Ending Human Trafficking
More than ever, the criminal rings of the world are slowing their drug trade, and ramping up their activities in the human flesh trade. The trafficking of people is a multibillion dollar worldwide criminal operation, mostly concealed to the average person. The demand for this flesh trade is fueled by high profits and low risks. Those trafficked are not only used for sexual exploitation, but cheap labor as well. To end human trafficking, law enforcement agencies must work together to target and implement the most severe penalties available to those consumers who choose to participate in the illegal purchasing, and the traffickers who are offering this human “product”. Local police are often the first responders to potential victims and perpetrators. Training law enforcement agents to distinguish victim from criminal is vital.
At any given time, an estimated 2.5 million people are forced into labor as a result of human trafficking, and an estimated 1.2 million are children. The global profits exceed 31 billion dollars, second only to the illegal drug trade (U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime. 1). Americans are unaware that people they may be dealing with on a daily basis may be shrouded in this elusive crime. Home workers, factory workers, farm workers, can all easily be coerced through violence and held under inhuman conditions (PR, Newswire). Strip clubs, massage parlors, and escort services are a few venues used to mask victims of trafficking. With little or no punishment, and high profit to gain, the traffickers and “johns” are fearless to the repercussions.
Despite new laws, few people are being prosecuted. Law enforcement officers focus on crimes, and may not be actively looking for trafficking offenses (Jayson 3). In a survey of local law enforcement agencies, it was found that the majority, seventy two percent, thought federal agencies were the best agencies to administer human trafficking cases. Sixty one percent disagree that this is currently an issue for local police agencies, as well as seventy five percent agreeing that transnational organized crime groups carry out the majority of trafficking (Wilson, William, Kleuber 154). These findings suggest local law enforcement perceive human trafficking as a crime that should be dealt with outside of local agencies and more on federal ground.
To help gain local awareness, administration and accountability, North Carolina along with many other states recently passed a new bill, The Safe Harbor Bill/ Victims of Human Trafficking Act, which aims to “create safe harbor for victims of human trafficking and for prostituted minors.” (Wagner). Federal Agents and local police are beginning to crack down on internet solicitations and human trafficking in Charlotte, NC. Around 11 p.m. on July26th, a prostitute walked into a Charlotte Holiday Inn and was met by an undercover officer. It is estimated 80 percent of prostitution in America start online (Wootson). As part of this particular national undercover operation, more than 150 alleged pimps were arrested, 3 working in Charlotte. Charlotte law enforcement agents rescued one underage girl, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation charged Keshaun O. Rhodes with transporting women from Georgia to North Carolina to participate in his prostitution ring (Wootson).
News quickly spreading in newsfeeds everywhere, Terre des Hommes Netherlands an organization working for the rights of children, is raising the bar on child exploitation. Researchers have been able to identify over 1,000 adults from 65 countries, who knowingly and willingly pay children to perform sexual acts through a web cam. As of November 4th 2013, all video footage has been handed over to appropriate authorities. With the help of “Sweetie”, a virtual character created and controlled by Terre des Hommes researchers, over 20,000 predators approached the virtual 10- year old asking for pictures and webcam sex acts ("Virtual Pinay girl snares online pedos”). The researchers were able to gather information through social media, and hand it over to enforcement agencies. Terre des Hommes is diligent in pushing other governments to take action. In less than two and a half months, researchers with Terre des Hommes were able to identify numerous predators ("Virtual Pinay girl snares online pedos”). If governments from all counties would carry out such proactive investigations, these child predators would know they will be caught, hiding behind their keyboards and webcams.
Project Spade was the investigation that led to a worldwide children pornography bust. 386 children have been rescued, 348 people arrested, 80 of them American nationals. Over 50 countries are involved (Cribb). Brian Way has been under investigation since 2010, after years of research and hard investigation Toronto authorities led the way to an “extraordinary example of international cooperation from law enforcement.” Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair says (Cribb.) Way is charged with making, distributing child pornography among a dozen other charges. Police officers around the globe worked together to synchronize all efforts to minimize any leaked information about their ongoing investigation (Cribb). Postal workers in the United States are even being held responsible for the take down as most child pornography is still sent by mail.
Many argue the fight to end human trafficking is not winnable. The illicit market of prostitution and sex trafficking are driven by demand (Shively 9). The demand will always be there, people will continue to have sexual wants they are unable to fulfill and will purchase where and when it is available. Where demand is strong, once the supply has been hindered, exploiters will typically shift to other sources or means of distribution (Shively 9). Pimps and traffickers are rarely caught due to victims being afraid of their captors. To the pimps and traffickers, girls, women, and men can be replaced to fulfill the demand, and to the few pimps and traffickers that are arrested, a new one will take over very shortly in that prior location. The war on human trafficking, sex slavery, and labor slavery is not one that will be won overnight. By maintaining a stern stance on fighting human trafficking, law enforcement agents need to continue to patrol the areas swamped with predators, prostitution and know trafficking. Seeing government officials and law enforcement agents working together for the common cause, one can see the overall good that will come of it. By making the masses aware and using the full extent of the law, the perpetrators will be caught and dealt with accordingly.
Works Cited
Cribb, Robert. "Child Porn Bust: How Police Worldwide Worked Together to Bring Down a Child Porn Ring." Thestar.com. Jennifer Quinn, 04 Nov. 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
Cribb, Robert. "Toronto Man Charged in Huge Worldwide Child-porn Bust." Thestar.com. Jennifer Quinn, 14 Nov. 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
Jayson, Karen G., M.S.C.J. "Human Trafficking in North Carolina: Human Beings as a Commodity." N.C. Governor's Crime Commission, 02 Oct. 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
PR, Newswire. "Polaris Project Launches Global Human Trafficking Hotline Network." PR Newswire US 09 Apr. 2013: Regional Business News. Web. 8 Dec. 2013.
Shively, Ph.D., Michael et al. “A National Overview of Prostitution and Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Efforts, Final Report.” April 30 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. (1-245)
Wagner, Adam. "Forum discusses spotting, stopping human trafficking." Star-News (Wilmington, NC) 26 July 2013: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 8 Dec. 2013. ants/238796.pdf>.
Wilson, Deborah G., William F. Walsh, and Sherilyn Kleuber. "Trafficking In Human Beings: Training And Services Among US Law Enforcement Agencies." Police Practice & Research 7.2 (2006): 149-160. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Nov. 2013
"Virtual Pinay girl snares online pedos." Filipino Reporter 08 Nov. 2013: 5. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 8 Dec. 2013.
U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime. “Global Report on Trafficking in Persons.” U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (December 2012):1-102. PDF file.
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