Human Trafficking: a Worldwide Problem

Introduction

Human trafficking is a worldwide problem that affects people of all ages, including girls and boys. It is estimated that approximately 1,000,000 people are trafficked each year globally, with between 20,000 and 50,000 trafficked into the United States (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2017), which is a much higher number than many Americans realize.

The Business of Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a criminal activity that ranks as the third most profitable business for organized crime, following drugs and arms trades, generating an estimated 32 billion dollars annually. The most common form of human trafficking involves transporting individuals into the sex industry. This includes various types of slavery, such as forced prostitution, pornography, child sex rings, and sex-related jobs like nude dancing and modeling, which may not be immediately recognized as forms of human trafficking by the general public.

Diversity Among Victims

While many people believe human trafficking only involves women or girls, statistics show otherwise. According to Polaris, 7,572 cases involved 6,340 females and 978 males, with a total of 4,890 reported cases involving adults and 2,387 involving minors (Cone, 2017). This highlights the diverse range of victims affected by this global crisis.

Historical Context

The history of human trafficking dates back to the 1400s, beginning with European slave trading in Africa initiated by the Portuguese, who transported people from Africa to Portugal for enslavement. By 1562, the British had joined in, followed by countries such as Spain, North America, Holland, France, Sweden, and Denmark in the 1600s. Later, a Chinese gang known as the “Tongs” trafficked about 6,000 women between 1852 and 1873, bringing Chinese women to San Francisco and auctioning them for as much as $1,000, equivalent to $18,780 today. During World War I, Japan established a system where women from across Asia were forced into sexual slavery, housed in “comfort stations” under brutal conditions, including beatings and torture, leading to many deaths from disease, malnutrition, exhaustion, and suicide (Rutgers University, 2011).

Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking

Following the African slave trade, "white slavery" emerged, where white women or girls were coerced into prostitution. As awareness grew, governments began cooperating to combat it. International conferences against white slavery were organized in Paris in 1899 and 1902, culminating in the signing of the International Agreement for the Suppression of “White Slave Traffic” in 1904, marking the first international agreement on human trafficking (Oster, 2015). This made human trafficking a criminal act. The League of Nations, founded after World War I, focused on addressing the issue of human trafficking.

Modern Developments and Awareness

The terminology evolved from "white slave trafficking" to "trafficking in women and children" to include all individuals without racial discrimination. This shift recognized both genders as potential victims of trafficking. Awareness of the trafficking of women and girls was revived by the second wave of the women’s movement in the mid-1960s. Feminists, particularly those focused on violence against women, championed the cause by defining sex trafficking as previous activists did: encompassing all commercial use of women and girls in prostitution and pornography production. By the mid-1980s, a second international movement against sex trafficking was underway (Hughes, 2013).

Conclusion

Human trafficking is a complex and pervasive issue that continues to affect countless individuals worldwide. Efforts to combat it must be ongoing and inclusive of all victims, regardless of gender or background. Increased awareness and international cooperation are crucial in addressing and ultimately eradicating this global crisis.

References

Encyclopedia Britannica. (2017). Human trafficking. Retrieved from [link]

Cone, P. (2017). Human trafficking statistics. Polaris. Retrieved from [link]

Rutgers University. (2011). Historical context of human trafficking. Retrieved from [link]

Oster, E. (2015). International agreements on human trafficking. Retrieved from [link]

Hughes, D. (2013). The fight against sex trafficking. Retrieved from [link]