Human Trafficking

By: Helen Bao

What is Human Trafficking?

A form of modern day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others. -(www.polarisproject.org) Forcing people to do things against their will, like laborious work or sex acts Force: physical or sexual abuse Fraud: false legal documents, visas, contracts, underpayment or no payment at all Coercion: verb abuse, threats to the victim and family, of deportation or isolation
Coercion- the act of dominating or restraining by force

The Businesses of Human Trafficking

mom and pop labor operations, small businesses Bigger companies like farms and factories Pimps- people who rent out prostitutes to clients for profit Brothels, websites, street prostitution, hostess and strip clubs, massage parlors, escort services, truck stops Restaurants and food services, hotels Domestic servitude, maids Peddling Rings, Sales Crews, and Begging Rings These defendants allegedly trafficked in human beings, making money off the backs of illegal immigrants and treating them like chattel. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara regarding a labor trafficking ring.

The Victims
Males and females all over the world Average age range- 18-24 years, but can be children or adults People who were looking for a better life, job opportunities, had issues at home Often are run-aways, immigrants, people who have received abuse as a child Sometimes sold off by relatives or friends

Life as a Slave
Hard working and living conditions Often get abused by owners Big risk of getting STDs and other diseases Often have to support parents or children long hours, little to no pay Couldnt leave, had no choice Sometimes was denied food if unable to reach quota

 We worked on a case of multiple massage parlors that were raided by the federal authorities. The women were often offered legitimate jobs, but then were forced into prostitution. Most of the women did not go outdoors for weeks at a time. Several were threatened with gang violence, and others were threatened with harm to their family members if they tried to leave. Some women were in debt bondage, and most had some type of sexual violence or coercion from customers frequenting the brothels. All of them wanted to escape."

Bradley Myles, Executive Director and CEO, Polaris Project

 "I was first forced into prostitution when I was 11 years old by a 28year-old man. I am not an exception. The man who trafficked me sold so many girls my age, his house was called "Daddy Day Care." All day, other girls and I sat with our laptops, posting pictures and answering ads on Craigslist. He made $1,500 a night selling my body, dragging me to Los Angeles, Houston, Little Rock -- and one trip to Las Vegas in the trunk of a car. I am 17 now, and my childhood memories aren't of my family, going to middle school, or dancing at the prom. They are of making my own arrangements on Craigslist to be sold for sex, and answering as many ads as possible for fear of beatings and ice water baths. An Open Letter from MC to Craigslist.

Where in the World

The Facts
161 countries involved in human trafficking 27 million victims worldwide Half are under 18 years old About 100,000 children in the sex trade in the United States 43% of victims are involved in forced commercial sexual exploitation 32% of victims are involved in forced economic exploitation Global profit from human trafficking: $31.6 billion $15.5 billion from industrialized economies Girls as young as 5 or 6 years of age are forced to do sexual acts The international average cost for a slave is $90

Work Cited
http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/overview http://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/issues_doc/labour/Force d_labour/HUMAN_TRAFFICKING_-_THE_FACTS_-_final.pdf http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-abouthuman-trafficking