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. Thousands of foreigners are smuggled across national borders as forced labour in factories, farms, and brothels. Many are forced to become victims of human trafficking through force or the false promise of the American dream. The threat of human trafficking presently is that it deprives people of their human rights, it is a global health risk, and fuels the growth of organized crimes, such as sex crimes. Within this paper I will discuss my research on human trafficking and the victims’ deprivation of human rights. In order to so, I will synthesize three relevant sources on this topic, discuss additional questions that should be addressed when further researching this issue from a peace studies perspective, and outline a specific proposal for future research. In “Confronting Human Trafficking in Canada”, (Perrin 2009) discusses the complexity of human trafficking and the human rights this act violates. Perrin states that statistics available to the public on human trafficking cases are probably a fraction of the actual number. Many victims are unable to come forward due to threats and violence from their traffickers. Trafficking in persons only became a Criminal Code offence in November 2005. To date Perrin states that, convictions under trafficking ... ... middle of paper ... ... not stopped will shake the foundation of our future. This 'market' has forced men, women and children from all around the world into sexual exploitation as well as physical exploitation. Although certain countries and international organizations are putting in effort, for public awareness and are trying to stop human trafficking from progressing, a lot more can and needs to be done. Strict international laws and tougher sentences for these offences need to be put in place, with harsher punishments for individuals and groups who violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. According to estimates, human trafficking is the fastest-growing area of organized crime (United Nations, 2002). It continues to be overlooked by international authorities to this date and international organizations need to step up and handle this issue before it continues to rapidly grow.
Country to country, person-to-person, human trafficking is becoming a bigger and bigger issue all across the globe, including right here in the United States. Human trafficking is said to be a form of modern-day slavery, subjecting its victims to commercial sex, debt bondage, and forced labor through force, fraud, or coercion. There are often no easily identifiable victims as they come in all ages, genders, and races. There are said to be at least 2.4 million victims of human trafficking across the globe at any given time, leading to profits of $32 billion for the criminal masterminds behind such trafficking operations, making it the second most lucrative criminal industry behind narcotics. Despite the abundance of victims, it is estimated that fewer than 30% of all countries report at least 10 trafficking convictions a year, and 20% of countries do not even have an offense for trafficking. An additional 20% of countries have an offense for trafficking but still report no convictions of the offense. Without an organized coalition to help prevent such atrocities, it is left up to national governments to come up with solutions for their respective nations, and many governments do not possess the know-how or effort needed to combat these crimes.
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,
Raymond, Janice G. “The Ongoing Tragedy of International Slavery and Human Trafficking: An Overview.” Serial No. 108–137. 29 October 2003.
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.
Human Trafficking is a universal issue that is still currently happening today. It is a major crime that essentially lets someone take illegal custody of another human’s rights and freedoms. The impacts of human trafficking are crucial and nerve-racking. Victims of such crimes most likely suffer from injuries physically and mentally, abusive behavior, rape, death threats, and life taking. Human Trafficking undermines the safety and security of people and their lives (TIP, 2007). People who are desperate for money and would do anything for little amounts of money would either do drug and gun dealing, or human trafficking. Human Trafficking is the fastest growing business in the world. The number of current slaves in America is less than half of what the number of identified humans who are trafficked (HJHP, 2012).
Human trafficking is the third largest international crime industry followed behind illegal drugs and arms trafficking (“11 Facts” pg. 2). The International Labour Organization estimates that women and girls represent the largest share of forced labor victims with 11.4 million trafficked victims compared to 9.5 million men ( ). Trafficking comes in many forms, forcing victims into prostitution, subjecting victims to slavery or involuntary servitude, compelling victims to commit sex acts for the purpose of creating pornography, and misleading victims into debt bondage (11 Facts. Pg 2). According to federal reports estimate that 14,500 to 17,500 victims are trafficked into the United States each year (What is Human Trafficking. Pg 2). Traffickers will often make their victims’ new birth certificates, passports, and drivers’ licenses making it almost in possible for them to ...
CTV News shared breaking news on October, 23, 2013 that four Romanian women were found being victimized to human trafficking in Montreal. These women were lured to Canada hoping that they would find a better future but instead were forced into prostitution (2013). Human trafficking is an issue that is rarely acknowledged by Canadians. Most people are either unaware of the problem or do not recognize it as something that is happening in their own backyard. Although Canadians are exposed to the severity of human trafficking in other countries, Canadian citizens are unaware of the fact that Canada is not only a transit point for the United States but also a destination country. Information from the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre states “The RCMP estimates that 600-800 persons are trafficked into Canada annually, predominantly for sexual purposes, also additional 1,500-2,200 people are trafficked through Canada and into the United states” (2010). Canada is a source of transit and destination for human trafficking, some of the victims being as young as twelve years old (Human trafficking, 2010). The definition of what human trafficking is focusing on who the victims are and who the traffickers, the increase in trafficking due to globalization, and the role Canada plays in preventing it will all be explained further.
In the world, we live in people are struggling more than ever to make it to their dreams and are using all the means they can to achieve them. Today over 2 million people move from their homes to search for a better life. However not always do they find the happy ending they are looking for. Sometimes they meet people who could care less about them or their dreams and only want to fulfill their own agenda. Due to their desperateness, they have found themselves as victims of an immoral behaviors, human trafficking! I have chosen to analyze human trafficking. Human trafficking is one of the most popular crimes in the United states and foreign countries. First off, let me explain what human trafficking is human trafficking is “an illegal movement
According to the United Nations, thousands of people are smuggled across borders worldwide, and it now has reached an estimated 800,000 victims (“Human Trafficking Statistics”). By letting this continue, the numbers will only grow and continue to keep growing. Of the 600,000 to 800,000 men, women, and children who have been trafficked across international borders each year, approximately 80 percent are women and girls (“End of Human Trafficking Now”). The United Nations should be more proactive in both preventing and eliminating human trafficking because 161 out of 192 countries are involved with human trafficking (“Human Trafficking Statistics”) and the leaders of every country need to come together to end this phenomenon.
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
Levy, Rachel, et al., eds. “Great Debate: Human Trafficking.” The Morningside Post. Columbia, 4 Dec. 2012. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
Human trafficking is a worldwide issue affecting many individuals; the Department of States estimated that about 600,000 to 800,000 people are taken across borders each year and two to four millions of people being victimized within their own country (Siskin & Wyler, 2010). The majority of trafficking victims are forced into sexual exploitation, however many are also used for labor. Although there is a current US policy that addresses anti-trafficking legislation, the problem of victim identification still persists. The failure to adequately tackle this phenomenon, paired with a concern over human rights, has prompted debates over who is considered a victim. There needs to be a more effective way to eradicate the dangers of human trafficking.
“Injuries of human dignity and Human rights of a globalized society. Nobody may be held in slavery or peonage; Slavery and slave trade are in all forms forbidden”. These are the words of the Universal declaration of human rights (United Nations, 1948).Human trafficking is just another name for modern-day slavery, where the victims involved are forced and deceived into labor and sexual exploitation. Exploitation referring to using others for prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery, or the removal of organs. The numbers are scary. Almost 600,000 to 800,000 women and children are annually trafficked across national borders. This does not count for the numbers that are trafficked within their own countries. Human trafficking is very much hidden and accurate data and the extent of nature of human trafficking are hard to calculate. Trafficked victims are often in dangerous positions and may be unwilling and too scared to jeopardize their lives to report or seek help from authorities. Victims live daily with emotional and physical abuse, inhumane treatment, and threats to their families, like they are going to torture...
There is an extensive variety of crimes occurring internationally, and human trafficking is one of many severe crimes that cannot be stopped. Human trafficking is the form of modern day slavery, and is one of the largest and most crucial crimes on the globe. Without having an actual date of when it started, human trafficking has been going on for centuries. This crime involves sex exploitation, which exposes the victim to diseases such as HIV or STD’s, and in some cases unwanted pregnancies. Human trafficking also entails forced labor such as work in factories, agriculture, and at restaurants. The forced labor that is being involved in this crime is one of the main concept that ties in with slavery. Human trafficking also includes the
In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution ended the institution of slavery (McGough). Even though slavery was abolished, modern day slavery still exists and has evolved under a different appearance and is known as “Human Trafficking” in today’s society. Each year, thousands of people are trafficked across borders or internally, and exploited for cheap labor or sexual services. According to the U.S. Federal Law, human trafficking consists of children involved in sex trade, adults who are coerced or deceived into commercial sex, anyone forced into different forms of labor or services (Polaris Project). Human trafficking is a human rights violation; it is a crime against the dignity and integrity of an individual. It is the trading of human beings as commodities. It is “modern-day slavery” with more slaves at work today than there has ever been at any point in history.