Human Trafficking
Millions of young women and children are trafficked every year and are never found. Young people are being targeted by older men and women with malicious intent to use them for money. Right now everywhere, there are women and children being trafficked. Many families think “that’ll never happen to my kids because they know better,” but every day there are many types of people getting kidnapped and sold off as nothing but a product to someone. Whether it be sex trafficking or labor trafficking, young people are more vulnerable and naive. They are easier to target because they aren’t aware of their surroundings as much as an older person. There are many solutions to help prevent human trafficking, but they some aren’t as effective. Many solutions seem to be very hard to accomplish and very hard to obtain. The best solution to help decrease the number of victims is safe housing and protection. This solution helps out both the community and the victim. Human trafficking has increased dramatically over recent decades and is putting our children in danger.
Countless women and children and found in the unending cycle that is human trafficking. Human trafficking consists of “recruitment, harboring or transporting people into a situation of exploitation through the use of violence, deception or coercion and forced to work against their will” (What is Human Trafficking?). People with malicious intent enslave others, using them and forcing them into a situation without any escape. It seems that the criminals behind this epidemic lose their humanity and forget that these are people; Living human beings and it doesn’t seem to stop them from kidnapping innocent people for the benefit of others. Victims can be trafficked in many ways; there is “forced prostitution, forced labor, forced begging, forced criminality, domestic servitude, forced marriage, and forced organ removal” (What is Human Trafficking?). All of the many different ways to be trafficked have one thing in common: they all force others without their consent. Many men, women, and children live in constant fear because they’re taken advantage of and don’t know how to escape.
Women seem to be a primary target of offenders because they are forced into sex trafficking. Because of social forms, women actually sell more than men do due to their gender. They are most likely used in the sex trafficking industry and are sold off to by men of authority. However, children, boys, and girls are also targeted because they are easy to lure and more vulnerable. Children are very predictable and easily tricked into being kidnapped or being lured into a secluded area. Not only that, but men are trafficked but for other reasons such as labor trafficking or forced criminality. Men are used for their muscle. They are either sold off to work in factories against their will or even to do the hard labor that no one wants to do. For men, it’s very dangerous for them to be sold because when they don’t need them anymore, they are either killed or returned. However, the predators usually kill them because they don’t want any witnesses. Human trafficking in numbers, “51% of identified victims of trafficking are women, 28% children, and 21% men” (What is Human Trafficking?). These statistics only seem to be growing as time goes by and is affecting many communities that once were safe.
Human Trafficking dates back when white people owned slaves. The transatlantic slave trade from Africa is one of the prime examples of human trafficking. The transatlantic slave trade was during the Sixteenth century through the Nineteenth century and continued in the United States after the 13 colonies gained Independence from Great Britain. During this time, “Slaves were forced into labor to support the agrarian economy” (Human Trafficking). Issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln declared that all slaves, in Confederate states, are free. Although slavery was abolished, “towards the end of the nineteenth century, ‘white slavery” became more relevant (Human Trafficking). This involved white women and girls were forced into prostitution. Thus, igniting the widespread problem of Human Trafficking. This “practice” has been around for as long as this country has been built and it isn’t receiving as much attention compared to other controversial norms in today's society.
This problem has become a worldwide epidemic. Some religions in other countries such as Dubai follow and support the idea of arranged marriages while in the United States people are trafficked for different reasons. For example, “there are millions of women and children enslaved in the human trafficking industry” (Erin, Sex). Human trafficking is a global issue that needs to be addressed because the statistics will only grow higher and will eventually get out of hand. Not only that, in Arizona, “1 in 3 at-risk and homeless youth have been trafficked” (Human Trafficking Recovery Program). It seems to be affecting the youth even though many programs are trying to save them from going down the wrong path.
Human Trafficking is a problem because of poverty, lack of education, and financial issues. Many people in low-income areas seem to be the most affected by human trafficking because they have no sort of income, so they result in sex trafficking. Some women voluntarily go into the sex trafficking industry because they're in desperate need of money. Then, once they are involved in the industry, they won’t be able to get out because of how dangerous the industry is. Many women and girls are either murdered and kept as slaves for the rest of their lives. Thus, making the problem even worse because they can’t get help from the police because it’s illegal to be in that industry and it’s dangerous to speak out to others for help. If these victims aren’t saved, they’re either never to be seen again by their loved ones or are brutally murdered by their offender. If the Problem isn’t solved, more and more young women and children will be living with fear. Eventually, it will start to affect education rates and the unemployment rate. It will also make the streets that were once safe, dangerous. There have been many attempts to solve this problem, but it seems like they all end up the same; losing more and more innocent people while the solution fails.
To begin with, safe housing and protection is a reasonable solution to help lower the number of women in the industry. The Human Trafficking Recovery Program in Arizona is combating human trafficking by providing “safe housing to 48 young women (plus up to 12 babies) and 12 young male survivors” (Human trafficking). Getting victims off of the streets and out of that industry makes a big difference in their lives. The safe housing includes different types of rooms that help the victim emotionally, mentally and physically. For example, one of the rooms is called the “Dream Room” which helps build trust with different types of people. This is especially helpful for the victims because the safe housing also includes “a 24-hour trauma-informed security team facilities a camera and security system to provide for the safety of all the survivors” (Human trafficking). This solution helps the victim regain their identity because when they are in the human trafficking industry, they are no longer a person, they are a property; they have no name, no home, no place society. This is a place where they can regain their humanity. The main challenge with this solution is how to limited it is. There are tons of people in the industry and not enough safe housings for everyone.
Another approach to solving human trafficking would be addressing the vulnerability to trafficking. In the Human Rights Fact Sheet series, it explains how it’s a smarter idea to address the more vulnerable factors that make it easier for human traffickers to exploit people, “these factors include poverty and inequality as well as human rights violations such as discrimination and gender-based violence.” With the help of the communities, everyone could live a better life. It’s a win-win scenario for everyone. It doesn’t take much for people to donate old clothes of food. It could help save many people in poverty and help people in the human trafficking industry. Improving many people’s economic stability could be empowering to many because it could empower them into a new life and new beginning. It could have more children in schools in low-income areas and have more safety in sketchy neighborhoods. The only challenge in the way of this solution is how much time it would take. Our economy is inconstant and resources become very limited, so it’s hard for people to donate clothes that they need themselves. It isn’t guaranteed that a community could see a difference automatically.
Finally, a possible solution would be to reach out to the younger audience and warn them about the situation. In the article, “15 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking” it explains that organizations should encourage students to “be aware of how traffickers target school-aged children” (15 ways). This solution brings awareness to the problem and makes children be alert at all times. Not only that, but it also would give great advice to kids like not to walk home alone in the dark or to always have a buddy with you when you’re outside. This solution doesn’t need money at all and is a great way to keep children safe. If children hear it from other people, it’s most likely going to stick. It could successfully work because it “includes modern slavery in their curricula” which makes them more aware by learning about two topics at once (15 ways). The benefits of this solution would be that it helps kids be more cautious and help prevent human trafficking. Not only that, but maintain a safe environment for children. The only concern with this solution if the children will take the advice and use it. There are many children nowadays that are unaware of life problems and don’t necessarily care about learning them either. It would be a big concern if a kid walked out of his house and did not apply the advice that people gave them.
The best solution to help prevent human trafficking is safe housing and protection. Safe housing is more effective than the other solutions because it gets Men, Women, and children off of the streets. However, some people believe that safe housing has holes in its solutions. For example, some houses don’t take in boys and men, “Domestic violence shelters are often a resource for trafficking victims; however, few have housing services for men” (Safe Housing). This is very controversial because all victims should receive care and medical attention without being denied that based on their gender. Not only that, but housing is another service that law enforcement and service providers report is limited. A lot of houses actually limit how many people they take in, especially ones with bad records, “Transitional and permanent housing is scarce for everyone but in particular for domestic minors with felony convictions and victims with mental health or substance abuse issues” (Addressing). There have been victims who aren’t being treated or looked at because the housing situation is complicated. However, a lot of clinics do the opposite. Although many clinics can’t take in everyone, they take in as many as they can. If there isn’t any room they either still help by giving them food and water or by simply doing medical check-ups. Whether it be a simple physical or food and water, many specialists do what they can to help out. Also, many safe housing clinics for survivors actually do take in male survivors. A survivor shouldn’t be denied services because of his gender, “We provide safe housing to 48 young women (plus up to 12 babies) and 12 young male survivors in luxury suits apartments that we call the dream rooms” (Human). There are other solutions like addressing the weak spots. This solution addresses major problems that contribute to human trafficking. For example, addressing the economy. Human trafficking seems to be more frequent in low-income areas and with this solution it would address many other problems. The other solution would be to bring awareness to children and making sure that they are informed. This solution gives advice to kids and lets them realize how dangerous human trafficking is. However, these solutions won’t work if they aren’t taken seriously. For example, addressing weak spots is a lot for our Government to even process. That solution is very hard to complete and needs to increase our economy for it to even work. The other solution, bringing awareness to children, has some concerns. Some children don’t really take the situation seriously and usually goof off. Safe housing and protection actually help build trust within the victim. This solution helps the victims start a new life and try to make something of themselves, “…62% program completion rate, a 25% transfer to higher level of care rate, and a 13% drop out/ relapse rate” (Human). Although the program has a 13% drop out rate, with the devotion if the victim and with the help of the services, it could be very rewarding for the victim.
Human Trafficking does put a toll on those who are greatly affected. It leaves many people to wonder why and how this problem all started. There have been attempts to solve this problem like safe housing for victims, therapeutic healing, advanced education, and many other recovery programs. People will live in constant fear if the United States doesn’t fix this epidemic. The numbers will only grow. Without safe housing and protection, there will be more men, women, and children on the streets. This not only affects the victim, but it also affects the community and the economy. Safe housing and protection is the best solution because it helps victims get off the streets and away from their predator. If the issue isn’t addressed in the next couple of years, we will be seeing more and more people disappear into the human trafficking industry. Many solutions could help lower the number of people in the Human Trafficking industry: solutions like opening up more safe housing for victims, addressing the vulnerable problems that allow for human trafficking and reaching out to different schools to try to bring awareness to kids that they should be cautious of human trafficking. Right now there are men, women, and children in the human trafficking industry suffering and nothing changes until it’s too late. How many more people have to go missing to make society realize that it could easily be your loved one next?