What is human trafficking?Human trafficking is the trading of human beings for the purpose of unfree labour, sexual exploitation or illegal profits. It usually involves the use of violence, fraud or coercion to recruit, hide and transport people.
- It is seen as a form of slavery because traffickers use violence, threats and abuse to make people work against their will.
- An estimated 1 million people are trafficked across international borders annually.
- 80–90% is women who are forced into prostitution, domestic service, forced marriage or manual labour (sweatshops).
- 50% are children who are forced into manual labour, trained as soldiers or sexually exploited.
- Boys and young men are commonly trafficked to use for hard, unskilled labour.
After all of this time and research, why are people still being trafficked?1. People are often lured into an industry through false promises. They voluntary enter the workforce but are deceived about the conditions of the work. Many have left their homes because they want to change their lifestyle. Poverty, political repression and lack of work drive them to find opportunities and a better life abroad.
2. Because of debt. Family members will sometimes sell a female member in order to get cash. A woman or girl can cost anywhere from US$100–900. These women and girls must then work off the debt that they caused. It takes years to pay off the debt and throughout that time more debt is acquired through food, shelter and other expenses.
3. Women and children are lured, kidnapped and tricked into this industry. Many trust travelling visitors who promise a high paying job in a developed area but are taken advantage of and forced into new occupations. Many women leave their home and families in search of opportunities and money, but when they arrive in a new city they find they don’t have a choice but carry out a job they are forced into.
Where is this happening?Human trafficking is a global issue. No country is immune to this growing concern; however it is increasing much faster in some countries than others. Including:
- Central and Eastern Europe
- Russia
- Thailand
- Philippines
- and many other countries in Southeast Asia.
Why don’t victims escape?Many victims try to escape but it is very difficult for them to leave their situation. If caught, their punishment can be horrific: beating, rape or abuse. Also, victims often have no money, passport, family or friends—no way to escape and nowhere to escape to.
Victims sufferingVictims can suffer mental anguish but also physical injuries and a decline in health. HIV/AIDS is very common because victims have no means of protecting themselves. A study showed that almost 40% of victims found in Cambodia are HIV positive.
Situation in Australian According to Humantrafficking.org a small number of women and children are trafficked to Australia from countries in Southeast Asia, South Korea and China. Some women come voluntarily in order to work in both legal and illegal brothels, while others are forced or deceived into coming. In 2003 the Commonwealth Government announced an A$20 million package to combat human trafficking. The package complemented per-existing government efforts worth A$14 million. To find out more go to
http://www.humantrafficking.org. How do I know this?Humantrafficking.org,
http://www.humantrafficking.org.au Project Respect,
http://www.projectrespect.org.au/ UNICEF,
Trafficking and sexual exploitation,
http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_exploitatio... United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,
Trafficking in Human Beings,
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/trafficking_human_being... Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia,
Trafficking in human beings,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking
