Problem And Solution: Human Trafficking

Introduction to the Global Crisis of Human Trafficking

“Worldwide trafficking projections range from 350,000 to 1.5 million victims, with, again, the vast majority being women and children...In addition, as many as 50% of all trafficking victims are said to be children or adolescents, both girls and boys” (Schauer and Wheaton). Human trafficking can be traced all the way back to slave trading which was usually with African Americans, men, and children. It was also popular through white slavery which was between white women and children. Of course human trafficking back then was more of slavery, labor work, and prostitution. In this day and age, there are even more different kinds of human trafficking such as sexual exploitation, domesticated servitude, organ harvesting, and forced labor. Human trafficking has become a growing issue in the United States, especially with children. Bigger saving graces like the use of technology could put an end to trafficking and smaller help like informing people on the issue better, learning human trafficking signs, and volunteering for trafficking organizations could put an end to this horrible issue. With the help of the national government, the local community, and individuals this issue can be taken over and cease to exist entirely.

The Silent Crime: Vulnerability and Exploitation of Children

Human trafficking is a silent crime that is so successful because it leaves victims feeling voiceless and helpless, and giving the traffickers an easy way out. Of course, there are plenty of other reasons why human trafficking has grown over the years and why children are such easy targets. Many problems have arisen through the increased establishment and use of technology. Making new friends online through social media and gaming poses a risk towards children because they are easy to manipulate emotionally and physically. Making friends seems harmless to children even if they do not know the user. Once a trust and foundation is built, the user could lure the child to meet in real life and then the child is stolen away for profit. Kendall Wolz, assistant director of Baptist Friendship House, a shelter for trafficking victims stated, “A majority of the girls we work with were lured through social media” (Talamo). It is easy in today's day and age for children and younger teens to come in contact with people over social media and be tempted with money or a goal they have, such as modeling. Even without technology, all it would take is a shiny new toy, candy, or sweet talk for a child to go for and be snatched up. Not to mention if the trafficker is someone the child knows personally, it can be easier to trust the trafficker. Human traffickers and victims can be anyone from well known people in the community to strangers on the street who are just trying to make money. One reason for trafficking a child could be that some children speak different languages than their trafficker does and traffickers try to appeal pleasantly and reel in the child. If a post trafficking child has been saved and speaks another language it is already scary enough what the child went through, but trying to speak about it is hard especially when no one understands the child. After going through whatever the victim goes through, it can be hard to trust anyone even though the people are trying to help the victim. Victims lose trust and fear law enforcement, doctors, family, or friends. The suffering a child goes through during trafficking can be difficult to imagine for anyone.

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Traumatic Impact on Victims and Societal Consequences

Human trafficking has a huge and horrifying impact on victims that unfortunately are dragged into this crime. Human trafficking survivors were divested from their human rights and have to learn how to live a normal life again. A child that has experienced trafficking is likely to go to jail, accept abuse from others easily, have a difficult time completing their school years, and struggle in relationships. Many long-term effects can include physical complications and mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, gastrointestinal and intestinal issues, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and weight loss. According to a cross-sectional study done by multiple doctors and researchers, the main outcome of the study proved, “Children and adolescents in post trafficking care showed high symptom levels of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder, which are strongly associated with self-harm or suicidal behaviors” (Kiss et al. 1). Children have excellent memory and minds, which means they are able to remember everything that happened to them while in the possession of their trafficker. Nightmares and insomnia can have a lasting effect because children remember the pain they survived. Most trafficking children do not socialize with many people, especially other children through their captivity which can be damaging to a child's social skills. It is difficult for victims to live their life normally again. Not only does trafficking affect the child victim but it is painful for the family and friends who lose that child. It can be hard to cope with and creates depression throughout the family and sometimes lead to divorce with the parents. Human trafficking not only effects people but also effects societies. Human trafficking increases the act of organized crime, encourages corruption, and can be damaging to the governments authority, while in local communities it can create depressed wages, an undereducated generation, and shortage of people to care for others (Davidson). It hurts the economy by money theft and also funding other illegal crimes such as theft and robbery. If human trafficking is not tackled as a whole, it will only grow into a bigger problem with more children and families hurting and traffickers profiting.

Legal Frameworks and Technological Interventions Against Trafficking

There are multiple laws and acts that have been created over the years. Some have worked better than others but attempts have been made to combat this serious crime. Over twenty years ago, the United Nations proceeded to pass the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, which helped mainly women and children and raise more concern to the public outlook (McGhee 5). The United States along with other countries ratified and uses the protocol now. Many states across the United States have different legislation on human trafficking. Obviously there has not been much notice towards human trafficking because it is still a huge, ongoing crime but through the help of the people there can be more done. Individuals should educate themselves on local and state laws pertaining to human trafficking and asking representatives what they are doing about it. Additionally, the use of technology has increased with the help of tracking down traffickers. Law-enforcement can pose as a child on the internet, leading the trafficker right into their trap. The child trafficker communicates with whom they believe to be a young child or minor, who once again are easy to prey on, and is set up to meet in an undisclosed place. This method has worked on multiple occasions and even last year. Homeland Security Investigations was able to remove over 3,500 traffickers in the community which was up 18% from the previous year (ICE HSI). Establishing national-level task groups online to fight against more traffickers should be a bigger deal that helps the end of human trafficking. Since children are more prone to being lured online, they need to learn internet safety and not to talk to anyone because of what it could possibly lead to. Setting up stricter websites that do not allow the selling of human beings should be made and put into effect as soon as possible. There are sites online mainly on the dark web that sell people but there has been little done to ban the sites. There should also be something done about the dark web, since it is a good hiding spot for traffickers to sell their victims and get away with no punishment. The dark web is a terrible place where children are exploited and child pornography can be sold which is another reason it should be shut down. There are many good and bad aspects of technology but using it to track down human traffickers is one way to put an end to human trafficking.

Community Engagement and Individual Responsibility in Combating Trafficking

In local communities, individuals should be more informed on what is going on with trafficking and understand the issue that this is happening right now all over the United States. There are campaigns across the board on helping victims and taking down human trafficking as a whole. Individuals can volunteer their time and effort at a number of different anti-trafficking campaigns locally around communities. If people do not have as much time to give to these campaigns, there is always the option to donate money towards those campaigns. People should be taught about what each of these signs look like in victims and trafficking and know there is a human trafficking hotline to call for any suspicious activity or signs. Suspicious signs can include dependency on a person usually their employer, physical signs of abuse, restriction to basic rights, avoiding eye contact, and in poor condition or malnourished (Dettmeijer-vermeulen 219). Showing dependency is the biggest one because the victim wants to please and listen most likely so they are not punished or hurt by their trafficker. Of course this is a huge issue that can not be abolished overnight but coming together and working to end it could be how this is taken down. This problem is happening across every state in the United States and there has to be more done to stop this crime.

Conclusion: A Unified Approach to Eradicate Human Trafficking

Human trafficking with children has only grown as an issue over time and will only become a bigger, more dangerous issue if it is not dealt with. There has been much progress throughout the years to take a stand on this issue and try to dismantle it, but there definitely has to be much more done. If the community and individuals came together and volunteered the time to learn more about human trafficking there could be more people with knowledge on the issue who can help combat the problem. Human trafficking happens everywhere across the United States. Having the government, local communities, and individuals care and come together will put steps toward ending human trafficking and saving lives. Many people do not realize how huge and serious human trafficking has become. Knowing and realizing the signs of human trafficking could save someone’s life.

Works Cited

1. Currie-McGhee, Leanne. 'Human Rights in Focus: Human Trafficking.' 2018. SIRS Issues Researcher, https://login.proxy071.nclive.org/login?url=https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2260156839?accountid=11048.
2. Davidson, Tish. 'Human Trafficking.' Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health, edited by Gale, 1st edition, 2013. Credo Reference, https://login.proxy071.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/galegph/human_trafficking/0?institutionId=5106.
3. Department of Homeland Security. “ICE HSI Helps Remove More than 3,500 Sexual Predators from Community, up 18% over Last Year.” ICE, 2019, www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-hsi-helps-remove-more-3500-sexual-predators-community-18-over-last-year.
4. Dettmeijer-vermeulen, Corinne. 'Trafficking in Human Beings. Ten Years of Independent Monitoring by the Dutch Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings.' European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, vol. 18, no. 3, 2012, pp. 283-302. ProQuest, https://login.proxy071.nclive.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1032944314?accountid=11048, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10610-011-9162-y.
5. Kiss, Ligia, et al. 'Exploitation, violence, and suicide risk among child and adolescent survivors of human trafficking in the Greater Mekong Subregion.' JAMA pediatrics 169.9 (2015): e152278-e152278. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2430958.
6. Schauer, Edward J., and Elizabeth M. Wheaton. 'Sex Trafficking Worldwide.' Encyclopedia of Adolescence, Roger J. R. Levesque, Springer Science+Business Media, 2nd edition, 2018. Credo Reference, https://login.proxy071.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/sprgstv/sex_trafficking_worldwide/0?institutionId=5106.
7. Talamo, Lex. “Victim: I was 4 when my dad started trafficking me.” Shreveport Times, 23 May 2016, https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/watchdog/2016/05/23/victims-sex-trafficking-share-their-stories/83538332/