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Human Trafficking: The Plague That is Internally Destroying the World’s Largest Cities

bySameer Ghai
March 28, 2017

WHAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

Human Trafficking is categorized as an extreme offense and a major violation of basic human rights. Thousands of men, women, and children are kidnapped each year by human traffickers, in their own countries, and across borders as well. Every country in the world is negatively affected by trafficking, whether it is a country of origin for trafficked victims or, a transit or destination for trafficked victims. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that as of 2012, 20.9 million people worldwide were victims of human trafficking and out of those 20.9 million people; 68% of them are “trapped in forced labor”, 26% are children, and 55% are women and girls.  More recent statistics estimate about 30 million people who are now being trafficked; making Human Trafficking the third largest illegal industry in the world, just trailing behind illegal drugs and arms trade. 

 

 

WHERE IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING THE WORST?

At the top of the list created by the U.S Department of Justice, Myanmar, Sudan, and Haiti are the top three countries with the highest rates of trafficked people. Thailand used to accompany this select list of countries but has been downgraded by the U.S Department of Justice because of the government’s vigilant efforts to decrease and eliminate Human Trafficking.

MYANMAR

In Myanmar, the Rohingya community in Myanmar has been heavily oppressed by the government and people of other communities. Human Traffickers have been praying on the desperation of these people who are looking for a better place to live. It has been reported that Human Traffickers have used the method of “fraud” to lure these people into their trap. They guarantee transport to Thailand or Malaysia, and the people have the “option” of moving to another country such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, or a Western European nation such as the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Switzerland, or Portugal: in which these people have the option to lead normal and successful lives without oppression.

An image of 300 Rohingya men, women, and children found packed into a boat off the coast of Thailand. 

The trade between Myanmar and Thailand, fortunately, took a significant toll after Thai authorities located a mass grave near the Thailand/Malaysia border of what appeared to be bodies of Rohingya refugees.

HAITI

Anna Childs, director for International Development at the Open University, says after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti a surge in child trafficking was inevitable. “Under the cover of rescue efforts, traffickers (often women) can pose as religious leaders, relief workers or representatives of government-accredited employment agencies promising jobs,” she says. “Children separated from their families may be believed missing or dead.” Even now, six years on, the report says women and children living in camps for internally displaced persons set up as a result of the 2010 earthquake as some of those most at risk.  The government has introduced an anti-trafficking committee and put together an action plan to fight the trade, but the report condemned weaknesses in the justice system and a lack of funding available for prosecution.

SUDAN

Unfortunately, because of current political tensions in Sudan, recent reports on Human Trafficking have NOT been created and won’t provide valid and relevant data to the current year.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

People who are being trafficked, or forced to commit acts against their will often exhibit signs that are easily noticeable. Polaris, an organization working to fight Human Trafficking in the United States and abroad has listed common signs exhibited by trafficking victims or other victims forced to commit acts against their will.

COMMON WORK AND LIVING CONDITIONS: THE INDIVIDUAL(S) IN QUESTION

  • Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes
  • Is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts
  • Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp/manager
  • Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips
  • Works excessively long and/or unusual hours
  • Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work
  • Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off
  • Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work
  • High security measures exist in the work and/or living locations (e.g. opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)

POOR MENTAL HEALTH OR ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR

  • Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid
  • Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement
  • Avoids eye contact

POOR PHYSICAL HEALTH

  • Lacks health care
  • Appears malnourished
  • Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture

LACK OF CONTROL

  • Has few or no personal possessions
  • Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account
  • Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)
  • Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)

OTHER

  • Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address
  • Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in
  • Loss of sense of time
  • Have numerous inconsistencies in his/her story

This list is not exhaustive and represents only a selection of possible indicators. Also, the red flags in this list may not be present in all trafficking cases and are not cumulative. Learn more at www.humantraffickinghotline.org.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS BEING TRAFFICKED PLEASE CALL THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE HERE: (UNITED STATES)  +1 (888) 373-7888

HTTP://GLOBALMODERNSLAVERY.ORG PROVIDES A LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS IN YOUR CITY/PROVINCE/STATE/REGION AND THEIR PHONE NUMBERS, EMAILS, AND HOURS OF OPERATION (MAJORITY ARE 24/7). IF YOU OR SOMEONE IS BEING TRAFFICKED, PLEASE LOOK FOR THE NEAREST HELP ORGANIZATION.

Author
Sameer Ghai
Sameer is a 15-year-old high school student living in Orange County, California. Sameer is passionate about photography and debate. He's always watching Netflix while draining the world's supply of cookie dough ice cream.
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