Slavery is not a shameful part of our past…slavery is a shameful part of our past, we failed to learn from! One hears the word slavery and they think back 200 years ago, but sadly there are more slaves today.
Child trafficking is child slavery, and it is not something happening in some far away place, but a problem no country can escape. Child trafficking is not someone else's problem, it is a plague that effects us all, and no country is spared. A child does not have to be transported across international borders, or even state lines, to be a victim of trafficking. Child trafficking also includes many victims of child soldiers, child labor, child pornography. What is child trafficking? Trafficking is the ‘recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people for the purpose of exploitation’. Trafficking of persons includes the threat, coercion or use of force, to abduct and/or deceive vulnerable persons, for the purpose of exploitation, either sexual or nonsexual.
Youth for Human Rights Human Slavery Public Service Announcement
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The United States has been taking a number of steps in the fight against human trafficking, one of the most important step was the creation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), which was enacted into law in October 2000. There are three main government organizations involved in combating human trafficking, they are the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security. Of course local and state police, the State Department, FBI, CIA, Department of Labor, and countless non-profit organizations are working on a daily basis to prevent trafficking, stop trafficking, rescue victims, prosecute traffickers, and provide victims support. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) works to see that the child is a victim of trafficking victim and therefore eligible for legal assistance, counseling, foster care, and and any other benefits, this is primarily carried out by individual states or NGOs. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has established the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), which works with the US States Attorney's offices, to see that those persons who have a role in child trafficking, slavery and exploitation are brought to justice.
Video on the DC Trafficking Task Force
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We are making strides to combat human trafficking and modern day slavery in the US, yet the fight is global and it will not end until we eliminate the root of trafficking, poverty. Child trafficking is a billion dollar industry, that preys on the weak and vulnerable, especially children. We are finally beginning to see the the truth as a nation and a global society, but we have a long way to go. Join the fight against child trafficking today, get informed, be aware and do your part no matter how small.
Recent Trafficking News:
EAST AFRICA: Human trafficking ‘on the rise’
India – Key Accused in Human Trafficking Scam Jailed
US – Lawmaker targets human trafficking
U.S. human trafficking report misses progress: Saudi
US Customs and Border Protection Steps Up Fight Against Human Trafficking
Danish funded anti-trafficking training sessions for Ukraine
Greece – Human trafficking ring busted
SAIS Hosted Forum on Trafficking in Persons on June 20, Mark Lagon, the newly appointed director of the U.S. State Department's
Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, discussed the department's recently released “2007 Trafficking in Persons Report” during a forum at SAIS on Wednesday, June 20. Click here to download or listen to audio of this event.
I have done a number of posts on child trafficking, child soldiers, and other forms of trafficking, therefore please see my previous posts for more information. Slaves in America and Follow up to Slaves in America, may be of particular interest.
Links:
The United States Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons
2006 TIP Report
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Human Trafficking
Millions Live in Modern-Day Slavery
New Internationalist; Slavery in the 21st Century
Foreign Affairs: The New Global Slave Trade
I Abolish
Stop Child Poverty
International Labor Rights Fund
National Geographic Map – Slavery by Country with Facts
Stop Child Trafficking
Child Trafficking
Polaris Project
Anti Trafficking Alliance
Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Woman
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
"Guidence for Identifying a Child Victim of Trafficking' by USCCB
ILO
The Emancipation Network
AFESIP
U.S. State Dept. – Office to Combat and Monitor Trafficking in Persons
Amnesty International: Women's Human Rights Network
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
Girls Educational and Mentoring Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The US Department of Health Administration for Children and Families – The Campaign to Rescue and Restore Victims of Human Trafficking
Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking
Guidance for Identifying a Child Victim of Trafficking
Frequently Asked Questions About Services to Trafficked Children
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) of the US Department of Health and Family Services – Administration for Children and Families
The Campaign to Rescue and Restore Victims of Human Trafficking
