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Human trafficking, also known as modern slavery, is the trade of humans for causes like forced labor, sexual exploitation, organ harvest, or child work. Human trafficking can happen to individuals in any group no matter their race, age, or gender, and in every region of the world, even in developed, supposedly “safe” western countries.
There are different types of Human Trafficking, with the most prevalent being:
Every year millions of women, men, and children are trafficked and forced to perform unspeakable acts of labor – such as producing and trafficking drugs, performing other crimes against their will – or being involved in the commercial sex trade. The International Labor Organization [1] estimates that there are over 40.3 million victims of human trafficking victims and about 71% of those are women and girls.
“Human trafficking is an open wound on the body of contemporary society, a scourge upon the body of Christ. It is a crime against humanity.” — Pope Francis
The Self-Determination Theory - why people often fall prey to traffickers
The Self-Determination Theory - why people often fall prey to traffickers
We humans have basic psychological needs, such as being loved and taken care of. According to the Self-determination theory (SDT) created by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, there are three universal psychological needs, and when those are fulfilled, people are able to become self-determined and happy. The Self Determination Theory is a macro theory of human motivation and personality that concerns people's growth tendencies in relation to their needs. [2]
According to self-determination theory, people need to feel the following in order to achieve sufficient psychological growth:
Autonomy (feeling like you are in control, willing)
Competence (Having an optimal level of challenge)
Relatedness (feeling connected, as people care about you)
If these three psychological needs are not met, the quality of our motivation is more controlled and our overall happiness and health decreases.
Sometimes abject poverty means people are unable to take care of their own psychological needs and therefore seek out opportunities that give them the hope for a better life.
Growing up in a poor community, people can often feel an overwhelming sense of desperation for a better life. Indigenous people who live in abject poverty are typically marginalized and lack education or rights to access other basic services, making them even more vulnerable to trafficking. Factors such as race and ethnicity. In Canada, a study released by the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking showed that 51% of women and 50% of girls trafficked in Canada are Indigenous. [3],
Traffickers exploit the hope many have of a better life and prey on the desperate and vulnerable members of society by offering false promises through education, a better income, a marriage, or just new opportunities. Most of the time, traffickers deceive or defraud possible victims with false promises of a better life.
Hopes for a better life & trafficking
Hopes for a better life & trafficking
The following is the story of "Anna". Although fictional, it represents a typical story of how easily people can fall prey to human trafficking. Anna grew up in anywhere, USA, in a disadvantaged community. She always dreamed of getting out and making her life as a “supermodel”.
She had hope for a better life and unfortunately, where hope exists, there is also the opportunity for others to make a profit off that hope. Anna was scouted by a “talent agency”, that promised her a better life as a model and assured her she would have a better future with them.
However, upon arrival at the promised location, Anna is threatened and abused. The promises made never come true and Anna and other victims are then trapped in a horrifying life and are held under control by debt-bondage or physical force. Debt bondage is a type of forced labor where work is exchanged for loans people cannot afford to pay off with the money. Traffickers tell the victims that once they pay them back all the money, they will set them free. But this is another false promise made and the continuous cycle of trafficking will not stop.
The AMP-Model
The AMP-Model
To understand Human Trafficking better, you have to understand the AMP Model.
The Action-Means-Purpose (AMP) Model is a device used to illustrate and articulate the federal (American) definition of a “victim of severe forms of trafficking in persons,” contained in 22 USC §7102(8). For the corresponding criminal offenses, see 18 USC Chapter 77. [4]
Human Trafficking occurs when a perpetrator takes on the actions and employs the means of either force, fraud, or coercion (where the victims have no consent of their own free will) for different purposes, such as
Commercial sex
Domestic work
Forced marriage
Other types of exploitation
To establish human trafficking, at least one element must be present.
"The Tip of the Iceberg"
"The Tip of the Iceberg"
According to the Polaris Project [5], in 2020, 16,658 victims of trafficking were identified in the United States. Unfortunately, only a small fraction of human trafficking cases – the same for sexual assault cases – are reported. The cases and victims we know of are a tiny percentage of those out there, people who are still suffering. The numbers of human trafficking are greater than ever and we have to do something against it.
References:
References:
- “Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking).” Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking), www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/lang--en/index.htm.
- Cherry, Kendra. “How Does Self-Determination Theory Explain Motivation?” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 15 Mar. 2021, www.verywellmind.com/what-is-self-determination-theory-2795387.
- “Advocates Call for Action to Protect Indigenous Women from Sexual Exploitation, Trafficking | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 8 Mar. 2022, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/indigenous-women-trafficking-sexual-exploitation-1.6373597.
- The Action Means Purpose “A-M-P” Model | Polaris Project, Polaris, 2012, https://humantraffickinghotline.org/sites/default/files/AMP%20Model.pdf
- “Analysis of 2020 National Human Trafficking Hotline Data.” Polaris, 13 Jan. 2022, polarisproject.org/2020-us-national-human-trafficking-hotline-statistics/.
- Jennings, Jill. “Blog.” Joint Venture Silicon Valley, jointventure.org/blog/1972-most-definitely-the-tip-of-the-iceberg.
Other Sources:
Other Sources:
- “Human-Trafficking.” United Nations: Office on Drugs and Crime, www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/human-trafficking.html.
- “What Is Human Trafficking?” What Is Human Trafficking? | Homeland Security, www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/what-human-trafficking.
- “What Is Human Trafficking? - Anti-Slavery International.” Anti, 31 Aug. 2021, www.antislavery.org/slavery-today/human-trafficking/.
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