Christianna Prokop
Dr. Catharin Dalpino
Global Policy Challenges
December 3, 2014
Human Trafficking in the United States Human trafficking is a phenomenon that transcends not only borders, but also culture, race, gender, socio-economic class and age. Whether it be as a point of origin, transit or destination, human trafficking affects nearly every country around the globe, and is becoming increasingly more pervasive as time goes on. It is an issue that needs to be dealt with swiftly, holistically, and sustainably. The United States’ approach is a premier example of the steps that each country needs to take in order to begin effectively combatting human trafficking in all of its forms.
In 2003, the United Nations adopted a supplement to the …show more content…
First, it is next to impossible to gather accurate information or data to truly understand that scope of the problem. Second, it is very difficult to identify human trafficking cases, especially those involving forced labor. Victims’ fear of their traffickers prevents them from speaking out against them, and victims are often times wary of trusting law enforcement officials. Third, though many treaties are ratified and bills passed creating laws to help victims, prosecute traffickers, and work to educate the public, there is not enough funding to finance these projects. Fourth, it is very difficult to implement and enforce laws regarding human trafficking when most situations involving the trafficking of persons are mislabeled and not seen for the crime that they truly are. This is especially the case with international treaties such as the Palermo Protocol. Fifth, many people at the local level, the general public, cops, judges and the like are uneducated about human trafficking. They either don’t know what indicators to look for to identify a trafficking situation, they’re lacking comprehensive knowledge on laws surrounding trafficking, or they don’t understand how to handle victims of these …show more content…
But it is up to the United States, as the leading example of the fight against human trafficking to develop, implement, and enforce new laws that will serve to fulfil the 3P’s mentioned in the TVPA. By being the spearhead and overcoming these issues, other nations may also take up the challenge, creating a global effort to eradicate human trafficking. Many recommendations can be made to the United States to change current policies and implement new ones. In an effort to end human trafficking at home, special attention needs to be paid to improving human rights conditions in origin and transit countries so as to stop the process of human trafficking before it even starts. The TVPA authorizes money to be used as foreign assistance to help countries build their own capacity to fulfill the 3P’s. There either needs to be more funds appropriated to this task, or the money needs to be redirected to help the situation at home before it is directed outwards. More victims’ assistance programs need to be established and funding appropriated to provide for things like medical care, counseling, legal advice, education and job training. The United States also needs to ratify and implement the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention 190 and CEDAW. This will help to set the standard for anti-trafficking efforts, and ensure that the US is doing everything it can in the international sphere to uphold the
Dr. Catharin Dalpino
Global Policy Challenges
December 3, 2014
Human Trafficking in the United States Human trafficking is a phenomenon that transcends not only borders, but also culture, race, gender, socio-economic class and age. Whether it be as a point of origin, transit or destination, human trafficking affects nearly every country around the globe, and is becoming increasingly more pervasive as time goes on. It is an issue that needs to be dealt with swiftly, holistically, and sustainably. The United States’ approach is a premier example of the steps that each country needs to take in order to begin effectively combatting human trafficking in all of its forms.
In 2003, the United Nations adopted a supplement to the …show more content…
First, it is next to impossible to gather accurate information or data to truly understand that scope of the problem. Second, it is very difficult to identify human trafficking cases, especially those involving forced labor. Victims’ fear of their traffickers prevents them from speaking out against them, and victims are often times wary of trusting law enforcement officials. Third, though many treaties are ratified and bills passed creating laws to help victims, prosecute traffickers, and work to educate the public, there is not enough funding to finance these projects. Fourth, it is very difficult to implement and enforce laws regarding human trafficking when most situations involving the trafficking of persons are mislabeled and not seen for the crime that they truly are. This is especially the case with international treaties such as the Palermo Protocol. Fifth, many people at the local level, the general public, cops, judges and the like are uneducated about human trafficking. They either don’t know what indicators to look for to identify a trafficking situation, they’re lacking comprehensive knowledge on laws surrounding trafficking, or they don’t understand how to handle victims of these …show more content…
But it is up to the United States, as the leading example of the fight against human trafficking to develop, implement, and enforce new laws that will serve to fulfil the 3P’s mentioned in the TVPA. By being the spearhead and overcoming these issues, other nations may also take up the challenge, creating a global effort to eradicate human trafficking. Many recommendations can be made to the United States to change current policies and implement new ones. In an effort to end human trafficking at home, special attention needs to be paid to improving human rights conditions in origin and transit countries so as to stop the process of human trafficking before it even starts. The TVPA authorizes money to be used as foreign assistance to help countries build their own capacity to fulfill the 3P’s. There either needs to be more funds appropriated to this task, or the money needs to be redirected to help the situation at home before it is directed outwards. More victims’ assistance programs need to be established and funding appropriated to provide for things like medical care, counseling, legal advice, education and job training. The United States also needs to ratify and implement the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention 190 and CEDAW. This will help to set the standard for anti-trafficking efforts, and ensure that the US is doing everything it can in the international sphere to uphold the