A Domestic and International Epidemic
INTRODUCTION
The word “slavery” is a word with many meanings and ideas conceived by nations, cultures and peoples all over the world. However, at the core slavery is any form of activity that forces one human being to be dependent and at the mercy of others, a loss of freedom, and the definitive crime against humanity. People imagine a lot of things when we think of slavery. Some might think back to biblical stories and the Jewish slaves in Egypt or the indentured servitude practices in Western Europe in the 1600s. However, in the United States, the word slavery automatically brings up images of the African-American slaves of the Civil War South in the 1860s. Modern Americans would like to believe that the act of slavery is no longer anything but a part of societies shameful past. However, that is simply not true. Slavery, the buying, selling, or trading of human being for profit, services, or goods against their will is still very active all across the globe and right here in the United States (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2007). Human Trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry spanning throughout multiple nations and one of the most difficult crimes to identify, eliminate, or prevent. It is literally happening at this moment, in neighborhoods, businesses, and store fronts functioning right in plain sight. In order to approach the subject of Human Trafficking with hopes of making effective change it is necessary to understand the slaves, the slavers, and the issues that law enforcement has in eliminating the practice, here in the United States.
HISTORY
“Fundamentally, human trafficking is a deprivation of the most basic entitlements and human rights, and this absence of entitlements and rights limits the ability to achieve a meaningful life” (Logan, 2009). It is a easily one of the most intolerable crimes against humanity and for many it may be shocking that it is possible for such practices to flourish in the modern era. Yet, that is exactly what it is doing. Human Trafficking funnels human beings into either forced labor or, the most common, sex trafficking. Some traffickers run, what appears to be, legitimate business and use trafficked people as unpaid labor; this is common is factories and restaurants. The sex trade is not just a matter of prostitution, girls and women are also, sold as wives, which creates a legal outlet for their illegal human acquisition (Logan, 2009). For the men, women and children living as slaves, they will be stripped of their personal possessions, including money and identification. They are then often taken from their homeland to a foreign country, like the United States, where they do not even speak the language. There are four different ways that people end up under the control of traffickers (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2007).
Kidnapped: It is entirely common for traffickers to simply snatch people off the streets as they see fit. Once under the traffickers control there is little hope of escape.
Tricked: Many people from foreign lands are offered legitimate work, in the United States for example; however, once they are transported they are made into slaves at the mercy of the captors.
Sold: As shocking as it is, a large percentage of trafficked individuals are sold into the slave trade by people acquainted to them or even by members of their own family. In areas of great poverty, selling someone into slavery is the only way to maintain their own livelihood.
Born a Slave: There are, unfortunately, many women and young girls who find themselves with unexpected and unwanted pregnancies. These children are born into the slave trade. Without rescue these boys and girls will know no other life than the one provide by the traffickers.
It seems impossible that this could be occurring right here in the United States, but it has become a very serious concern for law enforcement. One of the hardest aspects is the identification of trafficking. Many of the trafficked are distrustful of police; because police in other countries are participatory in illegal activity, and because they fear being deported. For that reason many modern day slaves will never speak out. So even when police intervene on a trafficking location, the victims are not always eager to help. In fact, they often concur with whatever the slavers have conditioned them to say. The lucrative gains from peddling human beings equals more than $32 billion in recent years; this is more than, both, illegal drug trafficking and illegal weapons sales. While trafficking can be found in nations, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Eastern Europe, the epicenter has been traced to Thailand (Marshall, 2011).
DISCUSSION
While the definition of slavery can be applied to the acts of human traffickers, a new and updated definition on an international level was needed in order to account for all of the different aspects that are involved. In 2000 the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other organizations, like UNICEF established this more detailed definition. "the recruitment, transportation, transfer or harboring or receipt of any person for any purpose or in any form, including the recruitment, transportation, transfer or harboring or receipt of any person by the threat or use of force or by abduction, fraud, deception, coercion or abuse of power for the purposes of slavery, forced labor (including bonded labor or debt bondage) and servitude" (Ashizuka, 2013). This more all-inclusive explanation is intended to allow for the greater criminalization of human trafficking, in any incarnation, and therefore have been greater legal means to direct suspicion and act on those suspicions to effect real change.
However, when dealing with any international crime there are laws, beliefs, and cultural aspects that can impede the goal of ending human trafficking. For example, in some countries gender inequalities may disagree on when a crime has been committed. Women do not necessarily have the same rights or are perceived the same within their own culture compared to an American perspective, for example, and this can lead to difficulties in coming to agreement as to what crimes have been committed and how to address them. That is why international understandings must be reached to make it harder for traffickers to use those cultural differences and varying laws to benefit their business. A prime example of this can be seen in Thailand, where the sex industry, which is primarily fueled by the human traffickers, offers “sex tours” for Japanese businessman (Ashizuka 2013). Few arrests and endeavors are being taken to decrease the continuation of an activity that perpetuates and supports the continuation of human trafficking.
Thailand, like many countries around the world, suffers from mass poverty, unemployment, and hunger. This can make people consider and follow through with things that under different conditions they would never have been considered. Men, women, and children are all potential victims of the slave trade, while most men are kidnapped and tricked into forced labor and sweat shops work, it is women and children, especially young girls, which find themselves forced into prostitution. Thailand is a place where, in some of the poorest areas like the Mae Sai region, 70% of the 800 families polled admitted that they had sold, at least, one daughter into the slave trade in order to save the family’s well-being (PBS, 2012). After more than a decade those numbers have only continued to grow. Some of the girls offered by the traffickers are less than 10 years old. It is estimated that more that nearly 12 million people in the world are living as slaves, approximately 800,000 of those numbers are attributed to the United States alone (Logan, 2009).
On more than one occasion covert operations have been attempted, here in the United States, to indentify and infiltrate human trafficking rings that are active in this country. However, due to the resemblance of such locations as legitimate businesses and the lack of cooperation that they receive from the perpetrators and the trafficked victims it can be incredibly difficult to make arrests and “rescue” these victims. So many of these “sting” operations involved illegal sex trafficking. Again, the sex trade is the most lucrative of industries across the globe. What remains the most shocking aspect is that the bulk of sex trafficked individuals are young girls, many under the age of 10. The internet has contributed to the sex trafficking outlets. It has allowed Japan, the less than distinguished reality, of being responsible for, at least, 80% of the child pornography produced and distributed throughout the world (Ashizuka, 2013).
This is something that makes the crime all the more heinous in ethical eyes. These are children being used for the sexual desires of grown men of all ages. In the United States the illegality of underage sex is serious concern, however, when they are able to infiltrate a prostitution ring, the girls have no identification and will lie about their ages, making the case for law enforcement harder to pursue (Logan, 2009). Many people often ask why the “slaves” do not fight back or attempt to escape? Again, once in a foreign country they are fearful and at a disadvantage, like language barriers and their illegal status, fear keeps them silent. However, the traffickers do much more to maintain control of their property. They often use drugs to create a dependence on the drugs and the slavers to provide them with it. Without question they use physical and sexual abuses to control many. However, it is the threats made against their families and children that often keep the captives silent (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2007).
These people are true victims and the mental and physical abuses suffered represent the most heinous violations of human rights and decency. Many mental health professionals work to explain that slavery comes with a healthy amount of conditioning. These people are, again, stripped of their rights, property and freedom. Many are brought into the trafficking arenas when they are small, they are literally raised in the environment, and it is all they know as normal. This is also true, obviously, of children who are born into the illegal industry. For many of the adults, aside from the fear and other measures taken by the traffickers, many suffer from the kind of conditioning that can be equated to Stockholm syndrome. In the simplest terms Stockholm syndrome refers to the psychological mechanisms that effect people held prisoner for long periods of time. To cope these individuals begin to feel a kinship, affections, and even a sense of loyalty to their captors. This, ultimately, makes rescuing the victims of human trafficking all the harder.
The victims of human trafficking can have a really difficult time healing from the experience even after they have been liberated. Again, it can be difficult to build any trust, because they fear the treatment they would receive from law enforcement and the possibility of being deported. There are a number of physical, emotional, psychological, and medical ramifications of having been kept as a human property. The likelihood of HIV, or AIDS, as well as other sexually transmitted diseases, among the trafficked population is very high. Many will have serious substance addiction when they are rescued which, of course, required intervention. However, it is all of the potential emotional and psychological issues, both long and short-term, that can manifest immediately or in the future that are of concern, as well. For many of the rescued victims, being rescued was the help they needed, and will not admit or believe that they have any residual issues that could interfere with the ability to live a normal, healthy, functioning life (Ashizuka, 2013).
ISSUES
What can be done to change the game on the traffickers and bring about substantial change? Sadly, there is likely no one-size-fits-all answer, which will address the issue in the same way in every country. Supply and demand play a huge role it was allows the human trafficking rings to thrive in modern society. As long as there are men who have a desire for the company if young children, then there will always be traffickers who are willing to provide (Ashizuka, 2013). However, while the United States could make reforms that might empower law enforcement, which does not address the issues in countries and nations around the world. Human trafficking is an international crime and it cannot be identified and addressed without international approaches being implemented. The traffickers rely on the differing ideals, ethics, and laws of dozens of cultures, hiding in plain sight, allowing their business to continue to flourish. One suggestion relies on an initiative called “Athens Ethical Principles against Human Trafficking.” Working under the belief is that stopping human trafficking is a matter of eliminating profits, this document would be signed that would establish new business practices that is aware of trafficking. These international businesses would be taking a stand against engaging or doing business with sources that earn monies through trafficking (Goudie, 2013). Combining these road blocks with harsher and stronger legal penalties and prison sentences, might have some deterring effect on the traffickers and save millions from finding themselves as a slave. Lowering the value of the industry could curb its popularity among wrong-doers.
As it stands, Thailand is slowly losing the battle against human trafficking in their homeland. While new laws were adopted in 2010, in more than 60 different countries, recues remain rare and of all the trafficking that began in Thailand less than 4000 cases resulted in convictions worldwide (Marshall, 2011). This is not making a significant enough impact to really be considered effective or efficient. However, the United States continues to make effort domestically. A recent case that took place in Georgia, personifies the size and brutality of sex trafficking as it invades the United States. Operation Dark Night was the code for a very pointed sting operation that resulted in the arrest of 25 known participants in a Georgia sex trafficking ring. These women, of multiple nationalities, primarily women of Latin and Asian descent, tell stories of being abused, beaten, and deprived of food and water. They relate that were being moved from farms in the area, where they were prostituted to the workers, sometimes up to 50 men in a day. Joaquin Mendez-Hernandez, the leader of this ring, was given the severest sentence; he was convicted and, aside from jail time, is being ordered to pay his victims more than $700,000 in damages (Sanchez, 2013).
SOULTIONS
As explained by a Georgia official, every time a ring is “busted” and the victims liberated, it is hardly a dent in the greater industry. The girls rescued will be replaced in no time and the crime will continue. Even if law enforcement rescues a thousand girls, there are still thousands, millions word wide, that have not been saved (Sanchez, 2014). There is still a lot of room for improvement in fighting the battle against human trafficking. Researchers feel that headway can only be made if four specific areas are focused upon.
Research & Study: A great deal more dedicated research and study needs to conducted regarding the instances, effects, ramifications, and humanitarian concerns involved with the phenomena of human trafficking as a whole. This, alone, could make a huge impact on the approaches used in the future to address this crime against humanity (Logan, 2009),
Training: There needs to be greater education offered to those who may come in contact with the perpetrators of human trafficking and the victims of it. Also, remaining and reeducation as new research arises of law enforcement and legal system representatives (Logan, 2009).
Services & Outreach: Because the victims of human trafficking are not always forthcoming and helpful in their own healing, particularly in the areas of counseling and therapy. There needs to be an innovation of the approaches used to interact with victims. There is also a need for services to acknowledge the diversities of differing cultures and taking that into consideration in order to have greater success with these victims. There is never going to be a one-size-fits-all answer to the treatment of human trafficking victims (Logan, 2009),
Legal Protections: One of the greatest issues involving gaining the cooperation of the victims of trafficking is greater and effective legal protections. Again, many of these victims have been abused and conditioned by their captors and may have a difficult time accusing them of any crime and they may fear that their captor will ultimately get revenge upon them at a later date. The legal system needs to offer greater means to protect victims in proactive ways. Providing this level of safety is essential in improving the relationship between the criminal justice system and the victims, which can only be beneficial in any legal actions pursued (Logan, 2009).
The American legal system is making reforms and increasing their efforts on domestic and international levels to induce a greater impact and deal a “serious blow” to the human trafficking industry. These endeavors involve a multi-organizational and multinational cooperation including the FBI, ICE, and other similar organizations in multiple countries. Major rings have been identified, with arrests made, in a number of states, including Texas and Missouri (US Department of Justice 1). A movement in Thailand is also gaining recognition. So many women find themselves forced or pushed into prostitution and other forms of human trafficking is due, firstly cultural gender inequalities, as well as, the extreme poverty afflicting so many, particularly in rural locales. The effort hopes to break some gender stereotypes and offer greater opportunities young girls and women, to become educated and train for legal and productive work (PBS, 2012). Many feel that this can be a huge contributing factor in stemming the tide of human trafficking in Thailand. These endeavors are valiant efforts but it is prevention that is the ideal goal. It is necessary to make human trafficking a crime that is difficult to accomplish and the consequences are simply too extreme to make it worth the risk. Combining this with improved protections and detection approaches it may be possible to alter the statistics for good.
CONCLUSION
In the end, human trafficking is a lucrative business and it continues to flourish. As long as there is demand, someone will find the means to supply what is desired. There may not be a singular universal solution to the issue of human trafficking, but what cannot be considered is complacency. There is a need for formalized international efforts that makes a stand against the heinous nature of the crime of trafficking. In order to do that a more proactive efforts are needed to understand the industry and determine how best to meet human trafficking head on, once and for all. Ultimately, it is only through reform, reeducation, and a joint goal of removing human trafficking, slavery, and other abuses against humanity from the human paradigm, here in the United States, and across the world, once and for all.
REFERENCES
Ashizuka, T. (2013). "Ted case studies: Women trafficking from thailand to japan (thaiwomen case). TED Case Studies. TED-American EDU, 1. Retrieved from http://www1.american.edu/ted/thaiwomen.htm
Goudie, M. (2013, July 13). Slavery is a $32bn industry so why aren't we following the money trail?. The Guardian, 1. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/jul/15/slavery-industry-money-human-trafficking
Logan, T. K., Walker, R., & Hunt, G. (2009). Understanding human trafficking in the united states. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 10(1), 2-30.
Marshall, A. (2011, July 8). Is thailand losing the battle against human traffickers? Time Magazine, 1. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2082074,00.html
Sanchez, Ray. (2014). Southeast sex-trafficking case exposes horrors of the trade. CNN News. 1. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/19/justice/southeast-sex-trafficking-ring/
PBS. (2012, September 2). Dying to leave human trafficking worldwide: Thailand. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/dying-to-leave/human-trafficking-worldwide/thailand/1464
US Department of Health and Human services. (2007). Human trafficking into and within the united states: A review of the literature US Department of Health and Human Services, 1-54.
US Department of Justice. (2014). Human trafficking prosecution unit. US Department of Justice. 1. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/crm/htpu.php
