Prevention of Trafficking

            Like most criminal situations, human trafficking is not something that can be solved with instant gratification.  There are many levels and processes of this crime and several prevention tactics. Strategies range from enacting laws to increasing outreach and awareness campaigns. Throughout the years as the level of trafficking has increased new laws are being enacted to better reduce the amount of future victims. Laws are being implemented at the state, federal, and international levels since trafficking is a crime without boundaries.

            Starting at the state level, California has created laws that put more restrictions on larger companies to not violate labor laws and laws that have increased sentencing for trafficking offenders. In 2005, the AB 22 California Trafficking Victims Protection Act (CTVPA) was established. The CTVPA mandated that forced labor or services of trafficked individuals was a felonious crime punishable by 3, 4, or 5 years in state prison. If the victim happens to be a minor, the sentence is increased to 4 to 8 years in a state penitentiary. Although this law was a step forward in legislation it also was written at a time when human trafficking was viewed to be a crime affecting foreginers more than American citizens.  Now with more knowledge available on trafficking new laws should be created to even further protect those who could be potential victims.

           On the federal level, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 was established to minimize the amount of trafficked persons per year by establishing standards for the country. There are many subsections to this act saying that the countries government should increase punishments for those committing trafficking acts and for crimes of a sexual nature to be more heavily punished. It goes on to state that the government should vigorously investigate accusations of trafficking crimes and to protect the victims that have been trafficked into the country. A notable point in this act is also for governments to cooperate with other governments to better investigate and persecute offenders. There is also a section regarding how heavily a country immigration and emigration patterns to see where large gaps of individuals are continuously going to or leaving a particular place. One major difference between state and federal laws is the sentenced amount of time if convicted of trafficking. At the federal level one would receive a 15 years to a life sentence opposed to a max of 8 at the state level. When federally prosecuted there is no difference of time even if the victim is a minor.

            Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse is a 2003 policy implemented by the United Nations to show they will not stand for these crimes. The intention was to send almost 100,000 UN personnel on humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. By creating strict contracts to abide by, the UN had hopes of this being a successful prevention tactic against people committing sexual trafficking crimes. Such contracts forbid anyone employed by the UN to engage in any sort of sexual relations with minors, prostitutes or offering goods in exchange for “services” regardless of consent or local laws. Part of these UN missions is to provide trafficked victims with medical attention, legal services, counseling etc. to help them cope with the ordeal they were put through.  

             A growing international movement towards human trafficking is the International Justice Mission which has lawyers, investigators, and other professionals extending their services in thirteen different countries. Their main goal is to liberate sufferers of sexual exploitation, slavery and other forms of abuse. Their work is mainly done in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. At the IJM they combine their efforts with those of local authorities to ensure proper action against the perpetrator. This foundation began in 1997 when Gary Haugen a former lawyer with the U.S. Department of Justice saw a need for victims to receive justice after the Rwandan genocide. It is amazing that this one group is able to help so many countries in need with this growing problem.

       

References:

"International Justice Mission" International Justice Mission. Web. 02 Mar. 2012.   <http://www.ijm.org/>.

“Californians Against Sexual Exploitation Act." CASE ACT  Californians Against Sexual Exploitation Act. Web. 03 Mar. 2012. <http://www.caseact.org/>.