Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ndey Sarr
Kenly
British Literature
4-29-2019
“People were created to be loved. Things were created to be used. The reason why the world is in
chaos is because things are being loved and people are being used.” – Unknown
1-888-373-7888, The national trafficking hotline for you or if you suspect anyone you know to
be trafficked. On February 1st, 1865, the 13th amendment to the constitution formally abolished
slavery. Explicitly stated neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for
crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or
any place subject to their jurisdiction. In the year 2019, slavery has shapeshifted in many
different forms the most widespread being human or sometimes referred to as sex trafficking. So,
what exactly constitutes as such? It is a form of modern-day slavery in which perpetrators use
force, fraud, or coercion to control victims for the purpose of engaging in sex acts or labor
against the victims will. Statistics show over 27 million slaves and growing exist worldwide.
This is the greatest number of known “slaves” at any given point in history. Despite minimal
efforts from countries all over the world, human trafficking has become more prevalent over
time and a majority of the population is unaware or believes it is one of the lesser of important
problems the world has. Because it is a major global problem in the world today, it is important
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to be aware of basic facts, prevention, protection and the prosecution of human trafficking.
Unfortunately, because the acts happening are still considered undercover or underground many
nations have not taken a stance or acknowledge the hidden world of coerced sex labor and are
instead using the court system to criminalize victims. Within this essay, we will debunk the
origins of the tragedy, the type of people this typically effects, how the court system reacts in
these cases, as well as the solutions currently presented and any new ones that could more
efficiently work.
For the majority of people, they assume that human trafficking is a recent issue, that it strictly
came out of the desperation of those already lacking in resources. There are sayings that talk
about how whatever’s old eventually becomes new again, and human trafficking is a great
example of that. Modern day slavery. Let's begin with the middle passage. It received its name
for its location in the middle of the triangular trade. Stretching all the way from Europe to Africa,
then continuing from Africa to the Western Hemisphere, and back to Europe again. This was a
godsend route for Europeans to get ships around the world quickly and efficiently than the
previous route of having to go all around the world and back just to find one location. This
would be the beginning of what I consider to be the most notable historical event. Most everyone
in the world today has a descendent from slavery. Slaves at that time were considered the same
as a material possession in a way because they could be bought, sold, hired out, exchanged,
given as a gift, or inherited. The slave trade consisted of trips for thousands of miles, with at
least 30,000-55,000 ships throughout the entire time span. To add insult to injury the conditions
on these slave ships were extremely unfavorable and almost 15 percent of captured slaves never
made it through the whole voyage. The treatment of these people included beatings, hangings,
burnings, mutilation, and rape. At this point, you’re probably wondering how this relates to
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human trafficking, old western world views and the mentality that it is and was okay to come and
take to make a profit is, in my opinion, the very basis on which trafficking was founded on. It
helped it take form into our modern-day issue. The slave trade is only one of many examples in a
multitude of time periods. We can trace these back centuries such as the Anti-Chinese/ Gold
Rush where Chinese people were taken and forced to mine gold for Americans, or how Africa’s
continues to deplete in minerals and resources because countries think that if they are more
powerful that they can come and take it. Because of how much profit countries generate from
these seemingly small acts that can take form into bigger issues it leaves victims helpless.
The narrative that is typically painted of the people who experience trafficking usually are those
who are in low developed countries, no families or parents, a young woman, probably unsure of
themselves and has a lack of confidence. These stereotypes of victims desensitize the average
person and cause them to believe that this could never happen to them. Young, dumb, and poor is
not the story of everybody. According to The Polaris Project, A young woman using the
pseudonym of Sabine. After some hard times in her home country “Sabine” was more than
thrilled to take on an offer working for a wealthy family in America. To make a long story short
upon her arrival in the United States, Sabine had neither a room nor a bed and slept on the floor.
The family kept the girl a prisoner and made her go into forced labor. It took six months before
Sabine was allowed one hour off each Sunday to attend church services. While there, one of her
fellow parishioners caught wind of her situation and helped her escape. In the case of Sabine,
she was tricked into doing something she was unaware of. She wanted a legitimate job and
A common question asked seems to be how these perpetrators convince men and woman into
situations such as the previous one given. What we commonly think of is that the victims were
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kidnapped and then violence and large amounts of alcohol and drugs were used to keep them
there. But with 800,000 people being smuggled across international borders yearly alcohol and
drugs just can’t be that effective and physical aggression can cause unwanted attention to their
not only completely free but leaves a long-lasting effect. Some of those strategies include
dehumanization (being exposed to high levels of emotional distress stemming from constant
reminder of being in a foreign country with no family, money and essentially having no other
option), worst-case scenario (traffickers install false fear with the worst-case scenario like being
left homeless if they escape or being in jail on unfamiliar land with no way of getting out), and
distrust of others (by telling victims that most people, even health care providers will report
undocumented migrants causing arrest, and to ensure it they often accompany victims to
appointments posing as family members.) In short, traffickers are top of the line manipulators
which is why many people don’t try to find help even if the opportunity presents itself.
I previously mentioned how the victims are often transported and flown out to foreign countries,
research from the Polaris Project shows that the average person believes that trafficking only
happens in underdeveloped countries. When realistically that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
The U.S ranking in at number five for most the most developed countries has had a recent spike
in trafficking numbers. It is estimated that almost two-thirds of victims are U.S citizens that are
then transported out of the country into some underdeveloped ones. This would most likely
explain why the common consensus is that these things only happen in poorer countries because
so many men and woman are being brought there. The other portion who are foreign-born come
into the U.S legally. The state department estimates that between 15,000 and 50,000 are
trafficked into the U.S each year. Which is a very low number compared to the 27 million overall
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victims worldwide and again explains why we believe leading nations don’t experience these
issues.
In the same breathe due to the number of people being shifted from country to country an easy
assumption to make is that trafficking is the exact same as migrant smuggling. Well, we know
what trafficking is but how about migrant smuggling? Under U.S law smuggling is "the
an international border.” Simply stated it is created or acquiring fake documents for the purpose
of getting otherwise foreign natives into countries they are not documented in to. The act of
individuals “sneaking” into countries has seen a rise within recent years and today currently
represents a huge segment of migration in nations around the globe. Smuggling operations are
typically very complex with the exception of those who choose to go through with it on their
own. However more commonly you see people working within large networks of smuggling
rings, that are extensive and very organized. Individuals moving, for the most part, happens with
the consent of the individual or people being snuck, and basic explanations behind people
looking to be smuggled include work and financial chance, maybe to better the lives of
themselves or their family, and get away from oppression or brutality. The key word in that
statement is consent. Human trafficking and human smuggling are two distinctive crimes and it
is extremely important to not only understand the difference between the two but to not also use
them interchangeably like they often are. I believe where people get confused with the two is
how traffickers are able to move victims from country to country so easily. Remember
smuggling is with the consent of the individual whereas trafficking is not. I say this to say that it
is possible that in some scenarios or cases smuggling may turn into trafficking where the victim
is under the impression that they are being helped into a country to better themselves. Only to
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quickly realize that they have either been sold or are then forced into sex labor, similar to the
story of “Sabine” who believed she was coming into the U.S to provide work for a wealthy
family but soon realized this “work” was not what she bargained for.
In the event that the sex business was a sequence, on one side are grown adults who are knowing
and willing members in prostitution. Regardless of whether through direct misuse, due to
neediness or abuse, or by decision, they use prostitution as a method for money. Prostitution is a
business agreement where the people involved agree to have engaged in sexual encounters for
payment and some type of compensation. Often referred to as the “world’s oldest profession”. It
can also be defined as sexual services, commercial sex or hooking. On the opposite end of the
range are victims or exploited people — those constrained into the sex business without wanting
to by some proportion of power, misrepresentation, or pressure. And after that, there's a wide
space where the line among decision and force, between the sex business and human dealing, is
hard to define.
Prostitution is another widespread and troublesome reality for millions all over the world.
Numerous men and woman swing to prostitution on the grounds that there are next to no open
doors to make profits somewhere else. Just about anyone can make money in this industry
because there are no real standardized requirements. Maybe you’re feeling the pressure to
accommodate your entire family, and maybe you live somewhere that openly accepts the sex
industry. Prostitution rapidly turns into a reasonable alternative, at times the only option. One
investigation from “A Journal of Trauma Practice” shows statistics of prostituted woman and
men in nine nations which found that 70-95 percent were faced with physical assault, between
60-75 percent raped, and nearly 89 percent explained that they desperately wanted to escape
prostitution. Even if people pick this so-called "profession" overall, it's a risky one filled with
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exploitive and belittling conditions. This discussion, however, is not in favor of one of the other.
Along the sequence of sexual misuse, there are people who pick prostitution as a method for
money and find that they are controlled and undermined by a pimp. There are minors who offer
themselves and end up actually being label as trafficking victims in light of their age. What's
more troubling is that there are other people who from the outside looking in have all the traits of
being willing prostitutes. But who are really paying obligations to brothels. Now just because
I've only spoken about misuse in terms of prostitutes there are a percentage of woman and men
that choose that lifestyle and live it well to the best of their abilities. In fact, even enjoy their
work and that is the part that we can clearly differentiate trafficking and prostitution.
Labels in these situations are extremely complicated and can often get muddled. They can even
vary according to local law and the different jurisdictions. It's critical to note that while sexual
misuse can play a role in each stage along this continuum we've spoken about, it also shows up
in various degree. Trafficking and prostitution laws fluctuate among various nations, and there
are slight adjustments or differences to these laws depending on where you’re at. For instance,
the common consensus is that minors are viewed as victims of human trafficking regardless of
whether they are willingly wanting to take part in prostitution or not. In certain spots all people
in prostitution are viewed as victims, paying little attention to how they arrived or in the event
that they "picked" it. While in other places if you partake in sexual acts for money or are to be
considered a prostitute that is grounds to be charged and considered a criminal. While I mainly
speak from my knowledge of the United States and some highly publicized cases from other
countries I can acknowledge that it is a difficult conversation. While sex trafficking is seen as
closely related to prostitution, often overlapping, there is less consensus on how governments
should respond to prostitution that involves adults. Of the various types of responses and laws
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that address prostitution, there are four primary legal response models. They are but limited to
criminalization (criminalization of all parts of prostitution is by a long shot the most widely
recognized authoritative approach. States change on the level of discipline for every individual
included and characteristics of the wrongdoing, yet all members are lawfully guilty for their
activities), partial decriminalization (identifies individuals as victims and protects them from
legal penalties. However, the purchasing/facilitating of sexual services remain criminalized), full
decriminalization (removes all laws prohibiting and regulating prostitution including those
against facilitating and buying), legalization (differs from decriminalization in that prostitution is
legal but regulated and controlled by the government. These controls may include licensing,
zoning, or mandatory health checks). In the case of the United States, we fall heavily under the
criminalization portion. The U.S uses the rationale that by prohibiting all behaviors involving sex
acts that it will eliminate prostitution as a whole. However, this law lumps victims of trafficking
into it as well and doesn’t provide loopholes for those stuck with no way out and are instead seen
as offenders.
For a long time, the Trafficking in Persons Report has outlined the significance of protecting
victims all through the law enforcement process. Perpetrators regularly exploit people to take
part in crimes, for example, prostitution, pick-pocketing, the selling and doing of drugs and even
luring others to be taken for trafficking as well. Because the authorities often neglect to
legitimately screen and identify victims when they are taken in as criminal suspects, the process
of being taken in, kept and indicted makes a completely new bad experience and can reinforce
the victim's connection to the dealer. The criminal justice and delinquency frameworks are not
intended to suitably react to sex trafficking. Our justice system is tired and overworked and most
the time neglects or is simply just unable to think about individual conditions. I previously
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mentioned how the issue of trafficking is only recently been taken as something serious. Prior to
that, it was clear that most were only prostitutes or criminals of some sort. The Trafficking
Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 is the first federal law to address trafficking in persons.
Mind you although it is only now being acted on this has been an ongoing problem with recent
spikes in numerical data. With the first law coming out in the 2000’s we’d expect there to be
some flaw and of course there is. Since its order, all of the other fifty states have passed laws that
condemn trafficking, and many have authorities committed putting in place arrangements and
strategies to battle it. The stage that hasn’t come yet is for those fifty states to execute laws that
also shield victims from criminal indictment for acts they were forced to carry out. See the flaw
The end of human trafficking is an impossible thing to be done overnight. Even the strictest anti-
trafficking system will not be effective without the help it needs from not only other countries
and states but support from the people as well. This is the reason programs by both government
and non-government associations call for worldwide collaboration. Trafficking is an issue that
should be tended to not only because it creates crime worldwide, but also because it seriously
harms the lives of its victims. Measures to reduce trafficking have been taken by governments
and non-government organizations, and these include both international and national anti-
trafficking laws and programs.In any case, it is apparent that more needs to be done for this
cause. Besides far more forceful campaigns against human trafficking, bringing issues to light
for prevention ought to be at the forefront of all campaigns. Although there are’ already some
initiatives happening to rid or reduce trafficking around the world there seem to be two solutions
that are at the forefront. They are described as one being the liberal stance on a solution and the
other being a radical stance. Liberal in terms of many think that a humanitarian approach would
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best suit the issue. Humanitarian aid is mainly material and calculated help to individuals who
need assistance. It is typically short-term help until the long-haul help by government and
different foundations replaces it. The essential goal of it is to spare lives, alleviate some suffering
enduring, and keep up human moral. Not to be confused with developmental aid which is on the
opposite spectrum and is what I had previously referred to as the radical approach. It seeks to
address the underlying economic factors which may have led to a crisis or emergency. In this
specific case, it would be fixing or finding ways to cure poverty, job security and unemployment
Our human trafficking in the world is an alarming social issue, which is increasing because of
that human trafficking equals prostitution and sex work, but in reality, it is a wider concept.
detention, integration or reintegration, and re-trafficking. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? An old
saying talks about how often history repeats itself and trafficking is no different. A modern-day
form of slavery has formed into what we now call human trafficking and with no definite end
this time.
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Annotated Bibliography
Human Trafficking: Are the efforts we are using to combat trafficking effective?
Allen, Kelly. “Human Trafficking vs. Prostitution.” Human Trafficking vs. Prostitution,
2012.
Summary: This article was used for me to get clearer understand on what separates trafficking
Hauser, Christine. "Sex-Trafficking Victim Wins Clemency for Killing." New York Times,
Summary: This article is an example of a sex trafficking victim being treated as a criminal. Bill
Haslam governor of Tennessee granted clemency to Cyntoia Brown, ending her life sentence for
killing a man who had picked her up for sex when she was a teenage trafficking victim. Ms.
Brown who was tried as an adult, was convicted by a Davidson County jury in 2006 of first-
Hawatt, Romy. "Human Trafficking--Hidden in Plain Sight." Inter Press Service, 21 Dec. 2018.
Summary:
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Hidden in Plain Sight is an article about how the media tends to have a biased opinion on
reporting high profile attention grabbing stories. Because of this we the western world tend to be
desensitized to problems like trafficking happening in our own backyard hence the phrase from
the title “in plain sight” In this point-of-view article, Romy Hawatt, founding member of the
Global Sustainability Network, asserts that there needs to be a greater awareness of the
persistence of modern day slavery on both a local and global level and that it is important that
Summary: For most people those who are victims of trafficking are just that “victims” but for
those in the law they may be criminals and charged for prostitution. This article talks about the
shift in attitudes over the years about trafficking and more states are giving survivors a chance to
clear away convictions for prostitution. But the victim-centered approach is still in its early
stages.
Lee, Justin. “13 Human Trafficking Survivors Tell Their Heartbreaking Stories.” Ranker,
, 2016.
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Summary: This website article was used to further explain a couple of the points made in the
essay as well as tell a need story to add emotion that the reader could connect to.
6. The Social Etiology of Human Trafficking: How Poverty and Cultural Practices Facilitate
Trafficking
Pio, Casina. “The Social Etiology of Human Trafficking: How Poverty and Cultural Practices
Summary: This paper focusses on three unusual patterns of trafficking, two of which were
identified in UNODC’s Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (2014), and examines the
economic situation, and social and cultural practices that may explain these unusual patterns of
Rosenstein, Rod J. "Getting Tough on Sex Traffickers." New York Times (Online), 19 Jan. 2018.
Summary:
Getting Tough on Sex Offenders goes into depth about that fact that too cities in the United
States are infested with gang and gang related activities. It’s was estimated that more than one
million members of approximately 33,000 gangs prey upon neighborhoods within the United
States. The gangs have one thing in common and that is that gangs increasingly rely on sex
trafficking to support themselves which many people don’t know. U.S. Deputy Attorney General
Rod Rosenstein asserts that the U.S. needs to get tough on gangs and their use of sex trafficking
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Trump, Ivanka. "Our Moral Duty to End Modern Slavery." Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2018, pp.
Summary:
Worldwide nearly 25 million children and adults of all ages and backgrounds are victims
of human trafficking, including forced labor and sex trafficking. Every government in the world
has a moral obligation to do all in its power to stop these heinous crimes within its borders. That
is why President Trump took “strong action” recently to hold accountable those governments
that have failed to meet the minimum standards for combating human trafficking in their
countries.
Article Usage: The first three articles are meant to be my references and attention grabbers. I’m
going to use them to effectively show just how well hidden human trafficking has become. Its
literally in our backyards and sometimes is hard to spot. By vividly painting a picture on just
exactly how the perpetrators can trap these young men and woman from their homes.
Wiggin, Arielle. "Recently Passed Bill Poses Threat to Sex Workers." University Wire, 19
Summary: Last week, President Trump signed a bill package into law that had many internet
commenters celebrating the president for finally signing a common-sense, pro-woman measure
into law. Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act and Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex
Trafficking Act are two bills hailed by politicians as a victory for sex-trafficking victims. These
bills have been promoted as positive measures that anyone who cares about the health and safety
of victims should support. The author of this point-of-view article asserts that SESTA-FOSTA
Article Usage: The last three articles all touch on how a lot of the times human trafficking
victims sometimes sex trafficked victims are treated as criminals and are charged by the law as
prostitution. One of the best examples and most recent is the story of Cyntoia Brown who was a
victim that was tried and sentenced to life. I plan on using articles that focus on the
criminalization of these victims to shed light on the gaps and unjust rulings in our laws today.
Publishers.
Summary: Used this article to explain and give examples on the mental stimulation that
perpetrators use to keep their victims. Traffickers, in short, are experts in psychological
manipulation, which is why many victims don’t seek help—even if the opportunity may arise.
Voxatl.com. “Sex Trafficking In ATL: What You Don't See Behind Closed Doors.” 90.1
Summary: Atlanta-home to many things: The Falcons, Coca-Cola, CNN and one of the
biggest hubs of sex trafficking nationwide. This “modern-day slavery” is the second
largest criminal enterprise in the world second only to the drug trade, according to the
Summary: Polaris analyzed more than 32,000 cases of human trafficking documented between
December 2007 and December 2016 through its operation of the National Human Trafficking
Hotline and BeFree Textline. Polaris’s research team analyzed the data and developed a
classification system that identifies 25 types of human trafficking in the United States.