Running head: THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The Effects of Human Trafficking throughout The

World, Our Nation, and State

Brooke Kent, Briana Pecora, and Saniyya Giddens

Kempsville High School

THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
2

The Effects of Human Trafficking throughout The

World, Our Nation, and State

Introduction (collaboration)

Imagine walking down the street to seven-eleven with some friends, and in the blink of

an eye, a van with a strange person throws an unsuspecting victim in and races off. This happens

to individuals around the world of every race, gender, and age. The U.S. State Department

(2014) reports that “ 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every

year, of which 80% are female and half are children” (para. 5).​ ​Human trafficking is an issue that

occurs in all aspects of the world, and the amount of victims of this event is only growing.

Globally, in the United States, and even in our state, human trafficking affects everyone involved

with it.

Human trafficking on the global level (Brooke)

Human trafficking is not limited to any one country, it is a global issue that only

continues to spread. As stated by Bakirci (2009), “Human trafficking and smuggling have

become a worldwide industry that ‘employs’ millions of people and has an annual turnover of

millions of dollars” (para. 1). Human trafficking can be hard to identify due to many factors,

especially because many victims are afraid to come forward about what has happened to them

(Helpingstine, Boyd, & Barton, 2018). Khazan (2013) says “China. Russia, and Uzbekistan have

been named among the worst offenders when it comes to human trafficking, according to a State

Department report” (para. 1)

THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
3

Countries like China and Russia are not doing much about this large “epidemic”

spreading throughout the areas, making this even more of a pressing issue (Khazan, 2013, para.

3). In China, girls have been reported to have been working in brick kilns, coal mines, and

among prisoners by force as a “systemic form of repression” (Russia, China continue to allow

human trafficking, 2013, para. 1). In Russia, there have been reports of migrants experiencing

forced labor and exploitation in the industries of construction, manufacture, agriculture, and

domestic service. (Russia, China continue to allow human trafficking, 2013). China has slipped

from tier 2 to tier 3, tier 3 being the worst ranking, having men, women, and children enduring

conditions of forced labor, as well as state-sponsored forced labor conditions on fishing vessels

for some abducted African and Asian men (Hopkins, 2017).

Other countries like Serbia are finding ways to start the decline of trafficking in their

countries like better performance by police and stronger efforts by nongovernmental

organizations (Police official notes decline in human trafficking across Serbia, 2003). Some

countries that have been recognized for going up in rankings include Haiti, Costa Rica, and the

Maldives (Hopkins, 2017). Legislation against human trafficking was also passed in Serbia in

April of 2003 (Police official notes decline in human trafficking across Serbia, 2003).

Some countries are taking a more active role in decreasing this tragic reality in their

country; however, others remain neutral, or actually seem to be encouraging behavior of this

sort. Countries that have not worked to fix this problem include China and Russia. The problem

of human trafficking in those countries have even been called an “epidemic” (Khazan, 2013,

para. 3). Countries like Serbia have been seeing a decline in human trafficking in their countries.
THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
4

They have been increasing the way police, and even private organizations handle the issue, and it

has worked. Overall, this issue spreads worldwide and is just beginning to see improvements.

Human trafficking on the national level (Briana)

“​The International Labor Organization estimates that there are 20.9 million victims of

human trafficking worldwide, with hundreds of thousands of victims forced to provide

commercial” activities, “labor, or services against their will in the United States” (Report

spotlights human trafficking, 2014, para 9). Human trafficking is a common occurrence in our

country, yet the government is doing little to prevent it. Aguilar-Miller (2008) stated that “much

of the policing focus and funding has shifted from trafficking and other such crimes to terrorism,

so action has become limited” (para 6).

The states that receive the most human trafficking, California, Texas, and Florida, also

have large immigrant populations (Report trends in the U.S., 2014, para 20). “Trafficking victims

are often lured by false promises of decent jobs and better lives,” ​(​Human Trafficking: Modern

Enslavement of Immigrant Women in the United States​, 2018). This statement concludes that

cases of human trafficking originated from either a poor start out life in America or substandard

working conditions. If there were equal job and living opportunities for both legal immigrants

and born citizens then there would most likely be a decrease in human trafficking. “Women and

children suffer disproportionately from trafficking. Poverty, gender discrimination, illiteracy and

low levels of education, regional conflicts, and a lack of job opportunities affect women in great

numbers.”​ ​(​Human Trafficking: Modern Enslavement of Immigrant Women in the United

States​,” 2018)
THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
5

Federal specialists can provide “Information about available protections, especially

against threats and intimidation, and available remedies” states the United States Department of

Labor (2002, para 13). The Department of State and The Department of Justice indicated that

“The forms of protection and assistance identified in the TVPA include the establishment and

implementation of programs and initiatives in foreign countries to assist in the safe integration,

reintegration, or resettlement, as appropriate, of victims of trafficking in persons; and the

eligibility for benefits and services under federal or state programs that are funded or

administered by federal agencies without regard to the immigration status of such victims”(2002,

para 12). Each U.S. Department created programs for victims of human trafficking, and yet there

are still daily occurrences of human trafficking in our country. These reasons may be because of

lack of education or knowledge in the United States body on the Human Trafficking occurrence.

The U.S. State Department informs Americans to “be well-informed. Set up a web alert
to receive current human trafficking news. Become familiar with public awareness materials
available from the Department of Health and Human Services or the Department of Homeland
Security” (n.d., para 9). Spreading awareness of this affair and being well-informed is close to
all one could do to prevent human trafficking in the United States. Myles, CEO of the Polaris
Project, states that ​"people are reaching out to the national human trafficking hotline every single
day and telling us that modern slavery is happening in their communities" (Report trends U.S.,
2014, para 5). ​Staying informed and being cautious of people nearby can help ensure safety
whether it be walking to school, shopping, or even going to a seven-eleven with some friends.

Human Trafficking at the state level (Saniyya)

Human trafficking is compelling someone to work or engage in a commercial sex act,

according to the Virginia Attorney General's office.​ ​According to Peter (2016), “Virginia saw
THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
6

145 human trafficking cases last year, out of nearly 624 calls, according to the National Human

Trafficking Resource Center. Since 2007, there have been more than 3,000 calls into the center's

hotline and more than 700 cases of human trafficking” (para. 8). It is about ten years later and the

same issue is getting bigger and bigger throughout our state. Wilson (2017) found “Virginia

ranked 15th in the United States for the most reported cases of human trafficking in 2016. Last

year, the state reported 148 cases with 59 involving minors, according to the National Human

Trafficking Hotline.” (para. 1) ; knowing this our state is making this issue bigger and it doesn't

seem to be changing any time soon. The state of Virginia shows that this issue isn’t anything to

hide and it has become a phenomenon.

When people talk about human trafficking they often just think it only affects females but

males are also affected by this horrifying subject. “They target both girls and boys. But their

main target is girls between 11 and 14 who have low self-esteem”, states Bill Woolf (2017, para.

4). Finding girls of this range is very easy for the traffickers because those girls are just now

beginning their teenage years, which can be hard for some. Social media is also a big influencer

of traffickers finding new prey. According to Woolf (2017), “With the internet at their fingertips,

traffickers have almost limitless potential to hook new victims” (para. 10). Woolf (2017) found

that “the traffickers are so smooth that sometimes the victims don’t even realize what’s

happening until it’s too late. At that point, they have been manipulated and are trapped in the

commercial sex trade and controlled by the traffickers” (para. 9). This does not only affect the

people getting trafficked by also their family and friends, this issue needs to get put to a stop.
THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
7

“Statistics from the National Human Trafficking Hotline show the number of cases

against minors has doubled within last four years. In the U.S., 1,016 cases involving minors were

reported in 2012 and 2,387 last year”, states Wilson (2017, para. 16). This shows that the human

trafficking in Virginia is a not decreasing in numbers. Also, statistics show that in 2017 there

502 calls this year and 156 human trafficking cases reported this year, states the National Human

Trafficking Hotline (2017, para. 2). Most people who call hotlines like these are unknown, but

their problem is out in the open. These statistics show what is actually happening within the

state.

Virginia is now wanting to protect teenagers from human trafficking by putting out new

laws and bills. “House Bill 2282, which will take effect July 1, requires the Virginia Board of

Education to develop guidelines for training school counselors, school nurses and other relevant

school staff on the prevention of trafficking of children”, states Wilson (2017, para. 3). Wilson

(2017) says another bill, the HB 2282, is essentially an extension of a 2012 law, Senate Bill 259.

That legislation required the state Board of Education, with assistance from the Department of

Social Services, to provide awareness and training materials for local school division staff on

human trafficking (para. 8). By these bills being past will lessen the chances of teenagers of our

state feeling unsafe. People have reacted to the bills in such a good way, "We are grateful for any

new legislation that helps this issue," said Patrick McKenna, co-founder of the Virginia Beach

Justice Initiative, "Having the Department of Education require it helps push the effort forward"

(2017, para. 5). Doing something to decrease the number of this issue is a big step forward for

the state of Virginia’s.

Conclusion (collaboration)
THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
8

Human trafficking is not only an issue in Virginia, or the United States, this problem

spreads worldwide. On a global level, the United States is not considered one of the worst

countries for human trafficking, but that does not mean it doesn’t happen. Within the United

States, trafficking is still common due to the fact that the police force of our country places the

most focus on other issues. In the state of Virginia, there have been numerous amounts of human

trafficking cases, including many teenagers. As one could observe, human trafficking is all

around us, people being ripped away from their families, stripped of their innocence, and sold

like objects. Trafficking may seem like an unlikely occurrence, yet it is spreading like a wildfire

so keep in mind that it could happen to anyone at any time.

THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
9

References

Aguilar-Millan, S., Foltz, J. E., Jackson, J., & Oberg, A. (2008). ​Global crime case: The

modern slave trade. ​The Futurist, ​42​(6), 45. Retrieved from

https://explore.proquest.com/document/218575696?accountid=3785

Bakirci, K. (2009). Human trafficking and forced labour.​ Journal of Financial Crime, ​16(2),

160-165.​ ​http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13590790910951830​ Retrieved from

https://explore.proquest.com/document/236012388?accountid=3785

Chaney, M. (2017). Virginia ranks 15th in US in reported cases of human trafficking.

Retrieved from ​http://wric.com/2017/06/02/schools-to-help-curb-human-trafficking/

Do Something (2015). 11 Facts about Human Trafficking. Retrieved from

https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-human-trafficking

Fox, S. (2010, April 28). ​Which U.S. State Has the Most Immigrants?. ​Retrieved from

https://www.livescience.com/6359-state-immigrants.html

Helpingstine, C. E., B.S., Boyd, B., M.S., & Barton, A. D., B.S. (2018). ​Further considerations

for research on human trafficking. American Journal of Public Health, 108(2) Retrieved

from ​https://explore.proquest.com/document/2006753689?accountid=3785
THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
10

Human Trafficking: Modern Enslavement of Immigrant Women in the United States. (2018).

Retrieved from

https://www.aclu.org/other/human-trafficking-modern-enslavement-immigrant-women-u

nited-states

Police official notes decline in human trafficking across serbia. (2003, Dec 30). ​BBC Monitoring

European​ Retrieved from

https://explore.proquest.com/document/459575169?accountid=3785

Report spotlights human trafficking trends in the U.S. (2014, Feb). WomenPolice, , 15. Retrieved

from​ ​https://explore.proquest.com/document/1518528838?accountid=3785

Russia, china continue to allow human trafficking (posted 2013-06-24 02:57:09). (2013, Jun 24).

The Washington Post​ Retrieved from

https://explore.proquest.com/document/1370504116?accountid=3785

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, & U.S. State Department. (n.d.).

15 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking.​ Retrieved from

https://www.state.gov/j/tip/id/help/

The Women's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Departments of Justice, U.S.

Departments of Health, U.S. Departments of Human Services, & U.S. Departments of

State. (2002). ​Women's Bureau (WB) - Trafficking in persons report.​ Retrieved

from

https://www.dol.gov/wb/media/reports/trafficking.htm
THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
11

National Human Trafficking Hotline (2017). Virgina. Retrieved from

https://humantraffickinghotline.org/state/virginia\

Peters, L. (2016, Feb 22). Human trafficking a concern for area.​ The News Leader​ Retrieved

from

https://explore.proquest.com/document/1767062871?accountid=3785

Stewart, K. (2017). Victims of teen sex trafficking deal with devastating damage. Retrieved from

https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2017/06/victims-teen-sex-trafficking-deal-devastating-

mge-aftermath/