“Human trafficking is defined as the
recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person
for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, for the
purpose of subjecting that person to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt
bondage, or slavery.”
Trafficking Victims' Protection
Reauthorization Act of 2003.
Analyzing the issue of human
trafficking...
from
Action Alert ... Office of Global Ministries, Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
used with permission
Having examined a definition of human trafficking and recognizing that individuals in this situation are subject to abuse, we move to the process of analyzing human trafficking. In the process of analysis we examine how each system (i.e. economic, social, political, cultural, environmental, etc.) impacts the issue and how the systems interrelate and impact one another in regard to the issue. While it is difficult to explore all these systems in this space, we can explore a few to grow in understanding the complexity of this issue.
To examine causes we study the supply and demand for human trafficking. Realities on the supply side include: feminization of poverty where 70% of world’s poor are women, economic disparities within and between countries, patriarchy that discriminates against women and girl-children, racial discrimination and related intolerance, civil and military conflicts that push people to flee their countries (80% are women and children), and corruption by police or law enforcement. On the demand side of the equation, we acknowledge the demand by employers for unskilled and cheap labor especially in domestic or entertainment sectors, the commercial sex industry that continues to expand, the male attitudes and perceptions of women in society, the patriarchy that results in unequal power relations between men and women, the restrictive migration policies that decrease potential for regular migration, and the exploitative political and economic relations that result in deteriorating conditions for those who live in the “South.”
While not exhausting the causes, we ask what are the key factors underlying the practice of trafficking? How might we recognize a trafficking network? Can we name the categories of persons who are engaged either directly or indirectly in trafficking? We know that trafficking often operates out of the reach of the legal system and can be difficult to identify because victims remain silent due to fear or threats. Technology enables international transactions and falsification of documents in a timely matter. In terms of some of the key agents, we recognize tour operators or travel agencies, employment agents, family members, school teachers, village headmen, brothel owners, pimps and procurers, and local women recruiters.
We know that traffickers enlist the help of local persons to identify vulnerable persons/families. Often, in trafficking, there is a direct sale by a family member, deceit, debt bondage, bribes, and kidnapping. While we may think many of these can be avoided, we need only look at these acts through the eyes of the causes above and we find it more difficult to act.
PART 2. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION
Part 3. STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING: ACTION
HUMAN TRAFFICKING: MODERN DAY SLAVERY
The jonquil will return you to What's New
