Human Trafficking

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Human Trafficking is one of the largest growing problems in the United States. This problem has been going on for hundreds of years and we still have trouble stopping it. The definition of trafficking is, “the illegal practice of procuring or trading in human beings for the purpose of prostitution, forced labor, or other forms of exploitation.” Every day people are being taken or forced to do unmentionable things against their will for free. This is a violent trade and the people who run these organizations are very good at moving people. This paper will talk about a brief history of human trafficking, the issues with human trafficking and facts of human trafficking. This is a very graphic trade and people often die or are killed while trying to help or trying to escape. Human Trafficking started in the 1400’s during the beginning of the slave trade. This started during the European slave trade. Portuguese settlers would take Africans with them back to Portugal to use as slaves. Later in the 1600’s as settlers settled other nations such as North America, the slave trade started to expand. In 1904, the International Agreement for the Suppression of "White Slave Traffic" was signed and put into action (Yong). This agreement was placed to protect all white women from being forced or deceived into prostitution. In 1927 the League of Nations was created. The goal of this organization was, “maintaining world peace and also focusing on international issues such as human trafficking. The Suppression of White Slave Traffic was changed to "traffic in women and children" so that everyone was included with no discrimination to race. Children of both genders were also recognized as victims of trafficking” (Yong). In 1932 the Japanese governmen... ... middle of paper ... ...ge, Sex Tourism/ Child Sex Tourism. This problem is now starting to become a priority in the world. More organizations are being made to fight for the cause. Not only is human sex trafficking slavery but it is big business. It is the fastest-growing business of organized crime and the third-largest criminal enterprise in the world (fbi.gov). While the U.S. Department of State estimates that 800,000 – 900,000 people are trafficked across borders annually, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and many other organizations taking the lead to eradicate trafficking put the number above 2 million (feminist.org). On average one in five victims of human trafficking are children. In third world countries the number is even higher. Children are more wanted especially in the work force because of their small hands for working on machinery and untangling lines and nets.

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