Human Trafficking

Alexandra Pasia
1 May 2014
Human Trafficking
Many people in America are frequently subject to injustice. Racism and discrimination is still rampant across the nation. In addition, human trafficking is still a prevalent issue as it was before. Human trafficking is a crime that involves “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or giving payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim” (Human Trafficking). Innocent people’s lives are stolen and forced to live a life of slavery. Women and children are subject to the atrocities of human trafficking. Though a majority would see it as a crime, there is little to defend those who are mistreated and overworked.
Human trafficking is the largest growing criminal industry in the world (The Issue of Human Trafficking). Every year it is estimated that 14,500 to 17,500 people, generally women and children, are trafficked into the U.S for forced labor or for sexual purposes (Human Trafficking). But the numbers of citizens in the country that are trafficked are higher and estimated at 200,000 each year (Human Trafficking). People would never expect that slavery continues in America. Without realizing it, victims are contributing to our daily lives, working at local businesses and making our favorite items, all for little to no cost. It is common that innocent people unknowingly become slaves. People that are forced into labor hope that it “will bring money back into the family, or that they will have an honest [opportunity] to escape the poverty of the family and community” (29, Lankford). These people believe that they are simply providing for themselves and their family. Captors and recruiters manipulate their workers, promising them with rewards such as a better lifestyle. But in actuality these victims are being enslaved. It is because of poverty that makes people victims of human trafficking. Traffickers frequently target individuals who are vulnerable, have a lack of education and economic means (Sex Trafficking). Oftentimes the victim has no choice or right, in a case that they are abducted and unwillingly forced into labor or sex trafficking. Victim’s lives are threatened with violence and abuse if they fail to obey the demands of their captors. “Trafficking victims normally don’t seek help because they think that they or their families will be hurt by their traffickers, they will be deported or they will be charged” (The Issue of Human Trafficking). Trafficking victims are susceptible to conditions that put their lives at risk. Another issue is the victim’s health. The health risks associated with the sex industry are plenty. Some that come to mind are sexual transmitted diseases and pregnancy. Having sex against their will, women and girls “are often subject to violent or dangerous sex practices that allow the virus to more easily enter the body” (Trafficking HIV/AIDS). Traffickers objectify women and their value is determined by their health, age and physical attributes. “A human trafficker can earn up to $250,000 per year when he purchases a girl… He can sell her body up to 30 times per day for ten years or more” (The Issue of Human Trafficking). Women in the sex industry are treated as commodities that if they were to receive an STD or become pregnant, they would be disregarded. Once they are disregarded there is little hope for them assimilating back into their regular lives.
After reading George Orwell’s Animal Farm and researching human trafficking, I learned the situations and terms in which slavery occur. The animals on the farm are significantly mistreated. Throughout the book, they are persuaded that the hard work and small ration that they receive in return is acceptable in favor of a revolution. If the animals on the farm make it known that they disagree with their leaders, consequences will follow. Trafficking is portrayed in Animal farm in different ways. For example, from the beginning of the book the animals were already being mistreated by their owner Mr. Jones. Their vulnerability influenced them to agree with the idea that they should undertake a revolution, but in order for it to be effective they must follow the 7 commandments and the demands of their leaders. During my research I found that people that are victims of trafficking are brainwashed and taken advantage of. Human Trafficking is a form of slavery and number of people affected increase every year. I also learned that it can be a traumatic cycle for people that are involved in the system and have difficulty searching for help.

Works cited Chislom-Straker, Makini. “Human Trafficking.”Humantraffickinged.com. Web. 29 April 2014. <http://www.humantraffickinged.com/#definitionhum>
“Human Trafficking.” United Nations on Drugs and Crime. UNODC, 2014. Web. 29 April 2014. <https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html?ref=menuside> www.humantrafficking.org. Academy of Educational Development, 2001-2006. Web. 29 April 2014. <http://www.humantrafficking.org/countries/united_states_of_america>
“Sex Trafficking.” VoicesOfTheBroken.org. 2014. Web. 29 April 2014. <http://voicesofthebroken.org/sex-trafficking/>
“The Issue of Human Trafficking.” Servants Anonymous Society. 2012. Web. 29 April 2014. <http://sasurrey.ca/the-issue-of-human-trafficking/>
“Trafficking HIV/AIDS.” The Advocates for Human Rights. 1 September 2005. Web. 29 April 2014. <http://www.stopvaw.org/trafficking_and_hiv_aids>