Human Trafficking in the United Arab Emirates - Research Paper Example

Human Trafficking In the United Arab Emirates Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code and Name: University: Date Assignment is due: Human Trafficking In the United Arab Emirates Introduction The UAE receives a considerable number of workers on contract every year. These workers have made a significant contribution to the economy of the country, but criminals who wish to gain profit too have made them a target for trafficking (United Arab Emirates 2004, pp. 1). Most of those who are trafficked only find out that this is case when they arrive to the UAE and realize their promised jobs are false. Since these frauds originate from the countries of origin of the victims, developing partnerships and relationships will help in coordinating efforts to combat human trafficking in the UAE. The UAE also recognizes the importance of addressing the commercial impetus that accompanies human trafficking efforts (Hughes 2000, pp. 4). The awareness level of victims of human trafficking increases each year. This can be attributed to the increased awareness of individuals on the issue. There is an ever increasing number of women and children who are subjected to human trafficking. Human trafficking is a multifaceted problem that is mainly rooted in higher levels of poverty, ideals and female subordination and marginalization. Consequently, combating human trafficking is a great challenge to the entire world (Wilson et al 2006, pp. 149–160). There is a wide spectrum of actions that need to be taken including policy modifications and government involvement in different sectors of people’s lives. The problem is one that crosses national borders and thus, there is need cooperation between different countries (National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking 2011, pp. 6). These include countries that may think the problem does not affect them because some nations are used purely for the purposes of transit. Combating strategies should include poverty reduction efforts and better investigative skills. These improvements will go a long way in reducing the vulnerability that people have towards trafficking. What is trafficking? Human trafficking can be defined as an illegal trade with human beings as commodities. The United Nations protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking persons or the trafficking protocol that was adopted in Italy defines trafficking as the transportation, recruitment, receipt, transfer or harboring of persons through the use of threats and other methods of fraud, abduction, abuse of vulnerability and power, deception and coercion of a person. The means through which this power is received is through receiving or giving payments in order to achieve the consent of an individual having control over another for the purposes of exploitation (United Arab Emirates 2004, pp. 1). The parameters of exploitation include different forms of sexual exploitation such as prostitution, slavery and other similar practices, servitude, the removal of organs and forced labor (Tiefenbrun 2002, pp. 107–175). In addition, the protocol considers the transfer, recruitment and transportation of a child as exploitation even if the act does not include the other parameters of exploitation that are described in the definition National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking 2011, pp. 8). The protocol also states that when a person consents to being exploited through human trafficking, the results are irrelevant, and the perpetrators are still guilty of human trafficking (Hartsough 2002, pp. 8). Trafficking human beings is a cynical, ruthless exploitation form. Traffickers choose to prey on and profit from the vulnerability, adversities and distress of other individuals. Who are the traffickers? In order to understand the traffickers, it is important to get a demographic picture of the traffickers. Men are the most among the traffickers. Fifty-two percent of traffickers are men and 42 percent are women (UN.GIFT 2008, pp. 2). Approximately six percent of them work together. The victim knows the recruiter in 54 percent of trafficking cases while 46 percent are unknown (UN.GIFT 2008, pp. 2). A greater percentage of the suspects in trafficking processes are nationals in the countries where they perpetrate the business. Traffickers are often members of a syndicate (UN.GIFT 2008, pp. 2). They could belong to a crime syndicate or a gang that is already involved with other criminal activities. For instance, drug mules are often victims of bonded labor and human trafficking. They sometimes agree to transport drugs in their stomach in exchange for a seat in a plane. Although there are various entities today that are involved in the trafficking of human beings, the information on their nature and activities is lacking. Some individuals work as freelance providers of slaves to trafficking syndicates. They come up with intricate lies about promises of work and better lives, which are often found to be lies by the victims. What are the reasons for human trafficking? The reasons for trafficking vary according to the nature of the deed that the victims are forced into. The major motive is profit. Annual profits made from the exploitation of trafficked individuals amounts to $31.6 billion. The profits from human trafficking are made through different activities and trades such as ova removal, surrogacy, the extraction of organs and the extraction of tissues (United Arab Emirates 2004, pp. 1). Economic aspects Individuals often become victims of human trafficking mostly owing to inequitable allocation of resources and an absence of viable income sources. Most of these vulnerable families do not have assets and their incomes are dangerously inadequate. In the countryside, the sole practice of agriculture has become less profitable than it was formerly. In addition, land is becoming increasingly insufficient (Florida State University 2003, pp. 1). Accordingly, children and women are now compelled to have a more direct role in contributing towards family subsistence than they would be required in the past. Households have thus become more vulnerable as their margins continue to shrink. The government’s strategies for social security do not reach the most disadvantaged and the poorest or are lacking. These conditions make for a situation characterized by a chronic shortage of paid work prompting residents to look for work elsewhere National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking 2011, pp. 15). Traffickers take advantage of the various needs that materialize in their respective countries and use this to lure unsuspecting and desperate individuals into the trap of human trafficking Socio-cultural reasons The consistent oppression that women and children go through, in patriarchal societies and families, increase their vulnerabilities. There is a higher percentage of women who are used in sex trafficking. Social structures contribute heavily to the reasons why they fall prey to human traffickers. Traffickers can recognize a desperate situation, and they take advantage of it to their benefit (Tiefenbrun 2002, pp. 107–175). In addition, it is a major factor that explains the higher demand for sexual favors that traffickers aim to meet. Without such demands in the human trafficking world, the business would not prosper. Women and girls do not often enjoy the benefits that men are afforded, and they are also the recipients of attitudes that discriminate (United Arab Emirates 2004, pp. 1). Most families regard them as being burdens especially in cases where the family is in abject poverty. Consequently, fewer resources are invested in these girls who either fall prey to traffickers either by being sold or being fooled into trafficking. With the coming of the technological era, the oppression has taken on new forms such as the sale of brides online through the internet. The practice of prostitution and other particular forms of slave-like work are still present in certain households with traditional beliefs. Another contributing factor is that pornography has changed to become more pervasive owing to numerous anonymous dissemination avenues such as the internet and satellite television. The idea that is reinforced by most pornographic forms is that the female body is meant to be sold. In addition, it contributes to the belief that women have no right over their bodies and sexuality and should only do what they are told by men. The internet has also provided a means through which child pornography rings can sell their products to pedophiles. Children are increasingly becoming a sough after commodity making most vulnerable to abductions. Snuff films are another dangerous form of trafficking purposes. Those used in such films often end up dead or mutilated. Children are at the mercy of their parents who can decide to sell them as brides or send them off to work or beg for money in the streets. How are the victims deceived? According to the United Nations Global initiative to fight human trafficking, there are over 2.5 million people who are sexually exploited and are in forced labor as a result of human trafficking at any given time. Northern Africa and Middle East account for 9.2 percent of this number. The majority of victims who are trafficked are between the ages of 18 and 24. It is estimated that about 1.2 million children are taken through human trafficking annually (United Arab Emirates 2004, pp. 1). The methods that are used to deceive victims of trafficking vary depending on the nature of the services warranted from them. The most common deception techniques that are employed in the trafficking business include offers of promises of jobs, marriages, education, employment and a general perception of having a better life. Women from various countries including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, South Egypt, India, Indonesia and Eretria travel to the UAE to willingly serve as domestic servants. However, some of these women subsequently find themselves in situations where they are forced into servitude through coercion and force. They are put through problems using channels such as the withholding of passports, sexual and physical abuse, restrictions of their movements, and nonpayment of their wages. Similarly, men who travel to the UAE to work in construction and other industries find themselves in situations where they have to work off their recruitment and travel debts through bonded labor. As globalization exposes the UAE to more of the world, the pool of victims are coming from numerous additional countries such as China and Nigeria. The UAE is known for its numerous businesses opportunities, which have made it a center where different individuals meet to carry out industrial activities. Thus, one of the most common facades that is used to fool individuals into trafficking is that they are coming to work as secretaries, receptionists and in the construction of hotels. Other than that, the UAE has also been found to serve as transit for women who are transported to work in Oman and men who are trafficked to Iraq. What are the existing methods to human trafficking? Owing to the changing nature of global relations in the world, there are different methods that are used in the manifestation of trafficking which include bonded labor, forces labor, sex trafficking, and trafficking in children (National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking 2011, pp. 6). A common scenario is that of a poor family with a young woman in it. The woman grows up in the countryside and is then lured to the city in search of a prosperous job in a higher-class country with promises of a well-paid job. On arrival, the young is then approached by an acquaintance or the contact of her acquaintance, on whom she – being unable to speak the country’s language and being unfamiliar with the new environmental surroundings as well as lacking a permit for entry – becomes wholly dependent. Since she left her family, village and friends behind, she finds herself, at the end of her journey. She is in a completely different environment and situation from what she expected from the promised description. Consequently, her place of work then turns into a brothel, and the payment is less than her promises (United Arab Emirates 2004, pp. 1). In addition, she is also forced to reimburse the agent for her travel costs. To ensure that they keep her on a tight leash, they take her travel and identification papers leaving her in a more vulnerable position where she is sexually abused and with no one to turn to. Bonded labor is also known as debt bondage and is among the least known methods of trafficking that is used in this era in terms of data available. However, it is the most popularly used method of enslavement in the 21st century. Because of the publicity that has been given to human trafficking, people are more aware of the more obvious and older methods of human trafficking such sex trafficking. Consequently, its avoidance is more efficient. However, the use of bonded labor tends of sneak up upon the victims (Hyland 2001, pp. 29). The victims in a case of bonded labor are forced to work when they demand actions as a means of payment for a favor that has been done for them. For instance, traffickers often use loans, tickets to travel overseas, medical care and other possible needs, to get people into a contract of bonded labor. Instead of repaying the traffickers, the value of the debt owed is liquidated to be the equivalent of some type of forced labor. The labor often crosses the line and goes beyond anything that may have been demanded as cash payment for the original debt. The original debt is often incurred after the victim borrows money from the traffickers. In the UAE, families who want to help their members travel overseas but have a financial problem often go to the traffickers or get offered the money by the traffickers. Another method of trafficking is sex trafficking. In such cases, the victims are often in extremely desperate situations, which make them targets for the traffickers. Circumstances, individuals and situations that are the best target for traffickers are known and mastered by traffickers. Some of these targets include runaway teens, homeless individuals, refugees, job seekers, homemakers, drug addicts and kidnap victims (National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking 2011, pp. 11). It is important to note that this is not the extent of the victim pool. The traffickers look for situations rather than specific individuals. If they sense that an individual seems desperate enough to do whatever it takes for the money, they will target them. In this case, the traffickers are known as madams or pimps who exploit the lack of opportunities and vulnerabilities they see in their victims (Shinkle 2007, pp. 45). Once these vulnerable individuals have been deceived, they are then forced to offer sexual services such as performing at strip clubs, pornographic films and other forms of services that are demanded in the sex industry. Human trafficking sometimes involves the transport of individuals from one region to another through the use of international brokers and agents who arrange for the acquisition of individuals by others or for bogus job placements to another region of the world. Trafficking children involves the recruitment of children and using them for exploitative purposes. These children are sometimes forced into sexual activities and find themselves in pedophile rings where they are used then passed on to another individual. In addition, they are also forced t work in sweat shops and other forms of forces labor. Other forms of child trafficking are recruitment as child soldiers, being forced into early marriages, used in begging, illicit international adoption and trafficking for early marriage (National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking 2011, pp. 12). Sometimes the children are abducted from where they live or on their way home from school. Child soldiers are often kidnapped while on their way to or from school or shops. Other than that, parents living in abject poverty sometimes give up some of their children so that they can be given money (United Arab Emirates 2004, pp. 1). Most of them give up their children so that they care forced into early marriage. Illegal adoption rings are run when babies are kidnapped from their mothers. Distraught mothers are sometimes told that their babies died at birth. What is the role of law enforcement in addressing trafficking in persons? Thus far, the governments of the various counties within the UAE have been making efforts to combat human trafficking. Come of the issues that have been addressed in the part of law enforcement include increasing the severity of sentences and convictions. Officers in the UAE now have additional training in anti-trafficking methods. Shelters have been opened around the region for individuals who have been trafficked. These shelters also serve as a source of information for law enforcement. Through listening to what each of the victims say on what has happened to them, they learn of the new ways that people are using to traffic individuals. This is especially useful in developing a proactive approach to human trafficking (Moossy 2009, pp. 4). Preventive strategies are developed using this and other information. There have been significant efforts made by the UAE government to address trafficking in persons. Preventive methods have been directed at the various methods that are used to deceive individuals. For instance, in order to address the issue of bonded labor. The government of UAE insists that all foreign workers be paid through an electronic system that can then be monitored by the government. The electronic system helps law enforcement to keep track of foreign workers and to ensure that they are paid accordingly (United Arab Emirates 2004, pp. 1). Various other best practices have been identified for combating human trafficking cases. The major issue is that various branches of law enforcement should work together to ensure that information is passed to relevant individuals and that the strategies developed to deal with human trafficking are implemented successfully (Moossy 2009, pp. 4). Some of the best practices include identifying the individuals who may be victims of sex trafficking, assessing the potential of matters of sex trafficking and prioritizing the investigative steps that need to be taken as soon as a case is reported. It is essential for the investigations to be victim centered. However, this should not be the only method because it will limit the creativity of investigators. This is because there are cases where the victim is not willing to cooperate or is too traumatized to offer useful information. Depending on the case of the trafficking, different levels of emphasis should be given to the victim. Sex trafficking should give the victim plenty of focus because of the potential of trauma (Moossy 2009, pp. 4). In order to obtain useful information, law enforcement agents must work with providers of social services to ensure that they gain the trust, cooperation and confidence of the victims. Identifying potential victims - In some respects, trafficking – especially sex trafficking – is carried out in areas that are hidden such as alleys, illicit massage parlors and brothels. However, if the trafficker is to be successful, he must have a string of paying clients who are willing to spend money on the individuals who are trafficked (Moossy 2009, pp. 4). This makes it necessary for the trafficker to be somewhat public in the activities they are carrying out. Hence, it provides the opportunities that are required for law enforcement to arrest these individuals. The government should establish and implement referral and training programs on the subject of human trafficking that should be taken by law enforcement and other individuals in the community. There can never be enough awareness on the issue in the community because; the tactics used in deception and trafficking changes constantly (Moossy 2009, 4). Some of the training parameters should be recognition of indicators of trafficking. This is because; it has always been a challenge for law enforcement to recognize the situation when they come across a commercial sex worker. Thus, law enforcement have a role in training in order to gain additional skills that will help them in enforcing anti-trafficking laws and arresting perpetrators. Law enforcement should contact neighboring jurisdictions so that they develop an investigative relationship with them that enables the sharing of intelligence concerning trafficking. Trafficking is now going beyond borders, and having a reporting relationship is an added advantage for law enforcement (Moossy 2009, pp. 4). Victim identification training should be implemented in neighboring jurisdictions. Sex traffickers are often seen working in a multijurisdictional network of transporting and acquisition. Other than that, law enforcement has the role of remaining in regular contact with nongovernmental organizations that are dealing in issues associated with human trafficking. When victims escape from their captors, they do not often report to the police but to nongovernmental organizations (United Arab Emirates 2004, pp. 1). Maintaining contact with these organizations is important in keeping up to date with the informational available on trafficking. Establishing relationships with these law enforcement agencies is inclusive of activities such as contacting them before a victim is identified and stressing on the interest of law enforcement in catching the trafficker and not in traumatizing or arresting the victim. Law enforcement should also work with informants from different areas in the region who can help in identifying suspicious activities. The informants should include sources such bar owners and taxi drivers (UN.GIFT 2008, pp. 2). When assessing the matter that has been reported, the victim should be believed first regardless of whether there is no initial evidence. This will encourage more victims to report their cases to the police. Investigations should not be stopped if the victims lie. Rather, the police should strive to find out the truth. Most countries in the UAE have acceded to some of the major international requirements that address the trafficking of children. It is important for law enforcement to properly report on trafficking cases and suspected cases (Combating Human Trafficking in the United Arab Emirates 2007, 4). It is also important to ensure that the punishments that are given to those arrested and convicted of trafficking is severe enough to fit the crime (Thomas 2011, pp. 7). Statistics show that, most of those arrested for trafficking are repeat offenders, and this indicates that the punishments that are given initially are not severe enough to deter the intentions and actions of those arrested (United Arab Emirates 2004, pp. 1). Other than that, Arab schools have been urged to educate their children on the ills of participating in human trafficking, as well as methods of avoiding vulnerability. Law enforcement play a crucial role in the issue of human trafficking that range from investigating to prosecution. The UN.GIFT initiative came up with several recommendations for fighting human trafficking (UN.GIFT 2008, pp. 1). One is that governments should raise awareness of the issues in law enforcement and the public too. Increasing awareness is the first step towards mobilizing people to stop the trade form taking place. In addition, prevention strategies should be strengthened. Vulnerable should be warned against the strategies that are used to perpetrate the act as well as alleviating the factors that make people vulnerable in the first place (United Arab Emirates 2004, pp. 1). Other than that, the demand for products and services of those who are exploited should be reduced so that the problem is attacked from the source. Without people to buy the services, the business will fail, and traffickers will abandon the activity. Victims and very vulnerable individuals should be offered support. These services should be offered while keeping in mind the needs of special groups such as women, children and people in refugee camps and conflict zones. UN.GIFT also suggests that information exchange between different regions and law enforcement agencies should be encouraged (UN.GIFT 2008, pp. 2). Knowledge of how these individuals operate is important in winning the fight against human trafficking. International commitments such as those made at UN conventions are important because they will ensure that countries adhere to certain laws that are meant to combat trafficking. Compliance will be monitored. Knowledge on human trafficking needs to be enriched by collecting more information on the number of those trafficked and nature of deeds that each of those trafficked are forced to do. This will let people know the severity of the situation and encourage people to take action. Human rights organizations have a crucial role to play in averting human trafficking. Most of the data available on human trafficking is from conference papers and articles that are prepared by human rights organizations. Accordingly, they are responsible for communicating to the public on the nature and severity of human trafficking in various regions around the world. They play a reactive as well as a proactive role (Combating Human Trafficking in the United Arab Emirates 2007, pp. 4). On the reactive end, they present a place where most victims of human trafficking go to for help, and to report what happened to them. From this, they compile reports that are then used in instructing law enforcement and vulnerable groups of strategies for arrest and ways of avoiding trafficking rings respectively. Data and information about actors in the trafficking business needs to be augmented with more research. List of References Combating Human Trafficking in the United Arab Emirates, Annual Report 2007, Viewed 16 December 2012, http://www.uaeinteract.com/uaeint_misc/reports/human_trafficking_eng.pdf Florida State University 2003, Florida Responds to Human Trafficking, Center for the Advancement of Human Rights, Tallahassee, FL. Hartsough, T 2002, “Asylum for trafficked women: Escape strategies beyond the T visa”, Hastings Women’s Law Journal, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 77-116. Hughes, MD 2000, “The ‘Natasha’ Trade: The Transnational Shadow Market of Trafficking in Women”, Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 53, No. 2, pp.625-51. Hyland, K 2001, “Protecting human victims of trafficking: An American framework”, Berkeley Women’s Law Journal, Vol. 16, pp. 29-71. National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT) 2011, Combating Human Trafficking in the UAE, Annual Report 2010-2011, Viewed 16 December 2012, http://www.nccht.gov.ae/en/Publications/PDF/6720111425174190000.pdf National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT) 2010, Combating Human Trafficking in the UAE, Annual Report 2010-2011, Viewed 16 December 2012, http://www.nccht.gov.ae/en/Publications/PDF/81020111102143972500.pdf Moossy, R 2009, Sex trafficking: Identifying cases and victims, NIJ Journal vol.262. Viewed 16 December 2012, https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/225759.pdf Shinkle, W 2007, Preventing Human Trafficking: An evaluation of current efforts, Walsh school of Foreign Service, Georgetown University. Tiefenbrun, S 2002, The saga of Susannah: A U.S. remedy for sex trafficking in women: The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, Utah Law Review, vol. 107, pp. 107–175. Thomas, ES 2011, Responses to Human Trafficking, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UN. United Arab Emirates 2004, Trafficking in Persons Report 2008. U.S. Department of State. Viewed 16 December 2012, http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2008/105389.htm UN.GIFT 2008, Human Trafficking: The Facts, Viewed 16 December 2012. http://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/issues_doc/labour/Forced_labour/HUMAN_TRAFFICKING_-_THE_FACTS_-_final.pdf Wilson, D, Walsh, W & Kleuber, S 2006, “Trafficking in human beings: Training and services among U.S. law enforcement agencies”, Police Practice and Research, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 149–160 Read More