Human trafficking is a billion dollar industry and is probably the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world. It exists in every country, it’s victims are both old and young, black and white, and spans every socioeconomic bracket. The Department of Homeland Security defines human trafficking as, ‘a modern-day form of slavery involving the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain (1). While people are trafficked for a majority of reasons, the most common are sexual explotation are forced labor. According to a report released by the United Nation’s Office on Drugs and Crime, 53% of trafficking victims were exploited sexually, 40% were forced into labor, with 7% classified as ‘other’, which includes trafficking for
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However, the most common type of human trafficking is of a sexual nature. While small amounts of men and young boys are sold into sexual slavery, the vast majority of its victims are women or young girls. They are forced into stripping, prostitution, and a myriad of other forms of sexual exploitation. Women who are being trafficked are usually kept in small groups, never allowed to be alone, and often moved from location to location in order to avoid being discovered. (3)
Recent advances in technology and the readily availableness of the Internet has made the job of a sex trafficker one hundred times easier. There is now no longer a need to stand on the street corner in order to attract potential customers. A trafficker, often a pimp, is able to ‘sell’ a girl often up to 40 times a night, all whiles sitting behind his phone or keyboard. Websites like Craigslist and Backpage.com are a breeding ground for sexual traffickers. Scantily clad or nude photos are usually taken of the girls and the ads often appear like she is a willing participant, while all the while being ran by her captor. This shift in technology makes it virtually impossible to monitor and catch these …show more content…
Yet more than 300,000 children between the ages of 7 and 18 have been trafficked and are being used for military purposes in our world today. International law states that the recruitment of children under the age of 15 is war crime. However, currently there are over 30 global conflicts in places such as Africa, Asia, Colombia, and Peru that have been known to utilize child soldiers. Further, the number of armed groups exploiting children in war has increased from 40 in 1960 to 57 in 2007. Over the last ten years, two million children have been killed in conflict. The majority of the groups that are recruiting children are rebel or militia groups, so the laws in place in order to protect children do little to no good (Child
However, the most common type of human trafficking is of a sexual nature. While small amounts of men and young boys are sold into sexual slavery, the vast majority of its victims are women or young girls. They are forced into stripping, prostitution, and a myriad of other forms of sexual exploitation. Women who are being trafficked are usually kept in small groups, never allowed to be alone, and often moved from location to location in order to avoid being discovered. (3)
Recent advances in technology and the readily availableness of the Internet has made the job of a sex trafficker one hundred times easier. There is now no longer a need to stand on the street corner in order to attract potential customers. A trafficker, often a pimp, is able to ‘sell’ a girl often up to 40 times a night, all whiles sitting behind his phone or keyboard. Websites like Craigslist and Backpage.com are a breeding ground for sexual traffickers. Scantily clad or nude photos are usually taken of the girls and the ads often appear like she is a willing participant, while all the while being ran by her captor. This shift in technology makes it virtually impossible to monitor and catch these …show more content…
Yet more than 300,000 children between the ages of 7 and 18 have been trafficked and are being used for military purposes in our world today. International law states that the recruitment of children under the age of 15 is war crime. However, currently there are over 30 global conflicts in places such as Africa, Asia, Colombia, and Peru that have been known to utilize child soldiers. Further, the number of armed groups exploiting children in war has increased from 40 in 1960 to 57 in 2007. Over the last ten years, two million children have been killed in conflict. The majority of the groups that are recruiting children are rebel or militia groups, so the laws in place in order to protect children do little to no good (Child