Introduction

Human trafficking is one of the leading global crimes in the society today. In its worst manifestation, it is a vice that to a great extent relate to modern-day slavery. It refers to illegal sale of trade or ’’sale’’ of human beings for sexual exploitation or forced labor through abduction, deception, use of threat or force and fraud. The increased globalization experienced in the world today has lead to the escalation of the problem. In most cases, victims pay to be illegally transported into the United States and later find themselves in the thrall of traffickers. They are forced into prostitution, involuntary labor and other forms of servitude to repay debts that they incur in the cross-border transactions (Avendaño and Fanning, 216).  Every person can be a victim of human trafficking including children, men, and women. They find themselves surrounded by unfamiliar culture and language and in a foreign land. They live in fear of themselves and their families since they have no identification documents and can easily find themselves in tough situations. Most of the human trafficking acts happen in the United States although there are other cases in all other parts of the world.  In essence, human trafficking is a real problem in the modern society, and the world is working tirelessly to ensure that this vice comes to an end.

Discussion

As aforementioned, human trafficking is a leading crime in the world today and can happen to anyone including men, women and children. Crimes related to human trafficking have been on the rise in the past few years and is classified as the fastest growing crime in the world today. Although it’s more prevalent in the United States, the vice is also on all other continents. It has also been noted that human trafficking is rampant in the Middle East especially in Afghanistan. Human trafficking does not choose gender or age and can happen to anyone at any time of their lives (Farrell, Lanier and Bezuidenhout 275-283).  Most of the human trafficking victims try to cross borders in search of greener pastures but things turns for the worse when they step in the foreign land. They live in harsh conditions, and the basic human rights as outlined in the United Nations Declaration are no longer present in their lives.

Previous studies have alleged that human trafficking is a fast growing criminal industry where women and children are the most affected (Baker 191-208).  Victims of human trafficking acts always live in fear and are afraid to speak out, as they fear to be captured again. It is, therefore, essential that the world comes together to deal with the menace and ensure that women and children who suffer most from these actions enjoy their rights. It is sad to note that most of these actions happen as people just watch and do nothing to restore sanity in the globe. It is prudent that the world become proactive to ensure fundamental human rights of children and women are safeguarded.  (Baker 191-208).

It should be noted that human trafficking is not only a problem of the United States but also a global problem. On this note, something needs to happen around the whole world so as human trafficking can come to an end. United States and the world at large should put in place stringent rules and regulations that will help reduce the escalating problem of human trafficking. Human trafficking is the second rampant crime in the United States after drugs. According to the US state Department, between 600,000 to 820,000 men; women and children are trafficked across international borders annually. The trend is likely to escalate in the near future if there are no proactive measures to curb the ever-increasing menace (Haynes, 218).

It is sad to note that most of the people trafficked in the United States are women and children thus making the issue of paramount global concern. The women and children suffer more due to the fact that they are more marginalized in the society as compared to their male counterparts (Kotrla, 181-187).  In other words, women and children are susceptible to human traffickers than men simply due to their economic and social status. They also have limited economic resources and consequently are excellent targets for perpetrators of these heinous acts.   It is estimated that upwards of 17,000 people are trafficked into the United States annually, and an additional 200,000 American children are at the risk of child trafficking for the sex industry (Lerum et al.). Most of the people trafficked in the United States are from Canada to the US and vice versa. Human trafficking varies from country to country, but in most cases it is as a result of persistence poverty in a locality. In most cases, people from impoverished and low-income households, ethnic minorities, refugees, illegal migrants, people with low levels of education and young girls running away from their homes are the most affected people by the crime.

The most common trafficking techniques involve using the local contacts to identify the vulnerable families. It is also worth to note that human trafficking also entails direct sales where parents willingly sell their families to traffickers due to economic reasons (Avendaño and Fanning 76-81).  There have also been reported cases of unscrupulous agents who deceive parents and lure women and girls with false promises of well-paid jobs and never-to-be marriages.

Debt bondage has also been a leading factor the increased cases of human trafficking in the United States. This often occurs as a result of traffickers providing economic incentives and financial loans to parents and as a result their children end up in sex-slavery or any other form of exploitative labor. Sex trafficking is the most prevalent form of human trafficking experienced in the United States and other parts of the world. It refers to an occurrence whereby someone uses force, coercion, or fraud to cause a commercial sex act with an adult or causes a minor to engage in sexual escapades.  Sexual trafficking may involve prostitution, pornography and sexual performances done in exchange for any item of value such as drugs, money, shelter, food and clothes. The practice is a gross violation of human rights as outlined in the UNDHR. Sex trafficking deny women and children right to life, liberty and security as outlined in section 3 of UDHR and article six (6) of  Convention of the Rights of Child (Lerum et al.). Human traffickers take advantage of the vulnerable people in the society and use force or coercion in compelling adults and children to engage in sex activities against their will. According to the US federal law, any person under the age of eighteen (18) induced into commercial sex is considered a victim of sex trafficking regardless of whether or not the trafficker used force, fraud or coercion.

Studies indicate that 75% of human trafficking activities are related to sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors and females (Panigabutra-Roberts, Anchalee, 138-159). This is explained by the fact that most of the rich people need sexual pleasures, especially with the minors. As a result, they cough huge sums of money to have sex with such young girls. Victims of sex trafficking face varied unpleasant situations such as getting in forced romance or prostitution. Some of the sex trafficking activities are orchestrated by parents who introduce their young girls into sex life just to get money.

In the United States, cases of sex trafficking involve both the Americans and non-Americans and is also spread across all genders and ages (Denton 32-62).  The most affected people with sex trafficking are the economically challenged as well as the vulnerable population such as the runaway and homeless youths as well as victims of domestic violence and social discrimination. In the United States, this crime has been happening in various venues including fake massage parlors, hotels, online ads and escort services. The business is said to have impressive returns and thus attracting more traffickers.

Statistics from various reports, such as the National Human Right Trafficking Resource Centre, indicates that there are an estimated 14,588 cases of sex trafficking in the United States alone. It has been found that most of the reported cases involving lost children and young girls have a relation to sex trafficking. Also, the problem of sex trafficking is not in the United States alone. According to statistics from the International Labor 0rganizations (ILO), there are estimated 4.5 million cases of sexual trafficking in the world. Parts of Middle East such as Afghanistan, Qatar and Pakistan have also made a significant contribution to the global cases of sex trafficking (“The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and Elimination of Violence against Children in ASEAN” 155-160). Despite of intense effort to do away with this vice sex trafficking is prevalent in the states in America including New York and Colorado.

According to a report from the Urban Institute, the underground sex business is said to have a turnover of around $39.9 million in Denver, Colorado while that in Atlanta Georgia is estimated to be around $290 million (Farrell, Lanier and Bezuidenhout 275-283).  This is a clear indication that sex trafficking is a money minting business that has attracted most American residents across all the states. It is also worth to point out that the business also mints money in other states including New York and North Carolina. The thriving of this business has been attributed to acute demand for sex services especially amongst the rich in the American society.

Commercial sexual exploitation of children in tourism mainly in Asia, Africa, and South America is also another form of sex trafficking. For instance, over ten million children all over the world are engaged in the sex industry (Melchiori 347-349).  As a result, at least one million young girls are engaging in prostitution. For instance in Asia alone, at least one million young girls are exploited sexually in brothels bars as well as on the streets. The same pattern is also evident in other countries such as Bangladesh and some parts of Africa. In other parts such as the coastal areas of Sri Lanka, sex trafficking also involves boys where they are exploited as prostitutes (Baker 191-208).  Most of the tourists visiting these recreational areas seek sex services from the traffickers and in return get huge sums of money. In Taiwan, the number of children exploited sexually by local residents, and foreign visitors annually ranges between forty and sixty thousand.

Child sex tourism is a major concept that is practiced all over the world. Nevertheless, the issue is more prevalent in Africa, Asia, Central and South America. Victims of child sex tourism are also another form where basic children’s rights as outlined in the Convention of the Rights of a Child are violated. A child is entitled to life, parental care and education and all of these are made impossible trough child trafficking. For instance, it is estimated that over 250,000 sex tourist visit Asia annually from all parts of the world (Duger 114).  It is, however, worrying to note that the child sex industry has exploded in the recent times in some African countries as well as in Central and South America. For instance in Colombia, there has been reported over 500 percent increase in a number of minors involved in the sex industry. Although young girls are at more risk of sex exploitation than boys, there are instances where boys and men become targets of sex trafficking (Avendaño and Fanning 86-93).

Instances of sex trafficking involving boys and men are mainly due to sex tourists who demand services from boys and men. Most African and Asian countries are known to have ‘’beach boys’’ and ‘’hanky-panky boys’’ who are known to flock most tourist destinations (Noyori-Corbett, C., and D. P. Moxley). In fact, it has been noted that in Sri Lanka and North Africa, the number of males working as prostitutes is more than that of girls. The same cases have also been noticed in some parts of Eastern Europe where more boys than girls are involved in prostitution and other sexual acts such as pornography.

It is imperative to point out that the short and long-term impacts on children and other victims of sex trafficking are enormous. Besides the psychological torture, victims of sexual exploitation are at the risk of contracting deadly diseases such as HIV/AIDS. For instance, a report by a Cambodian NGO provides that more than seventy percent of all girls rescued from sex trafficking acts had contracted HIV/AIDS.  The victims are also at the risk of exposure to physical violence that can lead to permanent disability. It is also imperative to point out that the victims of sex trafficking will also suffer from drug and substance abuse to enable them to deal with the stress and challenges involved in sexual exploitation (Turner, 310-315). It is also essential to point out that most victims of sex trafficking end up being violent and engage in other forms anti-social behavior.

Sex trafficking and trafficking for forced labor and servitude are not the only cases of human trafficking in the world today. There is an emerging trend where organ trafficking and illicit transplant surgeries have become a major global concern. This is a form of human trafficking that involves the sale of people so that they can get their organs, especially kidneys, transplanted. The increased globalization and development in organ transplant procedures, the demand for organs needed for transplant have also increased significantly (Melchiori, 347-349).

It is worth to note that the world has experienced a wide gap between the supply and demand for these organs thus allowing an illegal and unregulated organ market to flourish.  The issue of organ trafficking has become a global issue.  Cases of organ trafficking have been reported in several countries such as India, Turkey, Kosovo, South Africa, Israel and also in the United States (Logan, T.K., R. Walker, and G. Hunt). It is poignant to point out that this problem has been on the alarming rise, and it has not been taken with the seriousness it deserves.

It is essential to note that the organ transplant process is a very sensitive process and if the right procedures are not followed, and then there are high chances that the process can be fatal. For instance, after the first case of smuggled organ transplant in 1990, the number of post-operative deaths of transplant tour recipients from botched surgeries, mismatched organs and other infections such as HIV and Hepatitis C has been on a tremendous rise (Hudlow). These problems may affect both the ‘’seller’’ and the recipient and in extreme cases, it can lead to death.

It has been reported that most living kidney sellers have suffered from post-operative infections, weakness, and depression (Denton 32-62).  Others have also died as a result of suicides or from kidney failures. According to organ Watch report, at least five people from a group of 38 kidneys Sellers died from a village in Moldova (Worthen, 86).

The commercialization and the increased demand of the transplanted organ have lead to increasing in this business in over 50 nations globally. It is, however, essential to point out that the trade is more prevalent in Nepal and the United States. According to world health organization, at least ten thousand black market operations are happening every year all over the world. It is prudent to note that the sites of this illicit trade have spread from Asia to Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Africa, Latin America and the United States (Baker 191-208).  Most of these black market operations are facilitated by local criminal networks while others are run by organized global syndicates that are mobile and dangerous to trace or interrupt.

Organ trafficking operations involve a long network of people that ensure that the whole circuit is complete. This network include mobile surgeons, brokers, patients, and sellers who meet for clandestine surgeries involving cut-throat deals that are enforced with violence if need be. Most of the ‘’kidney hunters’’ are former sellers recruited by the network of the global syndicates into the tight web of the transplant trafficking scheme. (Farrell, Lanier and Bezuidenhout 275-283). It is, however, essential to note that the organ trafficking business involves poor nationals, new immigrants, global guest workers and political or economic refugees recruited from abroad to serve the needs of the transplant tourists in countries that tolerate or actively facilitate the transplant business.

The problem of organ trade has been in existence for long enough, but most of the developed countries have viewed it as a problem for the third world countries especially Africa and other third world countries. It is nevertheless essential to point out that this practice has been incurred out in the United States hospitals as well as in South Africa not to mention the various tourists’ packages all over the world (Potocky, 196-199). The persistence of economic and political crisis has resulted in an increase in the number of vulnerable people who fall prey to the perpetrators of this illegal trade. Although the process is aimed at benefiting some sick people at the expense of others, it is a risky process since both the ‘’donor’ and the ‘’recipient’’ risk death or illness due to lack of proper medical follow-ups. It is, therefore, prudent that the globe takes a strong stand against the vice to ensure that no more deaths as a result of this illegal trade.

Besides persistence of economic and political crisis that has lead to increased cases of human trafficking, lack of enforceable anti-trafficking laws have also lead to escalation of the problem. For instance, in the case of People vs. GM, the defendant fails to get justice from the courts and the fact that she was a victim of sex trafficking make her live a miserable life thereafter. Most of victims of sex trafficking are arrested and charged for prostitution leaving the culprits of human trafficking scot free to perpetrate the illegal trade. The same is also evidenced in the case People v. LG where victims suffer in the courts due to lack of proper anti-trafficking laws in the globe. If this problem is not adequately addressed, the future is doomed in respect to human trafficking as there is likelihood that the business will thrive in coming years.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, human trafficking is illegal in every country and is equated to modern-day slavery. The forms of human trafficking vary from one country to another but have adverse effects on the society. It is prudent to note that the most prevalent forms of human trafficking include trafficking for forced labor, sex trafficking, and trafficking organs. Actions of human trafficking ultimately goes against the human rights as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights (UNDHR) that guarantees every person right to life, liberty and protection. Most of the human traffickers target the vulnerable in the community such as runaway children, refugees, and the poor and other disadvantaged people in the society (Libal and Parekh 1477-1489).  The traffickers take advantage of their adversaries to enrich themselves. It is evident that the human trafficking trade is one of the most profitable illegal trades and has been on expansion in the recent years. Although the trade is so rampant, most of the people are not aware of its existence and hence are unable to act against its thriving. Also, there are still no anti-trafficking legislations thus making the perpetrators of these crimes go unpunished (Lerum et al.)The ever increasing crisis after crisis have also increased the number of vulnerable people and consequently enhancing the chance for the trade to thrive. Every country in the world is somehow involved in human trafficking thus making it a global concern. It is only trough global approaches that the problem can be solved.

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