On the week of January the 11th US citizens observed National Human Trafficking Awareness Day through acts of education, legislation, and enforcement; whilst, around the world, other people highlighted or tackled this global problem in their own countries. According to an annual report on human trafficking released by the
US State Department in June last year, 27 million men, women and children are exploited through human trafficking. Worldwide, at least two million children are estimated to be trafficked victims of the human trade; and, in military conflicts, it is not uncommon for children to be forced to bear arms. In releasing the report last year, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing trafficking, and cultural issues associated with it. The students at Hudson K-8 participated in a pilot art project where they created human trafficking awareness posters. An art project of this nature should be of particular importance to students that are in the age category that is targeted by human traffickers globally and in the United States.
Although National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is a US-based effort to recognise, and highlight, this issue — as a topic of global concern being highlighted through the United Nations, others around the world continue efforts to increase public awareness and tackle trafficking.
Forty-six women from the international group Operation Mobilization sought to raise awareness by climbing Tanzania's
Mount Kilimanjaro. The summit is called "Uhuru Peak", with
Uhuru meaning "freedom" in
Swahili. Each of the non-professional climbers raised
US$10,000 to help those affected by human trafficking. In the Middle East, several countries are reported to have problems with human traffickers recruiting unemployed Kenyan men to become human slaves. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are supposedly the more-common destination countries into which Kenyans are lured with offers of high-paying jobs. However, in the United Arab Emirates — where no law prohibits trafficking, but homosexuality is illegal — the problem is compounded.
Enforcement of existing laws, and acting against trafficking, are seen as key steps in reducing the activity. Showing that no country is unaffected, Northern Ireland police are currently investigating five trafficking cases; and, on Monday, Filipino police rescued fifteen women following a tip-off regarding women recruited, and being held, prior to being sent to work abroad.
In the Northern Ireland situation, Detective Superintendent Philip Marshall stated that fifteen men are to be contacted, suspected of having paid for relations with trafficked women. Identifying victims within the UK, or victims seeking help, is becoming more challenging with the sex industry having switched to using hotel rooms as-opposed to street corners. Many victims of trafficking are found to be unaware of where within the country they are. In the Philippines situation,
Zamboanga City police are still seeking the recruiter of the fifteen women rescued in Rio Hondo.
A range of complexities are involved in the sentencing of both those convicted of human trafficking, and their victims. In one Canadian case, 43-year-old Hungarian Lajos Domotor pled guilty to trafficking men and women into forced labor. Following being charged with conspiracy to commit human trafficking, he developed terminal stomach cancer and has been given a 10 to 15 percent chance of living five years. Under the United Nations'
Palermo Protocols, human trafficking encompasses cases where victims are born into slavery, forcibly transported for exploitation, consented to work with a trafficker, and/or were forced to participate in criminal activities. The Protocols also recognize the unique status and rights of children.
Source:
WIKINEWS
Resources
Global Motherhood
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Children and Families
Stop the traffic: Get involved in human trafficking awareness day
