Women in this world still find that there are many circumstances that are beyond their control. They find that they may leave to find a new life elsewhere to end up in a situation that they cannot escape. This is the case with human trafficking. These women are promised so many things to find that they end up as modern-day slaves. Yet, in many cases, even the laws have failed these women, because they are not able to identify it early enough to save the women from this mistreatment and abuse.
Against International Laws
While human trafficking is considered an international crime, which means that it is illegal anywhere in the world, it is also one of the most well known problems that occur. The laws make it harder to be able to get away with this crime, but the problem comes from there are so many tricks used to avoid being caught that it makes it hard to be able to find the culprits early on. It is believed that out of 170 cases of violent crimes, in Vancouver, around 50 to 60 percent of them are involving some form of sexual exploitation or human trafficking. There is roughly 5 to 7 billion dollars annual profit for the industry of human trafficking and human smuggling.
Nurses Are Being Better Trained to Notice Human Trafficking
One of the biggest problems involving humans trafficking is that the women are at a greatly increased risk of ending up with any one of numerous physical and mental health problems. More and more areas are becoming aware of the true problem with human trafficking. They are realizing that this is a very real issue. Even Vancouver hospitals are stepping up to teach their nurses to be able to recognize signs of human smuggling or trafficking. This will take some of the burden that has previously solely fallen on the shoulders of the law enforcement in the area.
How Canada Responds to Human Trafficking
When it comes to the idea of prosecuting the people that are selling off taking advantage of these women, it has to be cleared by the Canadian attorney general for the Canadian offenders to be tried. There many possible consequences for people that are being charged with human smuggling or human trafficking. For a first offense in Canada, a person that is charged for doing so to less than 10 people up to $500,000.00 in fines or 10 years in prison. For a person that is caught on a first offense with more than 50 people, the sentence is no less than five to ten years in prison.
Conclusion
With the high risks and the mental and physical health problems that are suffered by the women and men that are victims of human trafficking, it is easy to tell that there needs to be a stronger plan in order to prevent this from becoming an even bigger issue. These people are traveling to be able to find better lives, but they become modern-day slaves. They have no way of being able to stop this from happening, because in most cases the person that helped to get them into the country will take their passports or any other item needed for identity and to prove that they are in the country legally. Without there being stronger laws in order and without the ability to learn it is happening a lot sooner, there will continue to be more causes of this occurring. By putting in laws that will give a better idea of what is happening earlier on, it will be able to help in stopping from these problems getting any more out of hand. No one deserves slavery. It is up to everyone to work together to make sure it ends, for good.
References
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (S.C. 2001, c. 27). (2013, August 30). Retrieved from Justice Laws Website: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/I-2.5/page-46.html?texthighlight=trafficking+human#h-67
Nagel, J. (2013, March 15). Nurses to help detect human trafficking victims. Retrieved October 31, 2013, from Westender: http://www.wevancouver.com/news/198545561.html?mobile=true
Stewart, D. E., & Gajic-Veljanoski, O. (2005, July 5). Human Trafficking: Trafficking in women: the Canadian perspective. CMAJ, 173(1), 25-26. doi:10.1503/cmaj.1041360
