The New Face of Slavery: Human Trafficking & Domestic Violence

Sex trafficking involves the exploitation of women and children within their own country and internationally as well for the purpose of forced sex work. Sex trafficking can include the recruitment, transport, transfer, or sale of females for sexual purposes. The ILO or “International Labor Organization” has estimated that approximately 12 million individuals are enslaved or forced into a life of sex slavery, sexual servitude, or related situations. Annually, 800,000 of these women and children are trafficked across national borders. And these numbers are growing, as Human trafficking is becoming more feasible due to globalization and the ease with which individuals can transfer sex workers between different countries.

Human Trafficking isn’t limited to any region—it affects nearly every country in the world. Approximately 120,000 women are internationally trafficked into Western Europe each year, and international sex trafficking has been reported in the states of New York, California, and Florida as well, with an estimated 30,000-40,000 sex slaves in the United States. Domestically, all 50 states have reported human trafficking.

Victims of human traffic are subjected to physical abuse, psychological torture, and domestic violence. They go unfed, are unable to sleep, and are unable to move, and in many cases do not speak the same language as their captors—an additional layer of psychological stress. Oftentimes women are given drugs to pacify them and prevent their escape. They’re raped by the traffickers themselves and then forced to serve clients, sometimes up to 30 men a day, making them incredibly vulnerable to STIs, AIDS, and pregnancies.

In order to stop human trafficking and domestic violence, the effort must be made by both the supply side (both the traffickers and their victims) and the demand (the buyers) as both parties contribute to the problem. Economic opportunities and life alternatives should be made available to prevent women from becoming victims, perhaps counseling services, educational programs, job training, and working with organizations to advance the economic, political, and social roles women play in their country. Increased public awareness would also stop human trafficking and domestic violence, in addition to lawmakers and other officials who have the authority to punish traffickers and enforce legislation to forbid and deter individuals from purchasing sex slaves.

Shelters for victims of domestic violence and other social support services are beneficial, as well as other programs designed to respond to the needs of women and girls who have suffered due to sex trafficking. Rehab and transitional living programs are also necessary to stop human trafficking and domestic violence and help women who are in the process of returning to society.

Sex slavery, human trafficking, and domestic violence is a transnational problem that requires the efforts and coordination of many international and national agencies. As of now, efforts to stop human traffic and domestic violence have been largely ineffective. To combat trafficking, law enforcement and government officials must prosecute traffickers, fight corrupt facilities that profit from the exchange of women, shut down trafficking routes, and identify victims of sexual trafficking and direct them to appropriate care.

Learn more about how to stop human trafficking and domestic violence: Read “The New Face of Slavery”. Download the PDF to learn more.

Bio: Erica Ronchetti is a freelance writer for Soroptimist International of the Americas, an organization working to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. Learn more about how to stop human trafficking and domestic violence and how you can raise awareness at http://www.soroptimist.com. Or read the paper, “The New Face of Sex Slavery”.