Cassidy Kelly

ERWC Period 3

Writing Sample #3- Stopping Human Trafficking

A major issue that currently exists around the world is human trafficking. This is an

extreme crime that needs to be addressed as it is a clear violation of human rights. Trafficking is

a present-day resemblance of slavery. Men, women, and children are taken from their lives and

transported to another life where they serve for their captors in many ways, including but not

limited to, sexual exploitation, forced labor, prostitution, and organ removal (McLaughlin, Liam).

Trafficking of this kind exist because sick-minded people know that it is a source of income for

themselves, and it it said to be relatively less risky than arm or drug trafficking (The Central

Texas). This problem is being battled but it is not enough of a fight because human trafficking

still exists so largely. The traffickers are able to get away with what they are doing when people

are naive and fall for the alluring offers from their abductor that are really traps. A big step we

should take towards preventing this issue is global awareness. Instead of making this topic a

heavy and touchy subject, we must shine light on the issue and make it known, exposing the

trickery of these devious minds so that no innocent humans fall prey to their inhumane

practices.

The definition of human trafficking given by the United Nations is the recruitment,

transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by improper means (such as force,

abduction, fraud, or coercion) for an improper purpose including forced labor or sexual

exploitation (Human Trafficking). People are taken against their will to provide for these wry

and disgusting traffickers. The word recruitment is used in this definition but this does not

mean that it is ever consented by the victim. They are often bribed by the promise of a fruitful

prize for going with their attacker and they are tricked into walking right into the trap. After the

innocent people are abducted they face cruel acts that scar them forever. They experience

physical abuse and rape which is often filmed to be sold and put online. These are horrors that
many people cant even imagine and that no human should ever have to endure under any

circumstances.

The issue of human trafficking continues to exist in the present day because it is

profitable. The criminal industry is pushed by supply and demand. It is said by experts that

human trafficking is fueled by the demand for cheap labor and commercial sex services

(Amaya, Barbara). There are enough sick-minded humans in our world that keep this horrific

process going by paying to participate in human trafficking. The business would not hold

together without a profit being made from many paying customers. The fact that enough people

buy out these services to cause the issue to continue as a lucrative industry is inhumane and

must be addressed in all ways possible. Another reason trafficking occurs is because people are

vulnerable to it. Captors will often trick their victims, promising a future of wealth, fame, or

whatever it may be that will work as bribery for specific victims. Many people will fall for these

traps not thinking about the dangers of taking the chance to leave with someone who may or

may not have a reward for them. This corruption is used not only to convince victims to

accompany their attackers on the initial encounter but also to make them feel like they have

made the right decision and that they are being treated right throughout the whole process. An

article on Transparency International states, Corruption is present at every stage of the

trafficking process, beginning with a victims recruitment and transport through to their

exploitation (Transparency International). The offenders build such a mastery in manipulating

the minds of all kinds of people to make them truly believe that they are being helped and will

benefit from the experiences that they will encounter. People become blind to how unsafe it is to

trust a stranger to be honest and trustworthy and they end up trusting the people who have

nothing in their best interest. In this day and age people are also vulnerable to trafficking

because of technology and social media. Children, teens, and adults put themselves and their

personal information out there on the internet for anyone to find. Traffickers can stalk down their

targets through what they find online or can even create a fake personality and reach out to
people, tricking them to meet up somewhere and become friends. Another danger lies in

everyone walking around in public with their heads in their phones. If a target isnt watching their

surroundings they could easily be surprise attacked and taken away, physically defenseless.

This is why it is so important for everyone to be aware and prepared because with so many

different aspects helping to keep human trafficking alive, anyone could become a target.

My proposition to prevent human trafficking is awareness. There are many causes to the

issue but they can all be greatly decreased if we raise awareness and bring light to the problem.

If we address the issue and inform people of what can happen, they will be prepared to avoid

situations where it could occur as much as possible. With awareness, we can also track down

more people who are participating in the industry and fueling its continuation by paying to use

the human beings who are taken away for trafficking. These people can be caught and receive

the punishments they greatly deserve. If people are aware of the large existence of this

business they will think before accepting an offer that sounds too perfect and promising. They

will be cautious with what they post of social media and who they talk to and trust. They will

even start walking around observing their surroundings and looking up from their phones while

they are in public. All of the main causes of the problem are things that can be largely improved

upon if people know what could happen and know what to be alert towards. I believe that raising

consciousness of human trafficking will cause the amount of occurrences of it to decrease

greatly.

The issue of human trafficking is an problem in our world that has existed for far too long

and must be stopped. It is a modern-day form of slavery that no human being ever deserves to

experience, yet people are facing it every single day. They are taken away from their daily lives

to be sexually abused and exploited. Victims of trafficking are treated in the most inhumane and

disgusting manner. This horrific industry exists today because it is a profitable business and

because people are unaware and therefore vulnerable to the issue. There are people paying to

participate in these vile acts to receive pleasure and keep the process going. Victims of all ages,
genders, races, ethnicities, and religions are being tricked into accompanying these appalling

offenders in hopes of starting a new life or receiving fame and fortune. The things they come to

discover are the exact opposite of what they could have possibly imagined. Attacks occur all

over the world and human beings are being trafficked and used for forced sexual purposes. The

best method to go about putting an end to this gruesome affair starts with awareness. If people

are enlightened on how big of a deal this issue is, they can be prepared to avoid situations

where it could happen to them. They can watch out for bribes and tricks and be capable of

reporting any suspicions. With awareness, we can even find the people who are paying to be a

part of the trafficking and who associate with the results of it and we can end their wrong-doings

for good. The topic of human trafficking is austere but if we work together as the human race to

raise awareness of the issue, we can eventually subjugate it once and for all.

Works Cited

Amaya, Barbara. "Human Trafficking: Why Does It Still Exist." Barbara Amaya Award Winning

Author, Advocate, Trainer, Speaker and Survivor. N.p., 17 Sept. 2014. Web. 27 Apr.

2017.

<http://barbaraamaya.com/blogrecent-events/human-trafficking-why-does-it-still-exist>.
"Human Trafficking." National Institute of Justice. Office of Justice Programs, 30 Mar. 2017.

Web. 21 Apr. 2017. <https://www.nij.gov/topics/crime/human-

trafficking/pages/welcome.aspx>.

McLaughlin, Liam. "United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime." What Is Human Trafficking?

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.

<https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.ht

ml>.

The Central Texas Coalition Against Human Traf.Does Human Trafficking Really Happen Here?

(n.d.): n. pag. Ctcaht. Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Web. 7 Apr.

2017.

<http://www.ctcaht.org/Documents/Does%20human%20trafficking%20really%20happen

%20here.pdf>.

Transparency International. "Breaking the Chain: Corruption and Human

Trafficking."Www.transparency.org. Transparency International, 01 Sept. 2011. Web. 10

May 2017.

<http://www.transparency.org/news/feature/breaking_the_chain_corruption_and_human

_trafficking>.