Human trafficking is defined as the action of moving an individual or individuals from one geographical area to another without their consent. It need not be across boarders asbelieved by a large percentage of individuals but it can be within the same country (trans-nationally). People are in most instances trafficked due to various reasons but in most instances, they are trafficked in order to be forced into hard labor, be forced into commercial sex workers and at times they may be trafficked in order for their organs to be extracted or further be used as surrogates in their new ‘homes’. Forced marriages have also been considered to be incidents of human trafficking due to the fact the lady has not consented to being married and hence she was coerced to be married off. It is normally said to be a violation of an individual’s rights and is not allowed globally. This essay will look at the history of human trafficking and further will look at the various steps that might be taken to combat it.
History of Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is an act which is normally likened to the modern day slavery, and it has its traces back to the slavery era due to it having all the characteristics similar to those depicted during slavery. This may be referred to as black slavery where the African’s were brought to America, Asia or Europe in order for them to be used as field workers. However, in the early 19th century, black slavery was abolished both in Europe and later in America and with it came ‘white slavery’. This is said to be the first instances of human trafficking where the women where always forced into prostitution through various methods such as drugs, force or deceit. Unlike ‘black slavery’ which was not only legal but was also tolerated by the government, white slavery was fought against by the government when it emerged and various conferences were held in order to stop this menace.
These conferences are then considered to be the first conferences and these agreements against white slavery are then considered to be first agreements that would protect individuals from human trafficking acts. The first agreement was signed in Paris, in 1904, the International Agreement for the Suppression of “Which Slave Traffic,” which was mainly meant to provide ways that the victims would be repatriated. This however, did not really criminalize human trafficking.
Human trafficking was then first criminalized in 1910 when the International Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Trade (1910) agreement was signed. This criminalization was further entrenched during the First World War when the League of Nations was formed. Its formation enabled the decisions arrived at to be complied with by the members due to the possibility of pressure being exerted by the organization.
The League of Nations further brought the issue of the trafficking of not only white women but everybody in the society, due to the rampant nature of human trafficking incidences in Middle East and Africa. In 1921, the International Convention for the Suppression of Traffic in Women and Children was signed. It was signed mostly to stop the issue of cross-border prostitution which was at that moment considered to be instances of human trafficking.
After the Second World War, the United Nations was formed and in 1949 the members then adopted the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others in 1949 which was supposed to stop this issue of prostitution and sex exploitation. In addition to this, the various members ratified the United Nations Human Right Convention which had in place the ergaomnes, which slavery was among the fundamental rights. In the early twenty first century, the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (2000) which not only incorporated the forced labor migration, slavery and organ harvesting to the definition of human trafficking but is also considered to be the first agreement to incorporate the issue of men also being victims of human trafficking.
How to Combat Human Trafficking
In 2000, the United Nations then criminalized human trafficking under its Protocols of Transnational Organized Crime. This criminalization of human trafficking has led to the decrease of the instances of human trafficking in the country. However, the modern human trafficking has led to the increase in the forced labor migration but the instances of sexual exploitation. However, over the years various steps have been taken in order to fight human trafficking in the various countries. These include;
Firstly, the public should be educated on their rights. With this education the various individuals will be able to know when they will be deceived in order for him or she to be human trafficked. This is since the individuals are at times deceived to think that they will have better opportunities in the places they are taken to. With this education they will be empowered on how to handle these instances. The various members of the community should be educated from an early age. This may be through the Sunday school programs or in the schools. In addition to this, the members of the society should further be educated on the issue of human trafficking and further empower them to know the various indicators of human trafficking and also to clear the various myths that surround this issue of human trafficking. As it is always said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. With this prevention steps then the issue may be tackled efficiently.
Secondly, the government and the other officials should have in place measures which will enable the members of the public to report the various instances of human trafficking within their society. These organizations should have in place various programs which will help create awareness of this issue of human trafficking, this awareness will enable the various people spot instances of human trafficking and to tell them how they can be able to combat it. In addition to this, the government has a mandate to have in place measures which will enable the victims to be reintegrated back into the society. These include, having educational programs and job opportunities and also the financial assistance to the victims. This is since it was realized that poverty is among the main reasons that lead to individuals be victims of trafficking.
Thirdly, the media personnel can be able to help combat this issue of human trafficking by airing various debates or programs that are anti-human trafficking and this will then help change the perception of the general public. This perception change will enable the members of the public have in place measures which will help the victims of trafficking to be able to be reintegrated back to the community.
Fourthly, the international community can help in combating this menace by having an agreed policy of non-tolerance to human trafficking and further having laws and policies that tend to stop the occurrence of these acts. The UNODC, helps the member states to draft laws and also to help the members have in place strategies that would help stop trafficking within their boundaries. It is the duty of all the member states to try to be able to stop trafficking since if the rules are similar in the various countries, the offenders will not have an easy time as they carry out this vice.
Lastly, the members of the public should always have in place programs that they volunteer and donate to the non-governmental organizations which are trying to stop this issue of trafficking. This is since, with the cooperation of the members of the public, human trafficking will be able to be prevented within the society and the victims will always be protected from further occurrence and even rehabilitated whereas the offenders will be prosecuted.
References
Academy for Educational Development. (2016). Approaches to Combat Trafficking. Retrieved June 21, 2016, from Humantraficking.org: http://www.humantrafficking.org/content/combat_trafficking
Althoff, A. J. (2013, August). 5 Ways You Can Help Combat Human Trafficking. Retrieved June 21, 2016, from Today Christian Woman: http://www.todayschristianwoman.com/articles/2013/august/how-you-can-combat-sex-trafficking.html
Oster, G. (2015, October 3). The History of Human Trafficking. Retrieved June 21, 2016, from Hankering for History: http://hankeringforhistory.com/the-history-of-human-trafficking/
