Difference between revisions of "Human Trafficking"
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==What is Human Trafficking?== | ==What is Human Trafficking?== | ||
| − | Human trafficking is seen as “modern day slave trading.” The UN defines TIP as the “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons” by means of threat, coercion, or fraud for the “purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include…the exploitation of the prostitution of others…forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery…[and] servitude.” | + | Human trafficking is seen as “modern day slave trading.”<ref>Amnesty International. 2008. “Trafficking of Persons: Amnesty International Fact Sheet.” Available at http://www.amnestyusa.org/women/trafficking/pdf/trafficking_of_persons.pdf</ref> The UN defines TIP as the “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons” by means of threat, coercion, or fraud for the “purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include…the exploitation of the prostitution of others…forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery…[and] servitude.”<ref>United Nations. 2008. “What is human trafficking?” from UN.GIFT: Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking. Available at http://www.ungift.org/ungift/en/humantrafficking/index.html</ref> Thus, there are two forms of TIP: sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Sexual exploitation includes “abuse within the commercial sex industry,” while exploitation through labor includes “traditional chattel slavery, forced labor, and debt bondage.”<ref>U.S. Department of State 2008:7</ref> They both involve moving a person from one place to another through force, coercion, and violence to exploit a person for profit.<ref>United Nations 2008</ref> Victims are subjected to one or both of these forms. |
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| − | Sex Trafficking | + | ==Sex Trafficking== |
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| − | For human traffickers, sexual exploitation is a “high profit and low-risk endeavor” because they use “several means to prevent victims from escaping.” They use physical and psychological restraints such as violence and drugs; they also instill the victims with fear and make them believe they are the offenders and should blame themselves. As a result, the victims’ quality of life, health, and well-being are all harshly undermined. Sexual violence used in trafficking can result in depression and thoughts of suicide, physical injuries such as broken bones and stab wounds, and sometimes death. The high risk of sexually transmitted disease, pregnancy, and unsafe abortions all threaten the reproductive health of the victims and access to health care is seriously restricted. Substance abuse is also a major issue because women and children often turn to drugs and alcohol in order to cope with their situation. | + | Because human traffickers often target the vulnerable, “poverty, gender-based discrimination and a history of sexual and physical violence” are all characteristics that make women and children susceptible to sexual exploitation and trade.<ref>United Nations 2008:5</ref> Traffickers abduct and sell people through deception and the promise of a better job and life. Many of these vulnerable people feel this is their only and best economical option. They are willing to trust and consent to the terms and conditions of traffickers not knowing they will soon be entering sexual servitude. |
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| + | For human traffickers, sexual exploitation is a “high profit and low-risk endeavor” because they use “several means to prevent victims from escaping.” They use physical and psychological restraints such as violence and drugs; they also instill the victims with fear and make them believe they are the offenders and should blame themselves. As a result, the victims’ quality of life, health, and well-being are all harshly undermined. Sexual violence used in trafficking can result in depression and thoughts of suicide, physical injuries such as broken bones and stab wounds, and sometimes death. The high risk of sexually transmitted disease, pregnancy, and unsafe abortions all threaten the reproductive health of the victims and access to health care is seriously restricted. Substance abuse is also a major issue because women and children often turn to drugs and alcohol in order to cope with their situation. | ||
Labor Trafficking | Labor Trafficking | ||
Revision as of 13:03, 11 February 2009
Human Trafficking: A Violation of Human Rights
Trafficking in persons (TIP), a threat to the lives and rights of human beings, is a multi-dimensional phenomenon occurring worldwide. The most recent United States Trafficking Report (June 2008), released by Condoleezza Rice, estimates that 800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked across international borders each year.[1] In actuality, the number of persons trafficked is substantially higher; the TIP report does not include the vast numbers of people trafficked within their own countries. Human trafficking is also severely under-reported because of its highly illegal nature and because victims are often times too afraid to report such a heinous crime.[2]
Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations estimate the actual number of trafficked persons to be at least two million. The International Labor Organization (ILO) associated with the United Nations (UN) gauges that there are about “12.3 million people in forced labor, bonded labor, forced child labor, and sexual servitude at any given time.”[3] Despite any ambiguities in these numbers, two statistics are agreed upon: approximately 80 percent of the victims are girls and women and about 50 percent are children.[4]
What is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is seen as “modern day slave trading.”[5] The UN defines TIP as the “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons” by means of threat, coercion, or fraud for the “purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include…the exploitation of the prostitution of others…forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery…[and] servitude.”[6] Thus, there are two forms of TIP: sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Sexual exploitation includes “abuse within the commercial sex industry,” while exploitation through labor includes “traditional chattel slavery, forced labor, and debt bondage.”[7] They both involve moving a person from one place to another through force, coercion, and violence to exploit a person for profit.[8] Victims are subjected to one or both of these forms.
