Traditionally, slaves were sold off as non-human property and were controlled by violence and were usually subjected to unlimited sexual exploitation from their masters or anyone whom their masters wished to entertain. They were not allowed to have any possessions or keep any money. However, many people nowadays usually think that this old practice was long gone after civilization, democracy and human rights activists emerged. Unfortunately, every year large numbers of men, women and children fall victims to the hands of human traffickers. Human trafficking is a criminal activity that entails transfer, harboring, recruitment or receipt of people through the use of threat, force or any other forms of abduction, coercion, deception or fraud. Human trafficking is a major violation to human rights. It has been observed that these acts of trafficking are more prevalent on women and young girls who are sold off as sex objects. In this essay, I will discuss how the notions of choice and consent are entangled in human trafficking and point out some of the organizations that are working round the clock to ensure that human trafficking has been contained.
What is trafficking? This is a question of debate that has been handled from different facets by different organizations who have put efforts in eliminating sex trafficking. Some anti-trafficking activists believe that all forms of prostitution are types of trafficking while others believe that trafficking should only apply where individuals are forced, coerced or defrauded into sex trade. Sex trafficking has proven to be particularly immune to eradicate since some of the people do it out of choice. However, it is very important to know that the law disregards the consent of a trafficked person if any of the violent and fraudulent means were applied in carrying out the trafficking. For instance, it disregards the consent of child when it is evident that force or deceptive methods were used to influence the child’s decisions.
Over the years, America has become prominent as both an origin and destination of human trafficking. It is for this reason that many organizations have emerged to salvage the situation. One notable organization that is devoted to ending human trafficking is the Polaris project. It advocates for stronger federal and state laws on human trafficking to be implemented. It also provides clients and victims of human trafficking with their services. In addition, they created the National Human Trafficking Resource center hotline which is meant to create awareness and for reporting acts tantamount to human trafficking. A similar project is the one dubbed ‘The End Demand,illinois ‘ it has put efforts to transform the response to sex trafficking and prostitution in Illinois. It advocates for prosecution of traffickers, pimps and anyone who profits from the said business dealings.
An estimated 12 million individuals are currently being trafficked all over the world, with 80% of this figure being composed of women and children. Surprisingly, anyone is vulnerable to being trafficked, the rich, poor, educated, young, old, rural or urban citizens can all fall prey to these acts of trafficking. There is however a certain group of people who have a high degree of being trafficked especially in America, these are the homeless youths, refugees, poor people, oppressed and undocumented immigrants. These are our helpless fellow human beings that ought to be protected from their predators; human traffickers. Therefore, I can conclude that it does not require ones consent or choice to be trafficked, trafficking is a criminal activity punishable by law and ones consent does not count.
Works Cited
Muftic, Lisa R., and Mary A. Finn. "Health Outcomes Among Women Trafficked for Sex in the
United States: A Closer Look." Journal of interpersonal violence (2013).
Marisa,S, Reseach gate(2010), whatis choice? Examining sex trafficking legislation,
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/228165418_What_is_Choice_Examining_Sex_Trafficking_Legislation_Through_the_Lenses_of_Rape_Law_and_Prostitution
Retrieved April, 4,2013
Oath against human trafficking,what is human trafficking
http://www.mcso.us/public/human_trafficking/what_is.html
Retrieved April,4,2013
P84Territo, Leonard, and George Kirkham. International Sex Trafficking of Women & Children:
Understanding the Global Epidemic. Flushing, NY: Looseleaf Law Publications, 2010. Print.
Polaris project, North starblog,The power of survivor voices on human Trafficking Awareness Day,
http://www.polarisproject.org/blog Retrieved April 4,2013
