What are the CONTEMPORARY forms of slavery today?Some contemporary forms of slavery are human and sex trafficking, child sex tourism, and child exploitation. The U.S. Government defines human trafficking as "Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age. 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 subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery (3)." Child sex tourism is a form of tourism that is focused on commercially promoting intimate relationships with children. In the United States, there is a large market for child exploitation (1).
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What is motivating these contemporary forms of slavery?
These activities can give an economic boost to a country and women participating in these activities. For example, females in Thailand can earn up to 25 times the normal salary of an average job in Thailand (1).
Some of the biggest factors that lead to people falling into the sex market include economic injustices, poverty, and unattached men in construction or military operations. Another factor can be the victim's family’s life, which include poor relationship with family, having been abused or neglected growing up, parents had mental illness or substance abuse, children living homelessly on the streets after leaving their home. One the most shocking factors is that the victims are uninformed about what sex trade really is. Victims also are often misled when they are recruited for this form of employment (2).
Some of the biggest factors that lead to people falling into the sex market include economic injustices, poverty, and unattached men in construction or military operations. Another factor can be the victim's family’s life, which include poor relationship with family, having been abused or neglected growing up, parents had mental illness or substance abuse, children living homelessly on the streets after leaving their home. One the most shocking factors is that the victims are uninformed about what sex trade really is. Victims also are often misled when they are recruited for this form of employment (2).
Where are they most Prevalent?These forms of modern slavery, especially human trafficking are done underground, which makes it difficult to fully collect data on it (2). There are approximately 30 million women and young girls who have been forced into prostitution(1). There are approximately 1.2 million women and young girls who enter the global commercial sex market yearly, which is due to human trafficking(2).
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Who is effected by this form of Slavery?
Women and children are most effected by this form of slavery. This situation, in reality, is hard to measure, partly because it is hard to define the exact age for classification of a child versus a minor. Regardless of age, these females are often being preyed upon by pimps or people who belong to gangs(1). These men typically use coercion, deception and abduction to abduct their victims (2). Though many women and children do not seek to become a part of sex trafficking, they are often given no other choice by the people who take ownership of them.
How is this Affecting women and CHILDREN?
Through sex trafficking, children are exposed to activities that both traumatizing them and deprive them of their childhood. These activities include rape, drug addiction, and physical beatings. This exposure has influenced a majority of the children in these situations to become hooked on drugs and alcohol. Some are even forced to participate in these activities. Along with the activities, comes terrible effects, which include greater risk for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome virus (AIDS), pregnancy or pelvic inflammatory disease resulting. There are also possible psychological effects that can happen, such as depression, decreased self-esteem or even PTSD (1). Overall, this can lead to self-hate and the feeling of hopelessness (2).
How does this impact Freedom and Movement?Children are being exploited and losing their rights, which is plaguing society today. The females are trapped emotionally and mentally, which often leads to some returning to the sex business they came from after they escape, in search for the “support” they felt while there (2). These victims feel the need to return because of the resentment they have developed towards their families and the dependence they are subjected to when trapped in the sex business.
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A common occurrence with sex trafficking is that these women are promised freedom of movement after they work long enough to pay off their debts for travel. Some women are promised low priced travel to America, but upon arrival, they encounter additional fees which they are informed can only be paid off through prostitution: “The women did not have freedom of movement and, until they paid off their bondage debts, were modern-day sex slaves.” (4) These women are not able to move freely until they are deemed unless by their owners. However, other women are forced to continuously move in an attempt to escape their traffickers, as with Shamere McKenzie: “Looking for a way out of the abuse, McKenzie ran away the next month and stayed with her uncle. Though she physically escaped, McKenzie was still trapped by fear. She remained in contact with her trafficker, and he threatened to hurt her family if she called the police or refused to come back. Within two weeks of escaping, McKenzie returned to her trafficker; upon return, she was brutally raped and sodomized.” (5) McKenzie was unable to move freely without fear of her attacker.
How WE can Help Eliminate this slavery?
There are some organizations and laws that are in place that are supposed to prevent these activities from happening. Even though there are laws to end this form of human trafficking, these issues are not being reduced. One factor that allows these illegal crimes to be more accessible is the internet (1). A few ways we can help prevent this recurrence from happening is by changing legislation, enforcing laws and promoting active social work (2).