Economic Disparities Fuel Human Trafficking Summary

Author Shon Bogar wrote an article titled: Economic Disparities Fuel Human Trafficking. This article talks about human trafficking and slavery in today’s society. It speaks on how economic disparities, from extreme poverty to fabulous wealth have helped fuel the international trade in human cargo, as those who have nothing seek a better life serving those with excess.(The College Writer p.238)
The buying, selling and forced exploitation of people “slavery” is not a new phenomenon and it extends beyond the United States. (The College Writer p. 238) Defining and understanding human trafficking and slavery is very difficult.
The 2000 the Trafficking Victims Prevention Act (TVPA), became a law that requires the United States government to ensure

that that the victims of trafficking are not jailed or “otherwise penalized solely for unlawful acts as a direct result of being trafficked” ( U.S. Department of State, 2004) , whereas illegal immigrants are still subject to deportation and criminal proceedings. (The College Writer p.238) Because the U.S. State Department recognizes the potential confusion when it comes to determining the difference between smuggling and human trafficking, it defines smuggling as “the procurement or transport for profit of a person for illegal entry in a country”. Trafficking involves the use of the use of force, coercion, fraud or deception, by those whose goal is to exploit people by moving them into some form of slavery.
In conclusion smuggling and trafficking are very similar situations with that are only distinguished by the motive of the person conducting the transaction. These are both issues that we must continue to monitor and enforce stricter punishment for those committing these crimes.