It is defined as a way of obtaining sexual services or forced labor from an individual using coercion, fraud, or force without the willingness of that person.
Ø History of human trafficking
Human trafficking is third ranked after sale of arms and drugs.
It is the most unappealing crimes and human beings are exploited whereby they are massively transported to America from Africa especially during the 18th
century.
The 13th amendment in the year 1965 was passed to abolish slavery but exploitation of human beings continues.
In entire globe, around 4 million individuals have been victims of human trafficking crime every year.
It is a crime hidden from authorities for years.
Ø Who are victims of human trafficking?
Some percentages from Latin America, Asia, former soviet countries, and Africa.
Ø Factors that contribute to this human trafficking
Political and economic stability.
Immense poverty in entire world.
Disenfranchisement of individual groups.
2. Modern day and historical slavery
Human trafficking is not only a modern-day type of slavery but also its practice started in ancient times.
Ancient Egypt built pyramids using slaves
In 15th Century, Portugal was buying and selling slaves from Europe and Africa
In 18th Century, Transatlantic slave trade that was between Africa, Americans and Europe facilitated selling slaves in exchange for molasses and weapons.
Selling slaves was a business that was established in America, as they were considered dependable and inexpensive hence exploited.
In modern-day, humans are exploited for sex and labor such as farm labor, street peddling, construction work, childcare and domestic work, restaurant work, hotel housekeeping, carnival work and criminal activities.
Prostitution is the most type of trafficking that is common in the United States as well as in the entire world. In this case, women are the most common human trafficking victims.
3. Recruiting victims of human trafficking
Factors that make human beings be vulnerable to human trafficking make them believe that working abroad will help them solve economic problems.
Human trafficking victims are mostly convinced into seeking employment in foreign countries. However, recruiters are often considerate to their friends from their countries.
Victims who are desperate in solving their economic status to support themselves are deceived that they will have a better life because recruiters mostly do not consider them.
Victims often get jobs such as cooks, domestic servants, dancers, models through local advertisements in newspapers.
Most victims are sold and forced labor will be their destiny as some contract diseases that are sexually transmitted turning into alcohol and drugs for comfort, some end up dying.
Human trafficking victims are recruited because they are promised better life free of financial constraints. Some even consent in working at a sex industry as prostitutes and exotic dancers. Some even pay for fraudulent documents in order to migrate for the promised jobs.
The U.S law of consent does not stop victims from being recruited. Some are drugged and transported to places that are much far.
At the end, the victims lose their will of working and think of escaping.
4. Major factors that contribute to human trafficking
Economic principles of demand and supply define human trafficking.
Global poverty is one of the major factors because it creates vulnerability of supply of victims.
Economic prosperity is another factor. Some countries have created vast exorbitant incomes and wealth for specific people. This creates enough earnings that demand a market for human selling.
Globalization- Increased connectivity among countries around the globe.
Civil unrest causes immigration.
Political instability cause fleeing of people to other regions and countries
Disenfranchisement of specific groups such as women due to economic marginalization.
Culture- some countries especially African practice child fostering making underprivileged parents that cannot educate their children send them to relatives and non relatives who sell them to avoid the burden of economy.
Revenue made from human selling.
Belief that being punished and apprehended in doing human selling is at a relatively low risk.
Preoccupation of Law enforcement on stopping drug and weapon selling as well as terrorism gives criminals an impression that laws on human trafficking will not be enforced.
5. Global transportation Patterns
o Principles underscoring demand and supply drive human trafficking and specific countries have served as sites of destination, transport, and origin for human trafficking victims.
o In 2006, UNODC determined several worldwide routes or patterns that are notable. These routes were used to transport victims and selling them.
o Africa continent is an example identified to be an original place for victims. Such countries include Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, and Benin.
o After being transported, they are shipped to locations with high demand for sexual services and cheap labor.
In this pattern, Africa is also a destination and transit continent.
Asia is also an origin, supplier, and destination of human trafficking victims.
Thailand and China countries are the core providers of victims. India, Nepal, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia as well.
These routes exemplifying countries supplying human trafficking victims are those undergoing economic and political instability.
Countries demanding human selling are those that are experiencing considerable or modest prosperity and wealth.
6. Traffickers, victims and buyers
Ø Offender characteristics
People earning a living from buying victims, transporting and selling them conduct the illegal business.
Some countries are involved in this business. These include Nigeria, Albania, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Turkey, Thailand, Poland, Romania, Mexico, Germany, Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Italy.
Both men and women operate human trafficking.
Most victims are known by the traffickers and are deceived by better life promises who in turn are sold into sex trade.
The United States Department of state indicated in 2008 that boyfriends/spouses mostly recruit victims.
There is no age limit for one to become a trafficker to make great amount of profits. Many of older traffickers have an extensive background of being a criminal and now are diversifying their illegal business by engaging in money laundering, drug trafficking, gambling, money laundering and immigration fraud.
Traffickers do a lot of planning and require skills and organization to succeed in the criminal venture
Ø Victims’ characterists
Some countries are origins of victims. They include Ukraine, Nigeria, Russian Federation, and Albania. Republic of Moldova, Romania, China, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Thailand, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland.
There is no age limit in determining a trafficked victim. Most victims are minors such as girls below 17 years of age and adult women.
Men trafficked are less in number. Although, those exploited for labor and sexual crimes are not often considered as victims of human trafficking. A reason as to why there is no much information on male trafficking.
Unemployment is another characteristic of victims.
Uneducated or low level of education.
Dire economic circumstances.
Opportunities to employment are limited in original countries.
Economic and social inequality in original countries.
Regional conflict, armed conflict, and military occupation in original countries.
Some are recruited by persuasion or abduction.
Buyer/ consumer characteristics.
These comprises of both men and women of all ages.
Most of them are employed i.e. working class or prominent business individuals, lawyers, politicians and doctors.
They pay for illegitimate services of another willingly.
7. Victims do not come to attention of police, why?
There are reasons as to why the trafficked always remain hidden from police.
That they are unable to get out of their employment place because they are generally highly restricted and forbidden.
They are not allowed to operate a mobile phone and are always monitored so that they will not inform the authorities their status.
Communication barrier- it impedes their capability of speaking to police.
Lack of trust on police because they were not involved to scheme of selling them. Although, border police may have contributed by being bribed.
Victims fear being rested because they knew it is an illegal crime of migrating that is why they do not disclose that they are trafficked.
Nature of human trafficking is organized hiding status of victims.
Some victims work as prostitutes and authorities do not view prostitution as a victimized crime.
8. Efforts to stop human trafficking in the current United States of America
The U.S being a super power has taken an action of legislation against human trafficking.
A report called Trafficking in Persons has been published by the U.S Department with an intention of stopping this crime.
Investigation to every country has been conducted through giving countries military or financial assistance to help in stopping human trafficking.
Victims rescued by police undergo certification to qualify for services of government such as medical, employment, and psychological benefits.
9. Conclusion
Human trafficking is among the most unforgivable crimes yet it has grown overtime.
This crime occurs in countries such as the U.S and victims are not discriminated from their race, age, or ethnicity.
Patterns of global trafficking gives a significance that this crime is caused by some factors such as economic and political instability in former countries, poverty, culture, and globalization.
The U.S has flexed its power to assist countries all over the globe to stop the crime.
Stopping this crime needs tackling of the consumers and suppliers by giving penalties to deter consumption and sale of forced labor.
Works Cited
Cullen-DuPont, Kathryn, et al. Human Trafficking. Facts on File, 2010.
Dragiewicz, Molly. Global Human Trafficking: Critical Issues and Contexts. Routledge, 2015.
Hart, Joyce. Human Trafficking. 2009.
Human Trafficking Crimes. Nova Science, 2008.
Keren-Paz, Tsachi. Sex Trafficking. Routledge, 2013.
