About Slavery and Human Trafficking
What is Human Trafficking and Slavery?
Slavery was outlawed in the US in 1864, and it is not legal anywhere in the world, yet there are more slaves in the world today than at any time in human history. 27 million people around the world are estimated to be victims of slavery.
In modern day slavery, human beings are literally bought and sold as property on an international market, for amounts ranging from $80 to $5000 or more. They have no control over their lives or their children's lives: where they live, what work they do (usually dirty, degrading or dangerous), their sexuality, or their health. Being enslaved is extremely hazardous to human life and health - for example 25% of child slaves in India do not make it to adulthood, and another 22% are permanently disabled.
Sometimes slaves are kept captive with literal chains or bars. In other cases threats of violence, or actual violence against enslaved people or their families keep them from running away. Sometimes families toil as slaves for generations, to satisfy debts typically under $50, in a practice known as bonded labor. These people do not even know that they are slaves - they have been told that the practice is legal and that they are legally and morally obligated to work as slaves until their 'debt' is repaid. However, because of the trickery of the traffickers, the debt constantly accumulates.
Victims of human trafficking are subject to gross human rights violations including rape, torture, beatings, starvation, dehumanization, and threats of murdering family members. In the case of traffficking for sexual exploitation, girls often have their virginity sold first, followed by multiple gang rape to break down their resistance. Since the bodies of young girls are not ready for sexual intercourse, this often results in abrasions, making the girls susceptible to HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
Forms of Slavery
• Sexual exploitation /Forced Prostitution – also includes Forced Marriage and Child Marriage
• Forced Labor – Agricultural, Industrial, Factory work, Fishing Industry
• Bonded Labor - Agricultural, Industrial, Factory work
• Domestic Work (nannies, housekeepers, cooks and gardeners)
• Forced Begging
• Circus Performers
• Child Soldiers
Where Does Trafficking Occur
• Every country in the world
• Hardest Hit Regions for victims are South and Southeast Asia and Africa
• Destination countries for trafficked persons include Europe, USA, Japan, Australia, India, Israel, Gulf States
Who are the Victims?
People from every walk of life can fall victim to trafficking, including thousands of US citizens. However, certain groups are disproportionately exploited in trafficking and slavery:
• Women
• Children - 50% of today's slaves are under the age of 18. Girls are typically trafficked into forced prostitution between 10 and 14.
• Poor People
• Minorities
• Low Caste People
• Rural People
How are People Trafficked?
• Sold by families of community members - this is often a last resort for families where selling a child may be the only means of survival. In other cases, sadly, trafficking has become socially acceptable, and families or neighbors sell children so they can buy a TV or tin roof.
In South Asia, traffickers will pay $150 to parents for their child's life. Brothel owners can purchase the same child from the trafficker for about $1000. For traffickers, sex slavery is a lucrative business, generating over 7 billion dollars a year. Sex trafficking is often controlled by organized crime syndicates.
• Tricked by False job offers of loverboy schemes
• Children of slaves become slaves themselves – kids born into brothels, generations of bonded laborers
• People displaced by natural disasters, war, political conflict or environmental devastation become vulnerable when they move to cities from rural areas with no resources
How Can Slavery be Stopped?
Many approaches to ending slavery are yeilding successful results. Slavery is an issue that responds quickly to intervention. So little has been done about it for so long, that even a small amount of help goes a long way in this cause. People all over the world, including our shelter partners, are putting their lives on the line to fight slavery, free victims, help survivors and prevent slavery from happening to people at the highest rescue.
Our approach to fighting slavery:
• Rescue
• Aftercare
o Shelter Care
o Education
o Economic options: job training and jobs
• Prevention
o Education
o Awareness Campaigns in high risk areas
o Economic Options
• Other important areas of abolition action include:
Political Advocacy
Campaign building
Prosecution of Traffickers
