SOCIAL ISSUE IDENTIFICATION
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, defined as illegally luring humans into captivity to trade them for money or services (Davidson 462). According to the U.S. Department of State, human trafficking can be broken down into two distinct categories: sex trafficking and forced labor (“Human Trafficking” 1). Gale Global Issues defines sex trafficking as a person being forced through coercion, threat, or another force to engage in a sexual activity against their own will. In contrast, forced labor refers to victims that are employed against their will and forced to perform work. Harvard Law Professor Boggiani explains that people are more likely to be targeted for human trafficking based on their economic status rather than their ethnic group (919-920). Anyone can fall victim to human trafficking; it is a crime that takes advantage of women, men, and children. Although anyone can be trafficked, the mass majority of victims are women and girls due to sexual exploitation being the primary form of human trafficking. Human trafficking is an international issue, but this essay will be focusing on how it impacts the United States. One major problem of human trafficking is “The presence of sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis among trafficked victims plac[ing] the general population at risk” (Sweileh 7). The prevalence of these diseases creates a problem for both human trafficking victims and the general population. Human trafficking is also a gross violation of human rights; victims’ rights to life and liberty are stripped away by their traffickers. Regarding America’s struggles with trafficking, Boggiani reports:
…[M]any believe that trafficking only involves foreign individuals, usually from Asia, South and Central America, or Africa. Contrary to the stereotype, this is not the case. In the United States, many trafficking victims are American. According to an interview conducted with law enforcement officials of the Boston area, even in the sex market, which traditionally is thought to be populated by foreign sex workers, Americans are the vast majority. (919)
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This quote shows that human trafficking is closer to home than one may think. Trafficking is a domestic and a global problem; it presents itself in every country in which a society exists. Human trafficking is not a controversial issue, it is indisputably recognized as a heinous crime that negatively
HISTORY
Unfortunately, in American society today, human trafficking has become an epidemic, especially in the last fifteen years. Over 200 years ago, the passing of the thirteenth amendment abolished slavery in the United States, but sadly it is a major destination country for traffickers with up to 17,500 victims moved into the U.S. annually (Baird). This underground criminal industry is not only present in third world countries, but civilized countries as well. Trafficking survivors are rarely able to escape their circumstances, most end up dead or with life threatening diseases. Human trafficking continues to be a problem in today’s society, “…it is difficult to break up human trafficking rings that despite the range of nations involved, 15% had no convictions from 2010 to 2012, 26% had less than 10 convictions per year.” (Oster and Suson). This quote highlights how human trafficking continues to be a problem in the United States, serving the purpose of satisfying the illicit desires of traffickers. Sex trafficking and forced labor are international demands, traffickers look to exploit any vulnerable man, woman, or child. One may ask, “How did modern-day slavery begin?” Richmond responds, “Human trafficking is not a naturally occurring phenomenon. It is a choice” (2). Enslaving and taking advantage of people is a conscious decision made by traffickers. Human trafficking is not an unstoppable force of nature, it is an action made by criminals. The United States has a long and complicated history with human trafficking, but by tracing the issue to the root cause – traffickers - there is hope that slavery can actually become a thing of the past.
Jeffery Epstein, one of the most infamous sex traffickers in the United States, was suspected of prostituting young girls and paying them to recruit more victims. The Economist reports that in 2005, Epstein was accused by the parents of a 14-year-old girl of raping their daughter (1). Inspired by this accusation, dozens of other young girls came forward, accusing Epstein of sexually assaulting them. Ultimately, Jeffrey Epstein was only charged for one count of soliciting a minor for prostitution and one count of procuring a minor for prostitution. U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta mishandled the sex crime prosecution, giving Epstein a measly 18-month sentence in prison (“Acosted” 1). Acosta signed off on this secret plea bargain while deliberately not informing Epstein’s victims. Epstein’s attorneys mislead the victims to believe that federal prosecution was still a possibility and effectively buried dozens of sexual-abuse claims. On the other hand, New York passed a new act called the Child Victims Act, which allows victims of sex abuse a one-year time period to sue their abusers, regardless of when the crimes occurred (Siemaszko). This substantial act allows victims of Jeffrey Epstein to claim his assets and receive some monetary compensation for the struggles they endured. Although Epstein died in 2019, his crimes continue to be exposed and his estate scattered. This trafficking case demonstrates how government facilities can fail to bring proper justice to trafficking victims, requiring frequent reforms to be made to improve the United States’ justice system.
The scandal of the San Joaquin County farm became the largest farming forced labor suit. The Berkley Journal of International Law reports that in 2010, over four hundred Thai men were recruited to work on asparagus farms and forced to work long hours for little pay (47). The Thai males were sent to eight farms in Hawaii and Washington where they lived in overcrowded, rodent infested houses. The men were not allowed to leave the farm and were trapped by their employers and threatened with deportation and physical beatings. The Berkley Journal goes on to write that the EEOC filed a lawsuit against the U.S. District Court of Hawaii and the Eastern District of Washington (47). The EEOC claims the mistreatment of the Thai workers violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC worked to bring justice to the abused workers by demanding back pay, compensation, and the development of reforms that would stop similar abuses from occurring. The district director of the EEOC’s Los Angeles District Office, Olophius Perry, is quoted, “Foreign workers should be treated as equals when working in the U.S., not as second-class citizens. All workers - foreign and U.S. - are protected under the law and have the right to complain of such employment abuses which poison the moral fabric of our society” (EEOC). In 2010, California Rural Legal Assistance could not locate the farm labor contractor, so the nonprofit organization attempted to sue the grower for the workers’ back pay (EEOC). However, charges against the grower were dropped in 2012. This instance of labor trafficking demonstrates how the United States makes efforts to monitor and eliminate the trafficking of foreign people in the U.S. Yet still, it proves difficult to break up human trafficking rings since the majority of cases are dropped, mishandled, or overlooked.
Not only do sex trafficking victims face unfair trials, they can also be subjected to criminalization for their actions while imprisoned. Cyntoia Brown was only 16 years old when she was forced into sex trafficking by a man who called himself “Kut-Throat” (Haider). Cyntoia was prostituted to a man named Johnny Allen and shot him in his sleep because she feared he would kill her. In 2006, she was tried as an adult and charged with first degree murder and robbery of her captor. In November of 2017, Brown's case gained recognition in the media from celebrities such as Rihanna, LeBron James, and Kim Kardashian expressing support for her case (Haider). By March of 2018, she was granted a parole hearing. She had plenty of people testify of her character, including prison workers, nonprofit founders, detectives, and even her former prosecutor, but it would take about another year for Cyntoia to walk free. On January 7, 2019, after serving 15 years of her life sentence, Cyntoia was freed from prison with the support of Tennessee governor Bill Haslam and the nonprofit organization End Slavery Tennessee (Callahan). Brown used her experiences of being trafficked and imprisoned to create her own nonprofit organization called the Foundation for Justice, Freedom, and Mercy. She hopes to make reforms in how the United States approaches jail sentences and the distribution of justice. Cyntoia Brown’s story shows the need for victim protection acts in the United States to ensure that trafficked people receive the treatment and services they need.
CURRENT STATUS
Human trafficking is still present in 2020, and the status of the issue is gravely concerning. The number of global trafficking cases reported has steadily increased since 2010, with America experiencing over 70% of victims detected being trafficked for sexual exploitation (UNODC). The issue of human trafficking has only increased since it was first identified and given a name. The criminal industry is expanding, forcing more people into being exploited for a profit. The social implications of the rise in trafficking are evident, Harvard-educated doctors Neha and Nour claim, “Victims of sex trafficking acquire adverse physical and psychological health conditions and social disadvantages” (26). Victims of human trafficking are stripped of their personal freedoms and liberties, leaving them with many setbacks in life. Since the rate of human trafficking shows no signs of slowing, the amount and severity of trafficking incidents is only projected to increase. Unfortunately, human trafficking is flourishing in 2020, both in the United States and foreign countries.
One major development in recent news is President Donald Trump’s involvement in ending human trafficking. In January 2020, President Trump is making strides in combating trafficking by creating a new White House position dedicated to overseeing human trafficking issues. He declares his administration “100 percent committed to eradicating human trafficking from the earth” (“The Associated Press”). In addition to the new White House position, Trump has also approved new acts such as the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act and created a task force designed to control traffickers. These efforts show that President Trump recognizes the trafficking crisis in the United States and the need for updated laws and procedures to control the growing crime rates. Trump’s executive order also “expands prevention education programs, promotes housing opportunities for survivors and prioritizes the removal of child sexual abuse material from the internet” (“The Associated Press”). This is affecting society by educating the public about trafficking and providing much needed services to trafficking survivors. In addition, Trump is trying to ericaite the child pornography industry which would in turn put many traffickers out of business. Not only is the new executive order creating new ways to fight against human trafficking, it also increased the budget for investigations of potential trafficking situations and the prosecution of traffickers by $4 million (Contrera). In addition, Trump is expected to propose an additional $42 million budget increase to expand the support the government has to offer to trafficking victims. This increase in federal resources will allow the government to better regulate illicit trafficking activity happening in the country. President Trump’s new executive orders have paved the way for a future for America where human trafficking is a thing of the past.
DIFFERING VIEWPOINTS
One prominent group advocating for the prevention of sex trafficking is Shared Hope International. This nonprofit, non-governmental organization works to bring justice to sex trafficking victims using their three-step process – prevent, restore, and bring justice (“Shared Hope International”). SHI first approaches the issue of trafficking by trying to prevent the situations that could lead to sex trafficking by training and educating the public. They then focus on restoring trafficking survivors by funding community shelters that care for victims, and finally they work to bring justice by supporting legislation that advocates for victims’ rights. The SHI has provided aid in the U.S., Jamaica, and India to help create more housing opportunities for victims of sex trafficking (“Shared Hope International”). On top of that, they provided one of the first shelters specifically for young boys who escaped the sex trafficking industry. The SHI also united with shelters around the world to offer healthcare, schooling, and job training. Linda Smith, former U.S. Congresswoman and founder of Shared Hope International, personally addressed how her organization cares for trafficking victims: “SHI offers paths to freedom, which sometimes includes paying off their debits. We provide places for them to flee to, which is why they’ll come out of the brothel” (Struck 33). Smith is able to rally donations and public support for her organization by speaking out at conventions such as the 2019 JuST (Juvenile Sex Trafficking) conference. At these events, she also trains attendees on how to prevent sex trafficking and stay safe on the internet. Shared Hope International is working hard to provide care to victims of sexual exploitation and is powerfully guiding the worldwide effort to end sex trafficking.
Polaris is a very influential nonprofit, non-governmental organization dedicated to fighting modern day slavery. Polaris’ goals are to help victims through their national human trafficking hotline, collect and interpret data about trafficking, and use their knowledge to develop strategies to prevent and control human trafficking (“Polaris”). Their national hotline provides constant support for trafficking survivors, allowing them to get the help they need through text, email, phone call, or webchat. This organization breaks down the systems in North America that make slavery profitable. Such systems include industries that force immigrant farmers to work in unfair conditions and websites that give sex traffickers a place to distribute and sell pornography. This nonprofit organization has also responded to human trafficking by creating an online Referral Directory (“Polaris”). This service is important because it helps survivors find resources to aid their long-term recovery. Additionally, Polaris also advocates for the development of laws against sex and labor trafficking and collaborates with financial specialists to create devices that can be used to expose money laundering of traffickers (“Polaris”). Polaris is diligently fighting modern day slavery through a powerful combination of prosecuting traffickers and protecting survivors.
Shared Hope International and Polaris are both prominent organizations, but their levels of success are varying, and there is even more that could be done to help solve the issue of human trafficking. Shared Hope International is a worldwide organization, compared to Polaris which is only nationwide. Both organizations are extremely successful and provide many great resources for human trafficking survivors, but Polaris offers more from their program. In addition to providing direct support for survivors, Polaris also works closely with law enforcement by providing data from their national hotline that reveals information about current trends in human trafficking. This allows for an extra preventative measure against trafficking. Another big advantage of Polaris is that it focuses on eradicating all forms of slavery, whereas Shared Hope International focuses solely on sex trafficking. For these reasons, Polaris is a slightly more successful nonprofit organization. However, these organizations do not cover every area of preventing human trafficking. There is a big need for Americans to stop unintentionally supporting forced labor. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that Americans are using goods produced by child labor or forced labor (Rigby et al. 20). This source claims that popular American shoe brands, including Nike and Adidas, are often produced by Asian child labor industries. In order for America to completely eradicate human trafficking from the country, it must first stop inadvertently financing slave labor. This change can be made by purchasing products from companies that do not engage in any type of forced labor. To ensure that only slave-free goods are being purchased, it is important to “shop with businesses that are transparent, examine their supply chains and buy fair trade or locally-sourced products” (“Buy Slave Free”). Nonprofit organizations are paving a way for a future without human trafficking, but it is important to continue developing innovative ideas that can further expedite the process.
REFLECTION
Human trafficking has been an issue since the beginning of societies, and no one can tell if or when it will cease to exist. This problem can only be resolved if the demand for slavery ends, “Human trafficking is the only industry in which the supply and demand are the same thing: human beings. People demanding the sale of people” (“What Fuels Human Trafficking?”). As of January of 2020, the amount of human trafficking cases is continuing to increase (UNODC), and if some dramatic changes do not take place, human trafficking rates will likely continue to rise. It is vital to find a way to control this problem before it gets any worse. Millions of lives are at risk. Victim’s qualities of life are reduced to nothing, and their rights are stripped away from them. Additionally, human trafficking poses a health concern to both survivors and the general public with the spread of STDs and tuberculosis. The majority of people in the American society detest human trafficking. Traffickers only make up a small fragment of the population yet are able to powerfully impact our society. If society unites against human trafficking, many victims can be saved. This movement starts with an individual effort.
Through the experience of writing this essay, I have read many stories from trafficking survivors. I discovered that human trafficking is a very present issue, it is more common than I had ever imagined. In order to be an advocate for survivors and support the cause against human trafficking, we must continue to stay informed on updates of this issue. Through educating ourselves and making ourselves available to local non-profit organizations, we can provide much-needed support for victims. To make a difference in this global issue, we need to learn the signs of human trafficking, report suspicious activity to trafficking hotlines, and be aware of which companies use forced labor. With the combined support of the government and the community, we can finally truly abolished slavery in the United States.
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