What is the history of human trafficking?
All throughout history, a form of human slavery has been taken place. For example, the slave trade began in around the 1400's and continued for many years (Yong). There is also historic evidence of slaves being used long before that for forced labor purposes. Slavery has always been a major part of history and has always shown how one race, gender, ethnicity, or origin has an advantage over another. There has never been a certain date or year when human trafficking became popular. It is assumed that is has been happening for many years, but only recently has awareness started to come about. However, there have been certain moments throughout history when actions have been taken to put a stop to human trafficking.
"In 1904, the International Agreement for the Suppression of "White Slave Traffic" was signed and put into action" (Yong). The purpose of this agreement was to prevent women of all ages from being involved in "white slave traffic" (Yong). "White slavery referred to forcing or deceiving a white woman or girl into prostitution" (Yong). This was one of the very first steps taken against human trafficking, even though it was directed more towards European women than American women.
In 1927, the League of Nations was founded after World War II. The main purpose of the League of Nations was to keep peace throughout the world and to prevent another world war (Yong). They also focused on major international issues, including human trafficking (Yong). The League of Nations also took a step to gain more insight about this issue by performing two studies, one in the East and one in the West, to find more about the status of human trafficking (Yong).
These are just two of the major things done to raise awareness to stop human trafficking. If you want to read about other incidents, the link is below. No one knows when human trafficking started because there is never a record of the first human trafficking incident since most of it was performed secretly. As time went on, however, human trafficking has become more popular and more of an issue. The human trafficking industry has grown and has started to affect more than just women.
"In 1904, the International Agreement for the Suppression of "White Slave Traffic" was signed and put into action" (Yong). The purpose of this agreement was to prevent women of all ages from being involved in "white slave traffic" (Yong). "White slavery referred to forcing or deceiving a white woman or girl into prostitution" (Yong). This was one of the very first steps taken against human trafficking, even though it was directed more towards European women than American women.
In 1927, the League of Nations was founded after World War II. The main purpose of the League of Nations was to keep peace throughout the world and to prevent another world war (Yong). They also focused on major international issues, including human trafficking (Yong). The League of Nations also took a step to gain more insight about this issue by performing two studies, one in the East and one in the West, to find more about the status of human trafficking (Yong).
These are just two of the major things done to raise awareness to stop human trafficking. If you want to read about other incidents, the link is below. No one knows when human trafficking started because there is never a record of the first human trafficking incident since most of it was performed secretly. As time went on, however, human trafficking has become more popular and more of an issue. The human trafficking industry has grown and has started to affect more than just women.
What is the root cause of human trafficking?
"Human trafficking is market-driven criminal industry that is based on the principles of supply and demand, like drugs or arms trafficking" ("Human Trafficking"). Human trafficking does not exist only because of the high vulnerability people are to exploitation, but is fueled by people's demand for cheap labor and sex ("Human Trafficking"). According to Fight Slavery Now, there are three main root causes to human trafficking. They are "A culture that accepts treating women as objects that can be bought and sold", "The ready market for cheap labor and cheap goods", and "Poverty and desperation which maintain a pool of vulnerable victims" ("Root Causes"). Poverty is a main root cause of human trafficking because without poverty, people would not need to look to other ways to provide for their family. Gender inequality is also a big issue that goes along with trafficking. If women were seen as equal and not objects, they would never be used and taken advantage of.
In order for an act to be considered human trafficking, the A-M-P method must be used. A-M-P stands for Action, Means, and Purpose ("Human Trafficking"). Action is what is done, means is how it is done, and purpose is why it was done ("What Is Human Trafficking?"). If the situation involves a minor and commercial sex, it is automatically human trafficking regardless if any force, fraud, or coercion was being used ("Human Trafficking"). |
How many people does human trafficking impact?
Human trafficking is a big issue, but the total number of people it affects is not known. However, the International Labor Organization estimates that there are about 20.9 million victims who are trafficked every year ("Human Trafficking-Overview"). This number is estimated that 55% are women or girls and that 5.5 million of the victims are children ("Human Trafficking-Overview"). Of this 20.9 million, "9.1 million (44 percent) have been trafficked internally or internationally" (USCCB). Even though women are 55% of the human trafficking victims in general, they are 98% of sex trafficking victims (USCCB).
Human trafficking not only affects the 20.9 million people world wide, it also affects the families and loved ones of the victims. Most of them lose a child and are left wondering where they are and if they are alive or not. Even if the child is not taken from them, they are still forced to watch their child suffer and are often incapable of doing anything to stop it.
Human trafficking not only affects the 20.9 million people world wide, it also affects the families and loved ones of the victims. Most of them lose a child and are left wondering where they are and if they are alive or not. Even if the child is not taken from them, they are still forced to watch their child suffer and are often incapable of doing anything to stop it.
Does human trafficking have a greater impact on different areas geographically?
Human trafficking is a global-wide issue and affects all countries one way or another. Every country is either affected by being a country of origin, a country of destination, or both. In the United States, Canada, and developed countries of the European Union, there are about 1.5 million victims who are in conditions of forced labor, sexual exploitation, or servitude (USCCB). Most of the time, trafficking begins in less developed countries and taken to more developed countries ("What Is Human Trafficking?"). In less developed countries, people are more vulnerable to trafficking because of poverty, conflict, or other conditions ("What Is Human Trafficking?"). Europe is the main destination for traffickers and a lot of victims from Asia are trafficked to Europe ("What Is Human Trafficking?").
Are there any other social justice issues involved?
There are many other social issues involved with human trafficking. Poverty is a main one. A lot of people in poverty need to find a way to provide for their family and forced into human trafficking based on false promises. Other social issues include educational opportunity, access to health care, gender discrimination, racial equality and even issues of environmental justice ("Root Causes"). All of these issues prevent families from succeeding in life. Gender discrimination is a problem because if women are seen as less than a person and a treated like an object, they will be used without regard to their health ("Root Causes"). Environmental justice is an issue because the weather will destroy people's homes and kill many animals, which are a lot of people's main form of income ("Root Causes"). All of these issues plus more combine together to make more people more susceptible to human trafficking. If we can help defeat these issues, we will help lower the risk of human trafficking.
Works Cited Page
- "Human Trafficking." National Resource Center. Polaris, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http://traffickingresourcecenter.org/type-trafficking/human-trafficking>.
- "Human Trafficking-Overview." Human Trafficking. Polaris, 2015. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/overview>.
- "Root Causes." Fight Slavery Now. N.p., 27 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http://fightslaverynow.org/why-fight-there-are-27-million-reasons/economics-and-human-trafficking/root-causes/>.
- USCCB. "Human Trafficking." Human Trafficking. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2015. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/human-trafficking/>.
- "What Is Human Trafficking?" UNODC. N.p., 2015. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html>.
- Yong, Patricia. "Timeline of Human Trafficking." Rutgers University Campus Coalition Against Trafficking. N.p., 2011. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/~yongpatr/425/final/timeline.htm>