Sex Trafficking in the United States Essay Example for Free

Sex Trafficking in the United States Essay A young girl from Tijuana was only 13 years when she was sold to a man from the United States. already having a child, she was sold under the agreement that he would help her support her child whom was diagnosed with leukemia. Little did she know, the cruel man took her baby away and used it against her. She was not aware that her baby was not getting the care that was promised, unfortunately, the child later died due to the lack of nutrition and medical care that he needed. Not only was she not able to see her child before of after he died, she is and will be imprisoned as a sex slave for as long as she lives.(â€Å"homebrewedchristianity†) Sex trafficking is an inhumane business with no benefits other than hurting and even killing victims. It is a modern day form of slavery in which commercial sex is induced by force, fraud, physical violence. Traffickers often transport victims from their homes to unfamiliar destinations leaving the victims vulnerable and alone. Victims are forced to go through physical violence and are mentally abused with the use of psychological threats to engage in commercial sex act. If we want to end sex trafficking, we must start with ourselves. I truly believe that we must put an end to this cruel and disgusting industry. To ultimately put and end to sex trafficking, we must address the issue and educate the dangers of sex trafficking, properly train law enforcement and to create crisis centers for trafficked victims to potentially exploit these traffickers of their cruel act. Although it is a global and complex problem, I believe that by acquiring knowledge of this situation will help bring a n end to this inhumane travesty. Like trafficking drugs and firearms, it is a very large and a highly driven criminal industry going on in the world today. Although there are different types of trafficking, they all share one common objective which is supply and demand. Human trafficking is fueled by fraudulent of empty promises that only leads to cheap labor and commercial sex. In a sex trafficking fact sheet, it states that there is an estimate of 1.2 million children are trafficked each year (UN.GIFT). This is a very scary estimate for it being just children, but what is more sad than that estimate is that in 2006, there were only 5,808 prosecutions and as little as 3,160 convictions throughout the world. With that being said, for every 800 people trafficked, only one person is convicted (Trafficking in Persons Report). By obtaining knowledge and sharing viable information about the dangers of sex trafficking will help bring awareness to our society and will help cease this awful industry. In most situations with law enforcement officers are not properly trained to deal with sex traffickers or victims. In order for us to control and potentially put an end to sex trafficking law enforcement personnel must be able to see the signs of trafficking and be trained to take on trafficking situations that may occur. In a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation case study, worked with the Vanderbilt Center for Community Studies conducted a large study with law enforcement agencies, social service agencies, state and federal prosecutors. The study shows that 79% of the people surveyed say that they are not adequately trained to handle sex trafficking cases. (â€Å"TBI Releases First Ever Study†). There is a need for training people who are in law enforcement, people who work in courts, and who work as social workers. When they are put in a position with trafficked victim, with proper training, workers are able to handle various types of sex trafficking situations and essentially seek out help for those victims. There is a physical and psychological cost that these trafficked victims must pay. Women who have been physically and psychologically abused will experience a feeling of shame and depression that will lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. These victims will normally stray away and hide from the public view because although they are victims of this cruel slavery, they are often treated as criminals by authorities rather as victims. Real criminals live in the shadows. there is an illicit network of traffickers, pimps, recruiters, brothel owners, and johns prey on vulnerable children because traffickers prefer children who look more youthful and with also a longer shelf life. These adolescents are frown upon by law enforcement and people because they only see what these children off as prostitutes, they are un aware that these children are being forced to sell themselves. A child would not volunteer to have sex with ten (or more) grown men penetrating their bodies every evening (†Å"Not For Sale Campaign†). The U.S. is one of the world’s largest â€Å"consumers† of the modern day slave trade. There is a need for programs and help centers to be made for trafficked victims when they are released from a prostitution ring. With programs made for trafficked victims, they are able to start new lives by attending these centers and programs to begin to physically and psychologically heal. Florida has become a pioneer in the battle against the issue of human trafficking, Governor Rick Scott signed House Bill 99, The Safe Harbor Act helps provide services to help victims who have been sexually abused and exploited. The Safe Harbor Act allows children who are rescued from prostitution rings to get help through dependency systems instead of being placed in juvenile delinquency(â€Å"New Laws Help Fight Human Trafficking†). Targeted News Service also says that, â€Å"These children are under physical and psychological control of their trafficker. Existing foster homes and foster parents may not be appropriate for their needs. The Safe Harbor Act will allow our community-based care partners to provide these children with specific services that will help them cope with the trauma they have endured†(â€Å"New Laws Help Fight Human Trafficking†). Governor Scott also signed House Bill 7049, which gives prosecutors the ability to have a better chance of a fight at this crime by imposing tougher penalties. Being in a prostitution ring may be the only thing these adolescents know, their pimps or traffickers have put these children under physical and psychological pain. Not only are they vulnerable, these victims have been away for so long families are so hard to get in contact with. It is our job to help these victims and encourage other states to take action on this cruel act and pass laws such a s this one to give victims a safe place to turn to as well as help give them a promising future. Although each of the three proposals are logical and could possibly re-abolish slavery, two of the proposals might not be the way to go. Training law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and social workers, as well as opening help centers might not be the most cost effective. I truly believe that advocating and bringing awareness to the public to potentially cease sex trafficking. There are many web organizations such as www.notforsalecampaign.org, www.polarisproject.org , and homebrewedchristianity.com, help provide information about sex trafficking, true stories about trafficked victims, and global statistics. By having organizations such as these sites help provide information about the cruelty of sex trafficking and way to make an effort to help abolish the trafficking industry. Unfortunately, there is no simple solution to put an end to sex trafficking. In order for us to cease this horrid industry, we must start from within. For these helpless victims be put through a horrible travesty is hell on earth for these innocent people. We sometimes do not think about what we way when we joke about rape, or make fun of â€Å"sluts† or â€Å"prostitutes† we contribute to an industry that hurt innocent people. That is why is it so important to be aware that there are millions of people who are in need to seek help and to be rescued. We must come together as a society to bring this cruel act into the forefront of the media to expose traffickers and pimps to bring justice for trafficked victims and to essentially put an end to sex trafficking. Works Cited Home Brewed Christianity. Hell On Earth: A Sex Trafficking Survivor’s Story. HBC, 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2012 New Laws Help Fight Human Trafficking and Rescue our Children Who have been Victims of Sexual Exploitation. Targeted News ServiceJun 12 2012. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 14 Oct. 2012 . Not For Sale: End Human Trafficking and Slavery. NFS, 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2012 TBI Releases First Ever Study on Human Sex Trafficking in the State. Targeted News ServiceMay 18 2011. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 14 Oct. 2012 . Un.Gift. Global initiative to Fight Human Trafficking. GITFHT, 2007. Web. 5 Dec, 2012