Human Trafficking - Literature review Example

Human Trafficking Name Institutional Affiliation Human Trafficking Introduction The issue of human trafficking is a global crisis, especially about its effects on the economy and society. According to Chuang (2014), human trafficking is modern-day slavery promoting the actions by the government, society, and private organization in eradicating the menace. Chuang (2014) defines it as an act involving the forceful movement of people for the sole purpose of exploitation. Efrat (2015) addresses the level of exploitation including sexual, labor, and organs. The imperative is the role of policy in managing the three types of trafficking, especially managing the effects of such acts to the public. Background The development of the world today generates more demand for human labor. Demand for labor is more pronounced in the developed countries as opposed to the developing countries. Moreover, there is much global interdependence influencing the increased human migration to the more productive regions (Chacón, 2006). Much as there are legal channels that provide the free movement of people, a majority of the cases of migration follow an illegal path. It is of particular importance to realize the criminal sects contributing to the human trafficking acts through coercion and deceptions. Moreover, the women and children are the prominent vulnerable groups, especially concerning labor and sex exploitation. Shelley and Lee (2007) provide a comprehensive research on the human trafficking identifying its characteristics in different continents. It is evident that the practice began early in the centuries influenced by trade and demand for human labor. In the Asian-Africa regions, the slave trade was a primary contributor to the movement of people through force, especially regarding the demand for labor. Moreover, Shelley and Lee (2007) discusses the underlying reasons leading to the illegal movement of individuals including civil wars, economic disruptions, inequities in the society, and climatic changes. Major Issues The imperative is to develop an understanding of the reasons for engaging in the act by the traffickers and the victims. Efrat (2015) identifies the underlying challenge being the failure by the policy makers to adequately define the different forms of trafficking and provide independent laws for each of the categories. According to Efrat (2015), the perpetrators are individual who vary regarding their social and legal statutes. Moreover, the traffickers together with the beneficiaries may actively or passively influence the development of policies such that the activities of human trafficking continue to expand. Norms and their impact and acceptance in the society vary globally (Efrat, 2015). The rules about sex, organ and labor laws differ from country to country with some accepting practices such as commercial sex. Moreover, Efrat (2015) addresses the lack of precision and clarity about these rules act to promote the vulnerability of the public in being coerced to engage in human trafficking. An example in the public perceptions of the norms is the case of the public fight against prostitution compared to activist actions against organ transactions. Based on Efrat (2015) enforcement cost is yet another important issue of concern that contributes to the decline in the appropriate management of human trafficking. The cost of managing the organ trafficking is relatively cheaper compared to that of the labor (Efrat, 2015). Human labor-management difficulties stem from issues such as poverty in the society and the inequality in the distribution of resources. Moreover, there are natural disasters as well as human-induced disasters such as wars that generate the displacement of people. The people suffering or affected by such occurrence are vulnerable to conforming in trafficking acts as a means to gain a source of livelihood and support their families. Effects of Human Trafficking Efrat (2015) identify the actions of human trafficking as being central in affecting the mental and physical health of the victims. Usually, the victims are isolated from their families leading to emotional distress. The case becomes severe when the victim is a child who may fall into depression. Depression is one of the triggers in ill mental health, especially in its progressive stages. In particular, the victims sold into forced labor and sex end up facing both mental and physical torture (Efrat, 2015). Moreover, there is the suffering from the perpetrators who threaten the victims into conforming to the demands of the traffickers or the beneficiaries of the trade. Economically, human trafficking outstrips the countries’ wealth especially at investing in the continuous protection of its citizens against falling victims of such acts. Moreover, the funding of the frequently performs the research s expensive and time-consuming. The imperative is the loss of human capital through the trade, especially regarding the migration of the active community to other localities. In regards to Gozdziak and Collett (2005), an estimate of about 17000 children trafficked into the US annually. The children are the future labor force for their respective countries. Nevertheless, the trade may provide a positive advantage to the country, in particular through accessing cheap labor that minimizes the cost of productions. The activities of the human trafficking threaten the security of the nation and that of the people. Based on Chuang (2014), the organized criminal gangs managing to cross different national boundaries undetected is a course of worry especially about opening a channel of other illegal activities that surpasses that of human trafficking. Chacón (2006) identifies that there is an increased insecurity to the victims, especially of the fear of being convicted once discovered to be residing in a country illegally. Therefore, the traffickers have superior power in controlling the victims influencing them to agree to harsh work conditions and treatment without objection. Organizational Efforts The United Nations (UN) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) are among the leading institutions advocating for the elimination of human trafficking. According to the UN, all victims of the act deserve protection, especially if they belong to the vulnerable groups of women and children (Chacon, 2006). Furthermore, the UN definition of trafficking tends to differentiate the act from smuggling. The differentiation through definition provides an essential background that allows the enactment and implementation of various policies in managing human trafficking. The imperative is the observation of the Immigration Nationality Act (INA) by the employers, which prohibits them to employing an illegal migrant. The act provides clear guidelines against harboring an undocumented employee to enhance the discovery of the trafficking victims and illegal migrants (Chacon, 2006). Moreover, to enforce the power and authority of an employee in managing the identity of the workers, the government provided the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA). IRCA allows the crimination of an employer found to have employed a worker with the knowledge of their illegal presence in the country. Through the statute, the employer could carry out a staff verification analysis and provide the outcome to the federal government for record keeping. The increased resources allocation in the borders is an effective strategy that speaks of the government efforts in curbing the practice. In particular, the human resources in the form of more patrol in the entry points significantly have seen a reduction on human trafficking through the major access points (Chacon, 2006). Moreover, Chacon (2006) identifies the enhancement of border detection tools through employing improved technological equipment that verifies the information and identity if the people. The legalizing of prostitutions by the government such as that in the US allows a minimum but actual reduction in the trafficking of humans into this kind of exploitations. Furthermore, Feingold (2005) identifies that an effective strategy that provides protection to the sex workers involve the extension of both the social security and labor laws. The plan will adequately reduce the cases of abuse in these employees and in particular eliminate the introduction and development of child prostitution practices. Aside from the US Government and the institutions, private organizations such as the NGO are currently participating in reducing human trafficking. According to Gozdziak and Collett (2005), a typical example includes the Comparative Study of Women Trafficked in the Migration Process: Patterns, Processes, and Health Consequences. The organization operates in the countries of Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Venezuela and the United States. The group collaborates with the Ford Foundation in generating funds channeled to promote the fight against human trafficking. Other relevant societal groups include the human rights teams such as the Global Survival Network, End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT), and Human Rights Watch protecting the rights of children and women against any form of exploitation. Recommendation The literature of Kempadoo, Sanghera, and Pattanaik (2015), advocates for the appropriate definition of the problem. With the definition, the government can identify the different form of trafficking and design appropriate solutions to each of these. Curbing the rate of migration, especially of the vulnerable groups will eliminate the probability of the individuals falling prey to traffickers. Moreover, the government should reconsider the move to concentrate resources at the border since the outcomes of such solutions are minimal in eradicating human trafficking. Instead, the government should enact strict punishments on perpetrators caught in the act. Conclusion In summary, the events of human trafficking not only affect the individual sufferers but the wider society. The imperative is the main issues about the topic including the factors such as policies and poverty that act to influence both the victim and perpetrator to engage in the crime. Although there are many types of human trafficking, the most dominate type includes that of labor, an outcome of economic challenges to the country and its citizens. It is important to note that the government can improve its efforts of managing human trafficking through developing policies that align to the specific traffic. References Chacón, J. M. (2006). Misery and myopia: Understanding the failures of US efforts to stop human trafficking. Immigr. & Nat'lity L. Rev., 27, 331. Chuang, J. A. (2014). Exploitation creep and the unmaking of human trafficking law. American Journal of International Law, 108(4), 609-649. Efrat, A. (2015). Global efforts against human trafficking: The misguided conflation of sex, labor, and organ trafficking. International Studies Perspectives, 17, 34- 54. Feingold, D. A. (2005). Human trafficking. Foreign Policy, 26-32. Gozdziak, E. M., & Collett, E. A. (2005). Research on human trafficking in North America: A review of literature. International Migration, 43(1‐2), 99-128. Kempadoo, K., Sanghera, J., & Pattanaik, B. (2015). Trafficking and prostitution reconsidered: New perspectives on migration, sex work, and human rights. Routledge, New York, US. Shelley, L., & Lee, M. (2007). Human trafficking as a form of transnational crime. Human trafficking, 116-137. Read More