The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 was created to prevent human trafficking, to protect the victims of human trafficking, and to prosecute traffickers. Although it was well crafted, the TVPA is ineffective in achieving its purpose. Since its enactment, only a small percentage of victims have received help, and the prevalence of human trafficking in the U.S. has not decreased. In fact, human trafficking may be on the rise in Arkansas. Therefore, although amending the TVPA would make more people eligible for social services, not amending the TVPA would be an act of support towards organized crime, the spread of diseases like AIDS and TB, and modern slavery. Before the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 was enacted, traffickers were only punished for “the components of the offense” (Lack 156). The TVPA aimed to prevent human trafficking by funding programs that would educate the public about this issue. In order to protect the victims, the law established the T-visa program. This allows victims “to become temporary residents of the U.S.” (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services 1). Victims that have been certified¬—¬¬¬those who have proved that they are victims of human trafficking, assisted in the prosecution of their traffickers, and received their T-visas—are eligible for social services. The TVPA also made harsher punishments for human traffickers. For example, traffickers who attempted to murder, kidnap, or sexually abuse their victims could be sent to prison for life (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services 2). Sexual exploitation of children under 14 could also result in a life sentence. In addition, the TVPA “broadened the definition of coercion,” by including both physical and psychological coercion (La... ... middle of paper ... ...activities” (FBI 1). This shows that Arkansas cannot be overlooked when trying to prevent human trafficking. Although it is not highly prevalent, it is still possible that human trafficking has infiltrated Arkansas. Maybe traffickers are just rarely brought to light here. Local authorities may not be as familiar with this issue because it has not been a problem in the past. The products of human trafficking cannot be ignored. Human rights are being violated, diseases are being transmitted, and the current laws are ineffective in preventing human trafficking and protecting its victims. Although there are many victims now, it may increase exponentially in the future, creating bigger problems. Before the number of victims increase and before more people start to lose faith in the U.S. government, it is imminent that the Trafficking Victims Protection Act be amended.
Many American citizens know of the criminal act of sex trafficking in third world countries, but very few know how much it takes place in the United States. In America prostitution, pornography, and stripping are all considered acts of sex trafficking when they are forced on the victim. This increased crime has led to victimization, physical and psychological effects and after-effects of American and international victims. The government is aware of the slavery of humans taking place in this country and it has to release funds in creating programs for sex trafficking survivors and re-authorize the act that protects sex trafficking victims, in order to support the equal rights for every citizen.
According to the Office for Victims of Crime, crimes committed against human trafficking victims can lead to the destruction of basic life assumptions; that one is safe from harm, one is a good and decent person, and the world is meaningful and just (Office for Victims of Crime, 1998). Working through the psychological trauma experienced by trafficking victims can require long-term, comprehensive mental health therapy (Briere & Scott, 2014). The health care response to trafficking victims in the United States differs greatly from efforts made by governments and health care entities. The health care response to trafficking victims in the United States differs greatly from efforts made by governments and health care entities in developing countries. In many developing countries, governments have allocated no financial support for programs to combat human trafficking, or for programs to provide medical care to victims. Lack of funding, trained medical staff and the stigmatization placed on many victims once back in their home countries can make access to appropriate health care virtually
Assessing government efforts became very difficult. It’s difficult to get the government’s support when some traffickers are willing to become victims. Prosecutors need the help of the government to win trafficking cases. The Mexico government issued forced regulations for the 2012 anti-trafficking law. According to state.gov “continued to operate a secured shelter in the capital for female sex trafficking victims involved in the legal process against their traffickers.” The government is trying to come up with the best prevention activities and ideas. According to state.gov “It was difficult to receive government efforts to identify and help victims and to look into prosecuting trafficking cases, as data collection on victim identification and law enforcement efforts was uneven.
Most American citizens, if asked, would say that sex trafficking is an issue that happens on foreign land, not here in America. Many American’s believe that slavery was abolished years ago, but modern day slavery is happening in this country and internationally every day right under our noses. The startling fact, is that sex trafficking happens within our borders, and in our very own towns at a much higher rate than anyone would imagine. Sex trafficking occurs when people, usually women and children, are coerced into the sex trade against their will (TVPA, 2013). Many traffickers target weak, vulnerable people who come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and have a history of abuse; however anyone can potentially be trafficked (The Polaris Project, 2014). Many traffickers lure their prey in with false promises of love, money, or security, and then the victims are instead faced with lies, debt bondage, violence, physical and mental manipulation, and abuse (The Polaris Project, 2014). In today’s world many of our social issues, such as human trafficking, are made worse by the general lack of education, resources, and information available to the public and to victims. I propose a policy that will help 180 Turning Lives Around provide comprehensive and much needed services to victims of sex trafficking, as well as educate the community and law enforcement officials in order to help end modern day slavery in America.
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
“Human trafficking coerces and persuades their victims to cross national borders in search of new jobs and better opportunities and after that they are forced into some sort of labor bondage” (At Issue: Human Trafficking 1). Even though trafficking is a problem in almost every country; poorer countries have a bigger problem with it because they are more desperate for work. Just in 2000, the U.S. enacted their first federal anti-trafficking law, called the Victims of Trafficking Protection Act (At Issue: Human Trafficking 1). Trafficking has just begun to receive notice on how big of a problem it actually is. “Proponents of strict anti-trafficking initiatives say that laws and prevention against trafficking are necessary in order to stem the growing tide of large scale organized crime that profits off of smuggling and trafficking” (At Issue: Human Trafficking 1).
According to UNODC (United Nation Office on Drug and Crime) which bases its estimates on national statistic, 22,000 victims were come about in 2006. As “smuggling” and “Human trafficking” may seem to be the same thing, they are actually relatively different, some victims come out and tell their stories, and those stories are never the same.
Sex trafficking is essentially systemic rape for profit. Force, fraud and coercion are used to control the victim’s behavior which may secure the appearance of consent to please the buyer (or john). Behind every transaction is violence or the threat of violence (Axtell par. 4). Just a decade ago, only a third of the countries studied by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime had legislation against human trafficking. (Darker Side, par.1) Women, children, and even men are taken from their homes, and off of the streets and are brought into a life that is almost impossible to get out of. This life is not one of choice, it is in most times by force. UNODC estimates that the total international human trafficking is a $32-billion-per-year business, and that 79% of this activity comprises sexual exploitation. As many as 2 million children a year are victims of commercial sexual exploitation, according the the U.S. State Department.-- Cynthia G. Wagner. (Darker Side, par. 4) The words prostitute, pimp, escort, and stripper tend to be way too common in the American everyday vocabulary. People use these words in a joking manner, but sex trafficking is far from a joke. Everyday, from all different countries, people are bought and sold either by force or false promises. Some are kidnapped and others come to America with dreams of a dream life and job. The buyers involved in the trade will do anything to purchase an innocent life just to sell for their own selfish profit. Many people wouldn’t think of a human body to be something you can buy in the back room of a business or even online. But those plus the streets are where people are sold most often. There are many reasons and causes for sex trafficking. The factors behind sex traffic...
"An ounce of cocaine, wholesale: $1 ,200. You can sell it only once. A woman or child is
Human trafficking, a form of modern day slavery, affects more people than you could imagine. The United States is known for freedom, human rights, and the pursuit of happiness; however, there are many victims of human trafficking that have been stripped of their rights and freedoms. The Victims of Trafficking andViolence Protection Act (VTVPA) of 2000 defines human trafficking as, the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery (Kotrola 8). Human trafficking is a devastating issue many Americans have problems addressing;
When people hear human trafficking they immediately think of places outside the United States. They think of the unfortunate souls that are sold into slavery all around the world. Most people will feel pity for these victims, but that emotion only lasts for a mere moment, the next second that pity will be gone with and with that the persons focus will shift to something more interesting, funny, or heartwarming. Sadly, this kind of focus not only trivializes the topic of human trafficking but also ignores the real and present danger that human trafficking poses to the average American citizen. Human trafficking is a real and prevalent issue both at home and abroad and that’s exactly why it needs to be addressed. In order to effectively fight
Human trafficking is a form of slavery, forcing victims to engage in sexual activities and labors against their will. These activities can be taken place through force, fraud, or constraint. Human trafficking is not just affecting one group of people, it is a worldwide issue, affecting all different ages, genders, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds. Human trafficking is such an immense problem, apprehending the true size, knowing how to help, and how to keep the issue from reoccurring. Human trafficking is and is still becoming such a serious issue that something needs to be done about.
Its purpose was to provide protection, prevention, and prosecutions against human trafficking. Under the TVPA, the federal governments provides housing, educational, health care, job training, and other social programs to trafficking victims. The law also establishes the T-visa. The T-visa temporarily allows victims to become residents of the United States. Every year, up to 5,000 victims are able to obtain permanent residence status after three years. Before, many victims were viewed as illegal aliens and were subsequently deported. Victims are allowed into the Witness Protection Program (citation). The TVPA aimed to prevent trafficking in persons by the implementation and assertion educational and public awareness programs on modern-day slavery. Additionally, Chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code, was amended to provide harsher penalties and ensure more convictions
I would like to propose an initiative to address the issue of human trafficking effecting our community. As members of our Justice and Peace Studies Organization I strongly believe that this issue is one that must be addressed, and on the forefront of our minds. I am aware that the United States government is committed to prosecuting traffickers and assisting persons who have been identified as victims of trafficking, but sir, this is merely a reactive measures, not a proactive one. In November 2003, Congress had reauthorized the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, which has helped prosecute traffickers (State Department). Since then no new measures, or bills have been introduced which is rather worrisome.