Critical Analysis of a Current Issue: Human Trafficking of Women and Girls

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      Human trafficking of women and girls occurs throughout the world, but is usually hidden from the public. Trafficking refers to both sexual and labor exploitation of victims, usually of females who are most vulnerable due to discrimination, poor economic situations, forced situations, and desperate measures. Although governments are obligated to protect citizens from abuse, victims are often too afraid to report it, and others are detained as prostitutes or illegal citizens, and released into the horrendous cycle again. (amnesty.org)

Areas in the United States Affected by Human Trafficking
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      According to HumanTrafficking.org, "The United States of America is principally a transit and destination country for trafficking in persons," (humantrafficking.org). HumanTrafficking.org is a web resource used for combating human trafficking across the world. I find this fact very alarming because many people in the United States believe that since it is considered a first world country, many dangers such as these are low. Since trafficking is hidden from the public, it is not appropriate to assume any safety and therefore, more people need to be educated on the topic. The website also states that 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked to the United States every year. Fortunately, the U.S. government has taken strong initiative to combat these crimes. The country began monitoring trafficking in 1994, which focused on the trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act was passed in 2000 which increased criminal penalties, offered increased protection and services to victims, and established a cabinet-level federal task force for the issue. (humantrafficking.org)

European Human Trafficking Main Routes

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      Sex at the Margins is a book written by Laura Maria Agustin to detail the human trafficking and similar issues that take place in European countries. Since human trafficking is a world-wide issue, it believe it is important to understand the crime in countries in the world other than America. Also, since women and girls are trafficked back and forth from numerous countries, the crimes are interconnected in the global community. Therefore, every country needs to be targeted to tackle these crimes. The author describes that many women in European countries sell themselves to slavery because of the high costs of living and a feeling of no other choice. The book gives a story from a real victim: "‘I start work at six most evenings and sometimes don’t finish till eight the next morning. I must see up to 30 men a night if all the bills are to be paid. I owe a lot of money to the men who brought me

here," and a response from someone else: "It is hard to hear Aura’s quiet voice over the noises in the Soho street below. She is sitting on the edge of a small double bed. The

sheets are soiled, the floor covered with a stained carpet. Her dark features and highly made-up face belie her age. She is only 17 . . ." (Agustin, Laura Maria). The author further explains that poor children from Eastern Europe, including Aura, are trapped in prostitution in London. It is not unusual to hear about sex trafficking in Europe as females from all around the globe are trafficked to the countries and vice versa. An example the author gave was the increase in human trafficking for specific events brought to a certain area such as the World Cup. According to the reading, around 40,000 women were brought to Germany to "service" the fans, around one-third of them being from Central and Eastern European countries. (Agustin, Laura Maria)

A Dominican Republic Girl was Tricked into Prostitution
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      According to the Migration Information Programme, "Sources in the Dominican Republic state that their country has the fourth highest number in the world of women working overseas in the sex trade, after Thailand, Brazil and the Philippines," (Migration Information Programme). It is detailed that the number of women sex workers abroad totals around 50,000 individuals. Many of the women trafficked around the world enter into the country with legal work visas or similar documentation. I found it very alarming to read that many workers who deal with the incoming of migrating individuals have links to the sex industry or are themselves a sex slave driver. This is a very eye-opening fact that should call for government review and investigations to close in on these scandals. According to the academic journal, there is a specific strategy to entering the industry in the Dominican Republic. The first contact is made through someone who uses the code phrases "impresario" or that they "know a woman who organizes trips" (Migration Information Programme). Once in contact and hired as a dancer, barmaid, or other similar employee, the female is charged anywhere from $400 to $1,000 USD. The "employer" takes care of all the legal documents of the victim, including their birth certificate. Each is addressed a false identity and a life story to memorized before they are departed to anywhere in the world. It is also horrifying to understand that the men in the victim's life usually accepted that she would be taken into trafficking without knowing what type of "job" she'd be forced into. The men often receive the pay of the sex worker. (Migration Information Programme) Since the process is almost formal because it is so often occurring in the Dominican Republic, similar processes must also be occurring everywhere else in the world. It also brings question to security and why it is so easy to get through systems with false identification.

      As mentioned in the beginning statistic of the paragraph above, Brazil is a leading country in human trafficking. According to the Forced Migration Review, the dramatic levels of social inequality in Brazil and lack of economic opportunities lead thousands of women and girls into sex exploitation and prostitution across the world or into agricultural estates within Brazil. Once females are taken from their homes to "live a better life", victims are warned that they owe money for travel expenses, leading them to the only quick option of trafficking. This warped assumption has been the majority reason for women to leave their country, which has become a highly contradictory topic depicted in Brazilian soap operas. Once these details were released to the public through television, warning that these ideas are very false, the government began to take action against the crimes, but their action is far too little to pertain to all victims. According to the article, "In 2003, 5,100 people were freed [by the government's anti-slavery teams]" (Forced Migration Review). In 2002, the Ministry of Justice and the United Nations initiated an international partnership, along with Brazilian police, to combat the crimes. Although according to the International Labor Organization, Brazil has become a role model for other countries, their enforcement lacks many important aspects that would allow for important action to be taken. Brazilian legislation only references trafficking to be illegal if the purpose is prostitution, attention does not explain the difference between forced exploitation and prostitution, foreign governments may be using human trafficking to create agendas, there has been an increased lack in abilities to migrate legally. (Forced Migration Review)

      I find the value of this information to be very eye-opening as it gives an understanding of a global issue women face. Living in a first world country often distracts us from the crimes and victimization that could and is happening, but is hidden from the public eye. I find it very important to be informed on these massive threats to be cognizant of the danger around us, and to have the ability to influence and advocate change. Without a broad knowledge of sexual and civil rights dangers women face, it is very easy to have a closed and naive view of women's status in the world.  

Sources:

Agustin, Laura María. "Chapter 1: Sexual Commotion." Sex at the Margins: Migration,    Labour Markets & the Rescue Industry. 1-9. n.p.: Zed Books, 2007. SocINDEX with Full   Text. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.

Almeida, Luciana Campello R., Luiza Helena Leite, and Frans Nederstigt. "Brazilian Trafficking: Soap Opera Versus Reality." Forced Migration Review 25 (2006): 34-35.Academic Search Complete. Web. 3 Nov. 2014

"HumanTrafficking.org | United States of America." HumanTrafficking.org | United States of America. Academy for Educational Development, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2014.

"Migration Information Programme, 'Trafficking In Women From The Dominican Republic For Sexual Exploitation,' International Organization For Migration, Budapest, Hungary, June 1996." Trends In Organized Crime 3.4 (1998): 26. Publisher Provided Full Text Searching File. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.

"Trafficking of Women and Girls | Amnesty International." Trafficking of Women and Girls | Amnesty International. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2014.