LongRoad

 The Long Road To A Safer World For Women By: Abigail Fenn Georgette Sarno Jordan Mckenzie





= = == =** What is Human Trafficking? **= UN Protocol definition of human trafficking: Trafficking in persons shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use by force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving and receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for thepurpose of exploitation. = = =** PROOF **=

Trafficking women is a huge problem throughout the entire world, dominating ninety percent of all human trafficking accounts. The Ukraine and many other eastern European countries are the biggest contributors to this global crime. In 2006 alone 376 human trafficking incidents occurred. These are incidents of human trafficking, not the victim count which is much higher. Also in 2006 117,000 women and children fell to human trafficking. Other European countries include, Moldova with 57,000, Romania with 28,000, Belarus with 14,000, and Bulgaria with 9,500. Most of these women are trafficked into the United States. A total 50,000 women are trafficked into the US yearly. (“Try”) Katya, a young Ukrainian native, was trafficked into the United States in October of 2007. Her captors were costumers at the restraint that she worked at to earn money for food. The men talked to her about the riches of America and how it was a playground filled with money for young girls to grab up. One day, the offered her a job in the US, told her that she would be making so much money that she would be a millionaire. They persuaded her with paid for plane tickets and an apartment free of rent. Katya left with high hopes, but when she arrived in her apartment she realized that it was not what the men told her at all. She was forced to be a stripper in a bar that one of the men owned. She was routinely beaten. In early 2009 Katya and her Russian roommate devised a plan of escape with the help of a routine customer at the bar. Luckily for them, it worked. They helped the police catch their captors. The both of them are now back at home. (“Escaped”) A story similar to Katya’s, is Anna’s. She too comes from the Ukraine. She left Ukraine in August of 2002, with twelve other women. All thirteen of them were promised to go to Europe and become nannies. Once in Europe they were brought to a house, where they thought the children would be. But they saw no pictures, and when older men started talking about sex they got scared. They tried to tell them that it was all a mistake, but their captors didn’t budge. They raped all the women on the first night. Anna screamed throughout the whole thing until they finally knocked her out. As a result of that first night she lost eighty percent of her vision. Anna tried to escape five long months later, and was successful. Two months later Anna’s captors went to her house and beat her mother in search of Anna. Her mother was hospitalized. Anna and her mother still receive health care for their wounds. (“GIC”) While Eastern Europe is a hot spot of human traffickers, Asia is just as bad and maybe even worse. Japan is the biggest market for trafficked women. Most of the women in the Japanese market are taken from China, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. The total amounts of non-Japanese women that are trafficked are 150,000. They are all mainly used as sex slaves. Also within Japan there is a market for pure Japanese women. The biggest Japanese group that takes part in the trafficking is the Yakuza.(“Humantrafficking.org/Japan”) Another Asian country that is plentiful with women trafficking accounts is Thailand. Thai women are trafficked all over the world. Some of the countries include Japan, Malaysia, South Africa, Bahrain, Australia, Singapore, Europe, Canada and the United States. The Thai women trafficking rate is from 300,000 to 2.8 million yearly. (“Humantrafficking.org/Thailand”) Emma Lung, a Thai teenager, was persuaded by her best friend to go to work with her in Japan. Her family desperately needed money, so she accepted. She told her mother that she was going to work in Bangkok. Once in Japan, Emma and her friend were taken to Tokyo and told that they owed the owner of a bar 500,000 Thai Baht, or about 20,000 US dollars. She was forced to flirt and tease customers and get paid 30,000 Yen, or 300 US dollars. Many times, Emma was put into positions with the Yakuza were beaten and forced to perform oral sex. One day while walking home from work, a Japanese police officer stopped Emma and demanded he see her passport. She told him that she left it in her room. She was taken to the police and later deported. She never got a cent of the money she had earned. (“Women Trafficking from Thailand to Japan”) Women sex trafficking is a business that affects millions of people each year. Women get treated horribly, like Anna. They have to sell their bodies for money that they supposedly “owe”, like Emma. Also, they have to stand by and be raped repeatedly, like all of the women. What more proof do we need that this is a cause worth stopping?

= = =** CAUSES AND EFFECTS **=
 * For more facts and statistics in women trafficking, visit: **[|**http://www.fpif.org/reports/trafficking_in_women**]

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According to the government of the United States, over 800,000 women and children are trafficked annually. Of the 800,000, 43% of that is used for sex, 32% of that is forced into unpaid labor, and the remaining 25% is put into economic and sexual services (Morrison 38). The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency says that each year around 50,000 females and children are trafficked to the United States (“Trafficking in Human”). Hillary Clinton says, “More than half of all victims of forced labor are women and girls, compelled into servitude as domestics or sweatshop workers are forced into prostitution” (“Trafficking in Women”). From 2003-2009, the FBI has rescued 886 children that were victims of sex traffickers (Smith). Paul Holmes, the author of the Regional Anti-Trafficking Law Enforcement Manual for South-Eastern Europe, stated that trafficking produces at least 7 billion US dollars a year and has become the third largest criminal business worldwide after drugs and weapons (“Effects”). “People smuggling”, as the UN said, is the fast growing crime in Transnational Organized Crime (Morrison 36). Women are trafficked for physical and economic desires such as, sex, prostitution, being forced into marriage, and labor (“Trafficking in Women”). They are sold on the internet, in casinos, and on the streets for money (Smith). People often search for girls in poor countries because families will sell their daughters for money. Gender discrimination within the family and the community, as well as a tolerance of violence against women and children, also come into play. Lack of appropriate legislation and political will to address the problem, restrictive immigration policies, globalization of the sex industry, and the involvement of transnational organized criminal networks are other causal factors (“Trafficking in Human”). In many countries the finances, marital statuses, and roles of women are predominantly controlled by their husbands. When their husbands die, they cannot access their bank accounts, obtain their passports, nor acquire jobs for themselves. They then become easier to traffic (“Trafficking in Women”). When people are trafficked, it changes their lives forever. They lose their freedom and become affected mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially (“Effects”). They cannot work in the workforce if they are trafficked. When they cannot work, the work force is at loss and the victims cannot make money. “In addition to individual health consequences, trafficking also undermines public health” (“Global”). The money that traffickers make may be used for illegal activities like using drugs, putting others in danger too. “Trafficked workers are exposed to life-threatening diseases, including HIV/AIDS, dangerous working conditions, poor nutrition, and drug and alcohol addiction” (“Global”). Also, the people who get trafficked are not able to take care of the elderly ("Global").

Right now, a slave costs about $12,500. That number is less now than in colonial times, implying that people are worth less now than they were years ago. Because of trafficking, about $10 billion is made each year. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement did a campaign in fourteen cities to look out for suspects involved in human trafficking, including the traffickers and the victims (Morrison 38).UNFPA, a United Nations agency, met in October 2002 to discuss trafficking in females. They have recognized that in order for trafficking to vastly decline, several things should take place: Information and awareness raising campaigns about the health consequences of trafficking, campaigns targeting males, provision of reproductive health services, counseling to victims of trafficking, technical assistance and training for governments, and cooperation between countries who are receivers and senders of trafficked individuals (“Trafficking in Human”). Women trafficking is a life-threatening problem not only in the United States, but around the globe. It has many irrational causes, including the longing for sex, prostitution, money, marriage, and labor. The effects are unfair. Trafficking in women affects their freedom. The men that violate these women give them diseases like HIV/AIDS. They also perform labor in the workforce. The money that is made from the traffickers is often used for unlawful things such as drugs and weapons. We need to stop this catastrophic issue before it gets uncontrollable.

​** If you go to, ** [] **, there is a study on Russia and women trafficking.**

= = =** SOLUTIONS **=

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Throughout the world, especially in European countries, women trafficking has become more popular amongst people. Governments have tried to come up with solutions against this attack against women, but there is just not enough knowledge about this. Over the past few years though these governments have begun to take action, and there have also been a lot of abolitionist movements as well as a penalty towards those who traffic has been set in place. “UNICEF feels that there are no protections or laws to address the needs of these people and that this needs to change now” (“Demir”). The mistreatment of these unsuspecting women should be enough for you to realize the damage that these traffickers are doing, and make you want to help. Just like how we are taking action in Haiti about the earthquake now, Sweden took action in 1999 against women trafficking. Any sexual service purchase is a crime unlike before. This law was passed because of a new violence against women act, which broadened what is considered unlawful. Women trafficking is now one of the most serious of these laws and is now considered discrimination against women. The Czech Republic, are the exact opposite though, they are trying to legalize women trafficking. If this is passed then they will be the first post-communist country in Europe to move in this direction, and actually take this step. (“Hughes”) What many fear is that this would set a precedent for the other European countries. This decision does not only affect the Czech Republic but all of the countries throughout Europe. In the European Union the Netherlands and Germany have already legalized women trafficking and have gotten nothing. Those economic and social benefits that countries are supposed to get from legalizing this never happened. Netherlands and Germany are no advising the Czech Republic on what they should do. The Czech Republic is now trying to withdraw from the United Nations 1949 Convention. This from what the other members can remember will be the first time a country withdrew against slavery or trafficking (“Hughes”). “Due to these abolitionist movements popular destination countries with trafficking legalized are coming under more and more scrutiny” (Hughes). This is the beginning of the process of getting to the root cause of all of this. We have got to reduce the demand for these victims and have no brothels waiting for these people. Those states that profit from the trafficking need to be found and fined. There also needs to be someone teaching women about this and let them know that these messages going around saying that all of this is wonderful are false. “Though many areas seem to be nothing about women trafficking England seems to. On February 5th a couple in Liverpool, England was sentenced to jail, as they were running a multimillion-pound prostitution ring of trafficked women” (“Couple”). Remember that “in 2000 the UN General Assembly decided that trafficking of people was defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other means of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability” (“Demir”). This is one of the most important definitions, because of the impact that it has on other people. The actions in which governments have taken will hopefully last and make a difference not just to those being trafficked but to others as well, and then in years to come hopefully this problem will no longer exist.

= = =** FUTURE **=  In years to come women hope that the worry of being trafficked no longer comes in there mind, as they fear for there lives. In hopes of helping these women Barack Obama declared that Jauary 2010 was National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. He hopes that this will help in the future as people gain more knowledge of this. He also wishes that everyone commits to ending the modern version of slavery. Many however disagree with Obamas decleration, included in this oppositionest view are many feminist groups. They believe that in order to end this slavery, it must first be legalized. Also, they believe that women should be given the right to do whatever they wish with their bodies, and believe that women are resorting to the only thing that they can do. The international epidemic though has a different thought, they believe that legalizing women prostitution would not with the negative impacts of the industry. A unique group that helps with this is UFI, United Family International, which helps women and children by eduacting them and showing them how to use advocacy. If you wish to help with this world wide epidemic you can visit [] and give a contribution that will help these women.

** For more information on women trafficking in the United States, visit ** []

 "Couple jailed for trafficking women." __Daily Post (Liverpool, England)__ (Feb 5, 2010) News: 16. __Global Issues In Context__. 9 Feb. 2010. []
 * Work Cited **

Demir, Jenna Shearer “TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION: A GENDER-BASED WELL-FOUNDED FEAR? An examination of refugee status determination for trafficked prostituted women from CEE/CIS countries to Western Europe”, Jan 2003. Web. 16 Jan 2012. []

"Azad-Hye Middle East Armenian Portal (Dr. Ani Kalayjian speaks about human trafficking)." //Azad-Hye Middle East Armenian Portal//. Web. 22 Feb. 2010. . " Effects "Effects and Consequences of Trafficking In Women ." 1 Sept. 2005. Web. 12 Jan. 2010. []. //  "Escaped: Sex Slave in the Heartland : Video : Investigation Discovery." //ID : Investigation Discovery : Hollywood Crimes, Forensics, Murderers//. Web. 21 Jan. 2010. . //Feminist Claim Legalizing Prostitution Will Eliminate Sex Trafficking//. Web. 21 Feb. 2010. .  "GIC." //GaleNet//. Web. 20 Jan. 2010. .  "Global Consequences of Trafficking." 1 Sept. 2005. Web. 12 Jan. 2010. . Great Decisions //. 2010: 36-38. Foreign Policy Association, Print. //

Hughes, Donna M. Prostitution:Causes and Solutions, 2 July 2004. Web. 16 Jan. 2010. []

//Human Trafficking//. Photograph. Http://www.tipshelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/human-trafficking-wrists.jpg.//

“Human trafficking: definition.” //Liberal International//. Web. 21 Jan. 2010. []. "HumanTrafficking.org | Japan." //HumanTrafficking.org: A Web Resource for Combating Human Trafficking in the East Asia Pacific Region//. Web. 22 Jan. 2010. . "HumanTrafficking.org | Thailand." //HumanTrafficking.org: A Web Resource for Combating Human Trafficking in the East Asia Pacific Region//. Web. 22 Jan. 2010. .

// Smith, Joan. "Joan Smith: Make no mistake: sex trafficking is real." 29 Oct. 2009. Web. 12 Jan. 2010. <http://www.independent.co.uk/>. "Trafficking in Human Misery." Web. 9 Feb. 2010. <http://www.unfpa.org/public/>. // "Southeast Asia & Pacific - Coalition Against Trafficking of Women." //Human Trafficking-Trafficking of Humans-Coalition Against Trafficking of Women//. Web. 21 Jan. 2010. <http://www.catwinternational.org/factbook/Asia_Pacific.php>. “Trafficking in Women And Girls.” // Voa News //. 8 Aug. 2009. Web. 12 Jan. 2010. []. "TryUkraine.com News: Ukraine's Human Trafficking Statistics for 2006." //Try Ukraine! Living, Work, and Travel Guide - Photos ofUkraine//. Web. 22 Jan. 2010. <http://www.tryukraine.com/news/2007/07.shtml>. "Women and Global Human Rights." //Webster University//. Web. 21 Jan. 2010. <http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/trafficking.html>.

//Women Liberation//. Photograph. Http://www.lib.neu.edu/archives/voices/images/framigham_8_battered_women_m60_f14.jpg//

Women Trafficking//. Photograph. Http://acroley18.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/sextrade.jpg. "Women Trafficking from Thailand to Japan." //Jammed True Stories: of human trafficking//. Web. 22 Jan. 2010. <http://jammedtruestories.blogspot.com/2008/09/women-trafficking-from-thailand-to.html>.