Trafficking at First Glance

When a person hears the term “human trafficking” it might strike a chord in their mind but they might not realize the full context of what it means.  Human trafficking does not solely mean trafficking individuals for sex nor does it just pertain to the female gender. There are many facets to this heinous crime including but not limited to; forced labor, bonded labor, involuntary domestic servitude, and child & adult sex trafficking. This blog was created to shed some insight in this consistently growing crime and to better inform those who do not know much about it.

Human trafficking is a growing issue because it is a crime that does not exclude anyone from becoming a victim. This crime has no restrictions as far as age, gender, or race is considered. While there are several countries that have a more predominate issue with this specific crime, there are still more than 150 countries worldwide, including the United States, that are having problems controlling it. There are several different strategically thought out tactics used to lure people into becoming trafficked. Traffickers prey on those who have low self-esteem and come from less fortunate home situations. For women they set up ads for amazing jobs that are “high paying” and in the “big city” to entice those who can longer bear to live in their current environments. Once the woman has contacted the person, they will be brought to the largest city near the trafficking ring and be shown the “good life” for a few days until the switch is flipped. Once this occurs the women are drugged and used as revolving sex objects or they are sold to specific individuals who want someone to be at their beck and call on a constant basis. The more attractive the woman the higher the price tag, some going for a couple thousand dollars. One very sad fact is that many times women are propositioned to take these ‘amazing’ jobs from acquaintances or even family members, according to Catholic Relief Services a not for profit organization striving to help the cause.

The list of contributors and benefiters to this issue is pretty much endless. There is any number of people involved in these trafficking rings. For those that are involved is sex trafficking not only are they benefitting from every person that takes part in the abuse of the individual but the person that brought the individual to the ring is also compensated. For those that fancy to force individuals into performing cheap labor (i.e. sweatshops) then they not only benefit from saving money on wages they also get to reap the profits of all the items that the workers created. Seeing as how in this day and age more companies are linked together than ever, the benefits of forced labor could go all the way of the ladder to parent companies. One law passed to help that specific facet of trafficking would be the California Transparency in Supply Chain Act “requires companies to disclose where there products are being made and it has to be ensured that their supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking.” This law went into effect the 1^st of this year and pertains to any retail sellers or manufacturers with an annual gross of over one hundred million dollars.

As for the sexual aspect of this crime there have been multitudes of not for profit organizations started to better inform and prevent human trafficking in a variety of countries. Madongo (2008) talks of the Poppy Project based in London, England that is “the only fully serviced safe house for trafficked women in England and Wales.” The Poppy Project provides medical attention and shelter for those who were lucky enough to escape, mostly foreigners who do not have many other options at getting assistance. If more cities/states/countries increased the availability for programs such as this one that not only help assist those that have been trafficked but provide prevention and awareness classes to prevent it from the beginning the rate of trafficked individuals could severely decrease.

References:

Madongo, Irene. "Trafficked Women in London 'not Getting Enough Help'" (2008). Web. 15 May 2008. <bbc.co.uk>.

Altschuller, Sarah A. "The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act: New Legislation Requires Disclosures on Corporate Efforts to Eliminate Slavery and Human Trafficking : Corporate Social Responsibility and the Law." Corporate Social Responsibility and the Law : Foley Hoag LLP. 03 Oct. 2010. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. <http://www.csrandthelaw.com/2010/10/articles/legislation/the-california-transparency-in-supply-chains-act-new-legislation-requires-disclosures-on-corporate-efforts-to-eliminate-slavery-and-human-trafficking/>.

"Human Trafficking." Catholic Relief Services. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. <http://crs.org/public-policy/trafficking.cfm>.