 |
| http://www.ncjwbcs.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Hands-in-chains-help-me.jpg |
Before we go on to discuss human trafficking in foreign
countries, let us get this fact out of the way: As you’re reading this,
people are being trafficked right here in the United States, here in Oregon.
Yes you’ve read right!
"Now we have concrete proof that sex trafficking is not just going on in the dark corners of Asia," said U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, "Sex trafficking is going on in our community, [Oregon].” During a national federal law enforcement sting, Portland has reported to have the second highest number of children victimizing by forced prostitution compare to all U.S. cities. The intersection of two interstate freeways, I-5 and I-84 in Portland has become the main trafficking routes between Seattle, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Southern Oregon, rural towns, and other parts of Oregon like the Springfield-Eugene area, have trafficking activities as well. Police report three to five victims weekly, of which 80% are women and 50% are children.
Still, many
Americans believe human trafficking to be an “international phenomenon”.
Perhaps, history plays an important role in this assumption.
The idea
of buying, selling, and owning human beings is not a new concept in
society. History includes many examples
of slavery, dating back to before biblical times, and increasing in popularity
most notably during the 1400-1600s, when the enslavement of Africans became a
prominent business in Europe and the Americas. Despite the fact that slavery
has officially been outlawed in every country across the globe, there are currently more slaves
now than ever before in history. The International Labor Organization estimates 12.3 million adults
and children are in forced labor and prostitution at any given time. Fifty-six
percent of these forced labors come from women, young girls and minorities aged
18-24 years old. They are sometimes kidnapped or sometimes sold to their captors
or even by their own families. Often, they are lured by false advertisement for
employment, and opportunities to provide for themselves or their families.
Annually, human trafficking brings in an estimated $32
billion a year where almost all of the money goes to traffickers, though only
a small fraction of the traffickers are ever charged, and an even smaller
proportion of those are convicted.
Because of the underground nature of this “business”, and the corruption
necessary to keep it profitable, many
governments are finding human traffickers increasingly difficult to catch,
let alone prosecute.
So what
are the solutions? You
and me!
The first step is to recognize that
slavery still exists, globally and locally wherever you live. Then, we must
look out for each other and learns the signs that someone may be a victim of
human trafficking. These signs
include but not limited to the following:
•
Living
with employer; Poor living conditions
•
Multiple
people in cramped space; Submissive or fearful
•
Troubled
communication; Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed
•
Signs
of physical abuse
•
Unpaid
or paid very little
Human
trafficking occurs everywhere. Recognizing, being aware, and looking out for
one another are the most important strategies to stop this tragedy. Once everyone
starts practicing these strategies, it might help shred light into the shadows
of our world in which human trafficking exists.
No comments:
Post a Comment