V.A.). The Republic Act no. 7610 provides special protection of children of children against trafficking and abuse. This act deters and provides special protection from abusers and traffickers (Philippine Commission on Women). Human trafficking has not forsaken Bahrain, it is ranked as a tier two-watch list country, and a tier 2-watch list country is one whose number of victims is high or exponentially increasing. In addition, it is one that fails to substantiate escalating efforts to fight the issue from the previous year (U.S. Department of State). Bahrain is a destination country for both labor and sex trafficking. Victims come from Asian and African countries such as India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lank, Eretria, Bangladesh, and Thailand, people who seek jobs as unskilled or domestic workers. 2013 brought an incursion of Ethiopian workers, as observed by several NGOs. Traffickers have come to realize that there is high demand for Bangladeshi unskilled workers, primarily men. The reason for that is they are seen as ‘exploitable’, as they do not protest their work conditions, despite their difficulty, nor do they argue their pay. Furthermore, the Bangladeshi community is not one that is well established, and so they cannot seek support, or find out what their rights are. House cleaners, drivers, and other domestic servants are prone to sexual and forced labor, as they are not forced to register with the Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA). As a result the female workers that are abused and harassed cannot complain to the authorities (U.S. Department of State). Law Number 1 of 2008 is a labor law, first enacted in 1957, protects workers from forced labor. In addition, to protect the workers, the LMRA established an anti-trafficking force team in 2013 (Gulf Talent). Conclusion People should not just have their eyes opened after hearing some horror story, or reading some shocking statistic about the current state of the issue. In order to put an end to the issue, people must unite their efforts and donate, and shed light on the injustice. One of the things that Afghanistan’s children are forced to work in are brick making factories, the government could pass legislations with even more severe punishments to those who defy what was passed. Philippines have faced a surge in trafficking as a result of Typhoon Haiyan, national and international efforts should be put into taking care of the situation. Thankfully, there are groups and organizations to take care of things, however they cannot control and bust every ring. Setting up a united front, and shedding light on the horror would help put this issue to rest. As much as country and organizations have tried to come up with laws to deal with human trafficking, more needs to be since the issue is deep rooted all over the world. May be it is a good idea to start dealing with the root causes of human trafficking as a way to resolve the matter. Work Sited Academy for Educational Development. Philippines. 2006 . http://www.humantrafficking.org/countries/philippines. 16 4 2015. Alexis, A, Aronowitz. Human Trafficking, Human Misery. 2015. http://www.bokkilden.no/SamboWeb/produkt.do?produktId=3732237. 18 4 2015. Amanda, Kloer. Coalition Launches Campaign for National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. 2011. https://mgjack.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/coalition-launches-campaign-for-national-human-trafficking-awareness-day/. 16 4 2015. ATEST. "Summary of the Trafficking Victims ." 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Human Trafficking in Afghanistan. 2013. https://prezi.com/k3pq7cjzusvo/human-trafficking-in-afghanistan/. 18 4 2015. Read More