Human trafficking is a transnational crime of global proportion. This form of criminal depravity pervades every county in the world; with victims numbering in the hundreds of thousands (Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC), 2014). The highest numbers of victims hail from Asia and the former Soviet Union (Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC), 2014). “Human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2014)”. The act of human trafficking is defined as transporting, recruiting, harboring, transferring, and receiving of human beings against their will (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2014). Human trafficking can cross jurisdictional boundaries and span continents. The United States considers itself a central destination for many victims of human trafficking. It is reported that approximately 14,500 to 17,500 human beings are trafficked every year (Academy for Educational Development, 2201-2006). The United States implemented the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000. This Act provides for funding to be used in the investigation and prosecution of individuals suspected of such atrocities. Additionally, this act makes provisions for victim support, punishment of perpetrators, the preparation of reporting, and provides foreign aid to assist with maintaining trafficking standards (Congressman Chris Smith, 2000). Perpetrators of this heinous crime are usually intent on financial gain. They often offer their victims up as forced labor, slaves, and/or to be prostituted. The Protocol on Trafficking in Persons went into effect in 2003 (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2014). This protocol has been accepted by 159 member sta... ... middle of paper ... ...14, from http://www.childtrafficking.org: http://www.childtrafficking.org/pdf/user/Unicef_RussiaTraffickingMar06.pdf Human Trafficking – A Transnational Crime References U.S. Department of State. (2011, June 27). Annual Trafficking in Persons Report 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from http://moscow.usembassy.gov: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/tipreport2011.html United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2014). Human Trafficking. Retrieved April 24, 2014, from http://www.unodc.org: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2014). Message of the UNODC Executive Director. Retrieved April 24, 2014, from http://www.unodc.org: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/releases/2013/December/message-of-the-unodc-executive-director-on-the-10th-anniversary-of-the-protocol-on-trafficking-in-persons.html
As victim count continues to rise, its difficult to see how such great numbers of men, women and children are bought and sold every year. Trafficking can be found in many forms, including: prostitution, slavery, or forced labor (Harf and Lombardi, 2014). It wasn’t until the 1980’s that international human trafficking became globally noticed. With the lack of government intervention and control in several nations, and the free trade market, slavery once again became a profitable industry (Harf and Lombardi, 2014). As previously mentioned, easier movement across nations borders is one of the outcomes of globalization. It is also what makes human trafficking so easy today. It is estimated that about 20.9 million people are victims across the entire globe (United Nations Publications, 2012); trafficking accounts for 32 billion dollars in generated profit globally (Brewer, n.d). 58 percent of all human trafficking was for the purpose of sexual exploitation, and of this 55-60 percent are women (United Nations Publications,
Human trafficking has been entwined into the structure of governments, arms trade, drug trade, and even spreads as far as terrorism. For many years it has been a fact that the money that has been made by selling other humans to the highest bidder. It is also known that the organized crime operations generate one of the most profitable resources to the organization. These organizations use this money for theirs or other’s crime and end up in the hands of drug lords. Drug lords, in order to promote their own business give money to support terrorist groups and activities. Security after September 11, 2001 has recognized human trafficking as a national and international security risk.
In today’s society, where there is political and civil instability in the nations of the world, many citizens become subject to human trafficking. Human trafficking has rapidly grown into a transnational issue. Transnational crimes are often a result of an organized criminal group. These criminal groups quickly exploit the citizens of an unstable country and will send them to other countries while using upgraded technology and the rise of global trade to their advantage. Aside from human trafficking, it also can involve the movement of firearms, vehicles, drugs, or human body parts. Many believe that human trafficking is slavery of the modern-day. Many nations have come together to work on ways to prevent and protect those subject to trafficking.
The United States is a major port for human trafficking and, “Due to the covert nature of human trafficking, it is difficult to ascertain which countries are the primary source nations for trafficking into the US” (Hepburn). People of all ages and genders are at risk to human trafficking (Hepburn). Women and girls make up about fifty-six percent of the people trafficked for forced labor, while men and boys make up the other forty-four percent; children make up forty to fifty percent of those numbers (Hepburn). Ninety-eight percent of the people trafficked for sexual explorations are women and girls (Hepburn). Children tend to be targeted more than adults because they are much more vulnerable. Human trafficking has different forms, and “While trafficking for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation is more publicized in the media, it is not the only form of trafficking that takes place in the US” (Hepburn). Trafficking for the purposes of forced labor is just as likely to occur as trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation (Hepburn). Many citizens have never heard of human trafficking for something other than sexual exploitation. Hepburn shows that, “Forty-three percent are trafficked for purposes of...
Summary: We see that there are many different aspects and types of human trafficking that everyone should be made aware of. As a whole human trafficking is a lucrative industry raking in $150 BILLION globally. The impact that this industry has on its victims is
Many organizations and programs are working to stop human trafficking and its insubordinate criminals. Organizations, such as the United Nations Conven...
“Human Trafficking Statistics.” National Human Trafficking Resource Center: Polaris Project. 1-4, 2009. Web. 20 Jul 2010. .
When the topic of slavery is up for discussion, many individuals think of American history. In fact, the United States abolished slavery in 1865, the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states, "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude...shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction" (The United States Constitution). Although it is believed slavery is a thing of the past, its existence is evident in countless countries around the world.
U.S. Department of State Publication (2007) Trafficking in Persons Report,11407, United States of America: Office of Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs and bureau of public affairs.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 2009, Annual Report 2009, viewed 2 April 2014, http://www.unodc.org/documents/about-unodc/AR09_LORES.pdf
In today’s era of technological advancement and scientific discovery, Man’s greed for power and fame has grown exponentially. We live in a world where we have accepted man’s absolute control over each and everything. The unjustified trade and enslavement of human beings in the current age represents a fallen civilisation. A civilisation that is advanced in technology and science, but backward in ethical values. So much so that personal greed comes before the value of a person’s life. Human trafficking is one of the most significant problems faced by the world today. It portrays a picture of inequality among equals with no regard for the right of every individual. Human trafficking is basically the use of human deception to exploit the vulnerable and the needy. According to Koettl (2009), “Human trafficking, as it is defined by international law, subsumes all forms of non-consensual
Trafficking, Child, Child Statistics, and Statistics. "What Are The Statistics On Human Trafficking Of Children?." Ark of Hope for Children. N. p., 2017. Web. 17 Nov. 2017.
Trafficking in humans is a massive underground industry throughout the United States as well as close to home, mainly Chicago and it’s suburbs. “Human Trafficking is the recruiting, harboring,moving or obtaining a person by force, fraud or coercion, for the purposes of involuntary servitude, debt bondage or sexual exploitation( Human Trafficking in Illinois ).” Human Trafficking is one of the largest and is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. Annually, 9.5 billion dollars of profits are generated from trafficking humans worldwide. “Persons do not have to have been transported internationally to be considered victims of trafficking” (Facts about Human Trafficking).
"United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime." What Is Human Trafficking? N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
"What Is Human Trafficking?" United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. UNODC, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2014. .