The United States defines trafficking in persons as follows, “All acts involved in the transport, harboring, or sale of persons within national or across international borders through coercion, force, kidnapping, deception or fraud, for purposes of placing persons in situations of forced labor or services, such as forced prostitution, domestic servitude, debt bondage or other slavery like conditions” (Department of State, 2009). The common denominator is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit a person for profit. The U.S. estimates that there are around 800,000 people trafficked across national borders annually. The International Labor Organization estimates that at any one time in the world, 12.3 million people are held in modern day slavery of forced labor, bonded labor, forced child labor and sexual servitude (Department of State, 2009).
Human trafficking is a global problem; it is considered the world’s fastest growing criminal enterprise. Virtually all nations are touched by human trafficking as either a source, transit and/or destination country. Patterns of trafficking generally flow from poorer to wealthier countries. Many factors contribute to the increasing commoditization of humans. Traffickers use impoverished conditions to their advantage. In many cases supply countries have high rates of poverty, violence and corruption. Many people seek a way out of poverty, and therefore are open to deception of a false promise of a better life (Clawson, Small, Go, & Myles, 2003). The demand for cheap labor and sexual services create the market. Also, globalization of the world economy and the sex industry has magnified the human trafficking (Raymond, 2003).
The U.S. Department of State (2009) estimates that 50,000 people are trafficked into the United States annually. The main demand worldwide for trafficking in persons is for labor; however, the sex industry is the main demand of the women and children trafficked into the United States (Nowak, 2007). The U.S is the second largest destination country for women and children trafficked for sexual exploitation, lead only by Germany. The women and girls are mainly supplied from Asia, Mexico, and the former Soviet Bloc (Schauer & Wheaton, 2006). According to Huckerby (2007), about half of the cases of human trafficking in the U.S. are for labor purposes such as (sweatshop labor, domestic servitude, agricultural work, maid service, peddling and begging), while the other half is to support the sex industry (prostitution, stripping and massage parlor services).
The most influential anti-trafficking organization in the United States is the Coalition against Trafficking in Women (CATW). Other organizations or groups include: the Protection Project, the Polaris Project, the Freedom Network, Human Rights Watch, city-wide coalitions, feminist and prostitution abolitionists groups, faith-based organizations, along with children rights advocates, and labor rights groups etc.
There are a limited number of NGO’s that are explicitly designed for trafficking victims; however, other organizations like domestic violence shelters, sexual assault clinics, human rights advocates, and/or refugee services offer service to the population. These NGO’s may be federally-funded, state-funded, and/or privately funded (Clawson et al., 2003). Busch, Fond and Williamson (2004) explain how domestic violence services are a vital part of the service delivery system to women who are victims of trafficking, due to the similarity of emotional, psychological and physical abuses. Two large faith-based organization, the United Sates Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services work with the U.S. government to offer services to trafficking victim who are the age of 18. Also, the Salvation Army provides services to trafficking victims, which may include: temporary housing services, drug and alcohol treatment, primary health care, employment services, and life skills classes (Clawson et al., 2003).
The roles of social workers and social service providers serving victims of human trafficking are all encompassing from offering direct services, to advocating for their rights, to creating legislation. Nowak (2007) describe the role of the service provider to fill the gap that is not filled by federal, state, or local government levels. The author states, “social workers often can tap into food banks, thrift or charity stores, agency emergency assistance programs, domestic violence shelters, youth shelters, school-based programs, religious organizations and pro-bono attorneys to meet the pressing needs of identified victims” (p. 13).
Over the past few years, movies the Opera show and National Geographic have been trying to raise people's awareness to the severity of human trafficking domesically and internationally. Most people are aware of the case that has been in the media regarding the Americans who were caught trying to take the kids from Haiti. Who knows if we will ever find out the real motives behind these people. Interestingly, Haiti has been considered a 'special case' under the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report for the past four years, due to civil unrest, lack of government, and corruption. The new government has not been able to address human trafficking. The current situation, after the January 12 earthquake, will probably increase the trafficking of Haitians domestically and internationally. Hopefully, Haiti and destination countries will be closely monitored for such activities.
Busch, N., Fong, Rowena., & Williamson, J. (2004). Human trafficking and domestic violence:
Comparisons in research methodology needs and strategies. Journal of Social Work Research and Evaluation, 5(2), 137-147.
Clawson, H., Small, K., Go, E., & Myles, B. (2003). Needs assessment for service providers
and trafficking victims. Prepared for U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of
Justice. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
Department of State (2009). Trafficking in Persons Report, June. Washington, D.C.:
Government Printing Office. Retrieved March 30, 2009, from http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2009/
Huckerby, J. (2007). United States of America. Collateral damage: the impact of anti-trafficking measures on human rights around the world (pp. 230-256). Thailand: Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women. Retrieved July 28, 2008, from http://www.gaatw.org/
Nowak, B. (2007). Modern day slavery: The United States responds to human trafficking.
Personal copy, retrieved November, 2007.
Raymond, J. (2003). Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW). The ongoing tragedy
of international slavery and human trafficking: An overview. Testimony before the
subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness of the Committee on Government Reform,
House of Representatives. Retrieved July 14, 2008, from hpp://www.catwinternational.org
Schauer, E., & Wheaton, E. (2006). Sex trafficking into the United States: A literature review.
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