Human Trafficking (Research Paper Sample)

Human Trafficking
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Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is a global issue that involves coercing a person to provide services or labor forcefully, violating their human rights. Trafficking started in the sixteenth century, targeting individuals from all genders, backgrounds, and ages. Women and girls are the most targeted population trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation. In a recent report by the International Labor Organization (ILO), out of the 40 million people trafficked, women and girls comprise 29 million, 72 percent of the total (Cockbain & Bowers, 2019). African women and children get trafficked annually in large numbers. The African tradition and culture have been the leading cause of trafficking in persons; cultural practices such as male dominance perpetuate the inhuman act. Society impacts human trafficking by creating vulnerable conditions such as poverty, unemployment, displacement, and cultural traditions. Using the historical lens in analyzing the topic enables the integration of past events to make sense of the current view on the issue. Human trafficking is extensively exposed to women and girls perceived to be weak for sexual exploitation and forced labor; history depicts culture as the main factor attributing to the inhuman act.
Human Trafficking Through a Historical Lens
In the contemporary world, people are still exposed to slavery through human trafficking or forced labor. Individuals get recruited, transported, and transferred through force, deception, or coercion. The victims are exploited by forced labor, organ harvesting, and sexual exploitation. Human trafficking is believed to have occurred since the sixteenth century when the Portuguese traveled to Africa, acquired enslaved people, and transported them back to Europe, where they were subjected to forced labor (Cockbain & Bowers, 2019). History indicates that slavery was widely experienced; it was legal and was controlled for a very long period in human history across many continents and civilizations (Cockbain & Bowers, 2019). In the beginning, it was only inflicted on Africans and extensively exploited by the European nations. From the 16th century, human trafficking was a regular act. Global efforts to end slavery have been in motion since the 19th and 20th centuries (Kiss & Zimmerman, 2019). In the contemporary world, communities and governments play a significant role in eradicating the issue but face many challenges.
Impact on Government and Private Institutions
Slavery has been in existence since the earliest form of humanity. The world began to move towards antislavery legislation in the mid-1800s, with Brazil, the second-largest importer of enslaved Africans at the time, banning the trade (Kiss & Zimmerman, 2019). In the American constitution amended in 1865, any form of involuntary service was outlawed; similarly, the Portuguese government in 1875 illegalized slavery and any form of trafficking that involved humans (Kiss & Zimmerman, 2019). Government institutions and other organizations got involved in the fight against human trafficking practices, considering them inhuman and against human rights. The resurgence of slavery in 1945 was mainly because of the high increase in population, corruption, and massive economic changes (Msuya, 2017). Modern-day slavery incorporates the illegal control of individuals subjected to forced labor, other exploitations, and human trafficking. One hundred sixty countries signed the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNODC) in Palermo, Italy, in 2000 (Winterdyk, 2019). It outlined a protocol focused on prevention, prosecution, and protection to eradicate human trafficking.
Human trafficking crime profitability has grown and continues to be a significant concern that government institutions have failed to address. Globalization has been a major factor facilitating the increase in human trafficking as people cross borders for varying reasons (Gezie, Yalew, Gete, & Samkange-Zeeb, 2021). Government institutions are now investing in the eradication of human trafficking by providing education to the public. Raising awareness reduces the vulnerability of the targeted populations. Financial institutions are the principal victims of human trafficking; they monitor and report any suspected illegal activities. Federal laws such as the USA Patriot Act and the Bank Secrecy Act have been established to help fight in-person trafficking (Cockbain & Bowers, 2019). Banks are expected to be extra cautious; if they fail and transact funds generated from human trafficking, they are subjected to heavy fines. The institutions face regulatory challenges, including identifying red flags and reporting.
The Shaping of Social Practices
Globalization has resulted in significant and rapid human changes, affecting society. Issues have shaped social practices that have evolved from globalization, such as human trafficking. Modern slavery, which involves trafficking, has risen from the old forms of slavery, such as chattel enslaved people (Kiss & Zimmerman, 2019). It is part and parcel of the unregulated economic world brought about by globalization. Many individuals are moving from rural to urban areas at an alarming rate leading to the growth of cities. The movements lead to increased domestic and social violence and family disruption. Human trafficking is one such crime that has