The Chinese cooks in the back of the local Chinese buffet, the Thai massage artist in the salon, or the the Mexican field workers that you drive by–are they there willingly or may they be victims of human trafficking? Is human trafficking just something that happens overseas?
International Trafficking in the United States
The United Nations lists the United States among the top three destination countries worldwide for victims of human trafficking. This means that this country is where a vast majority of those victims in this globalized, modern slave trade find their journey’s end. The estimated number of forced arrivals vary–the Central Intelligence Agency has cited between 40,000 to 50,000 women and children victims a year (Richard, 1999). The U.S. State Department estimates are much more modest–only 14,500 to 17,500 people arrive on the U.S. shores, the land of the American dream, and find themselves instead in an American horror of trafficking (Newman). This is not to say that the U.S. is alone in human trafficking–between 600,000 to 800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked across international borders each year, from and to a variety of different countries (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services).
What is human trafficking?
There are three elements necessary to meet the definition of human trafficking according to both the U.S. definition and the United Nations’ definition:
The action: recruiting, or harboring, or moving, or obtaining a person. To be implicated as a trafficker, one can only do a portion of the job–a buyer is a trafficker. For example, in sex trafficking, a man who purchases sex is considered a trafficker.
The means: force, or fraud, or coercion. Again, not all three need to be present. This can be kidnapping (force), a false offer of a job that only ends up in slavery (fraud), or through threats (coercion). The purpose: involuntary servitude, or debt bondage, or slavery, or sexual exploitation. The United Nations adds organ theft to that list.
Who are the victims?
The majority of the victims are female–80%, in fact. Over 50% are children (FNOW). Even the women tend to be younger–most 25 or younger and the majority in their late teens. Instead of looking forward to college or the dreams of a career, they are caught in cycle of horror. Most of the women end up in sexual slavery, although they are victims of labor trafficking as well.
The countries of origin–the victims’ home countries across international borders–vary with the changing shifts of the capricious world economy and power structures. Past trends have indicated that a majority of victims come from Thailand, India, Mexico, Philippines, Honduras, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic (U.S. State Department). More victims from Eastern Europe are also appearing (Richards). The stories are varied.
A Mexican woman receives threats from organized gangs that they will harm her children unless she goes with them.
A young Thai girl meets a nice young man who promises to be her boyfriend. With dreams of a new life, he lures her away to America. She arrives, without knowing the language or another soul, and only finds that he betrays her. She becomes another faceless victim, hidden in corners, without the power or language to speak up.
A business woman goes to Honduras and promises a pretty young girl a nice job in an American hotel. Without much of a prospect in Honduras for a job, the girl agrees. The woman promises that the girl can send back payments to the Honduran family to help pay for the younger children’s education. Once in America, the girl is told she has a debt to pay off to cover the expenses of her trip. Once she pays that off, then she can send money home. However, the debt escalates as her food and clothing and lodging is continually added to the tab… She is in a debt slavery, often forced to work long and hard hours, living in a back corner. She is afraid to ask for help–she doesn’t know the language and is considered an illegal alien. The traffickers play on the fear of the police and imprisonment from the U.S. government to keep her in their clutches.
There are many more scenarios in which men, women, and children end up in the U.S. as slaves. Each person has their own story. It is a story in which they find themselves a pawn of global forces and organized crime. Common “push factors”–those variables that make a person or persons susceptible to trafficking–include economic factors. Poverty makes people ready to accept risky job offers. A changing economy and job market makes jobs scarce. Gender discrimination and lack of opportunities adds to the mix. Government corruption can make it easy for traffickers to operate. Organized crime finds a quick and easy money source in trafficking.
On the other end, there are “pull factors”–those lures and demands from the destination country. America, especially, still holds out that dream of a better life, the queen of the material world. People from other countries may be so elated by the prospect of a nice job in the U.S. that they are blind to the risks and shady hues of the job offer. Destination countries, such as the U.S., often have a demand for cheap labor. Thus, labor trafficking victims often end up in sectors such as agriculture, construction, domestic servitude, cleaning companies, manufacturing, etc. Finally, there is often a demand for sex that drives the sexual exploitation. It is a booming business. These victims may be in massage parlors, salons, brothels, bars, strip clubs, large cities, vacation or tourist spots, mail order brides, escort services, pornography, military bases, etc. (United Nations).
Is anything being done?
There are thousands of victims arriving yearly. The demand only seems to be growing. The profits for international organized crime are off the wall. Is there anything being done?
There is an increasing surge of awareness, through a variety of different organizations, some national, international, local, or grassroots. High school and college students are actively involved in spreading awareness. More communities are taking measures to identify victims and help. The very first shelters for trafficking victims are opening up within the past few years. Awareness is spreading, more victims are being identified, and there are more places to serve them. There is, however, still a long ways to go as well.
The U.S. Government has taken measures as well. They are taking preventative steps, such as through the “Beneath the Surface” campaign. They are training more law enforcement and social service agencies. Prosecution and punishments are being escalated.
There are still individuals out there who are caught in this global web of horror, who feel helpless against their captors. They may be in small towns or large cities; they can be in businesses that appear respectable or in shady back corners. Becoming aware is a first step. If you think you might know of a human trafficking case, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1.888.3737.888.
Sources
Amy O’Neill Richard, International Trafficking in Women to the United States, 1999
Graeme R. Newman, “The Exploitation of Trafficked Women,” Center for Problem-Oriented Policing
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Human Trafficking”
United Nations Development Programme, “Trafficking in Human Beings: A Guidance Note,” 2004
U.S. State Department, “Trafficking in Persons Report 2011″
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Beneath the Surface”
Polaris Project, “National Human Trafficking Resource Center”