The Human Traffic Jam
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- Abolish Slavery, Free Slaves, Stop Human Trafficking, Retrieve Children From Slavery | Abolish Slave
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Human Trafficking
What is Human Trafficking? It is much more than I thought that it was. I was contacted via Twitter by a man named Aaron Cohen. He asked me to look at his cause and when I heard it was about slavery, I was intrigued. I took a look, as promised. I was horrified at what I read. Human Trafficking is not a word I would have mentally affiliated with slavery though it is that, in every sense of the word. I am mortified by the statistics and where it happens. Human Trafficking is a global problem. It is a problem of governments cooperating and supporting convictions and making this a crime at all in some cases. Human Trafficking involves so much more than prostitution or young girls dragged into brothels as I so naively thought, it is much worse. Men, women and children are currently being trafficked for the purpose of:
- Forced Labor
- Sex Trafficking
- Bonded Labor
- Involuntary Domestic Servitude
- Forced Child Labor
- Child Soldiers
- Child Sex Trafficking
You can help stop the traffic!
Tier 1 - Countries That Fully Comply With TVPA
- Austrailia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bosnia & Herzegovinia
- Canada
- Columbia
- Croatia
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- S. Korea
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia
- Mauritius
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
The TIP Report
The TIP (Trafficking in Persons) Report for 2011 was recently released. The TIP report ranks every country in a tier based on their cooperation with other governments on a global level. Tier 1 is the highest rank and Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, warns that just because a country is listed in Tier 1 doesn't mean they don't have a human trafficking problem - it only means they recognize it as a problem and they are compliant in trying to deal with it as a global issue.
There are a total of 184 countries and of those only 32 countries are ranked Tier 1. That alone is astounding.
According to the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC) there were approximately 876,213 persons reported missing in the year 2000 alone, of those approximately 85% to 90% were juveniles. The United States Justice Department estimates 24% of those missing people are due to stranger abductions. Those figures are staggering and I wonder how many of those persons could be caught in a Human Trafficking ring.
I have added several links to this article. The TIP Report includes victims stories and explains how human trafficking happens and the efforts that are being made to stop this crime. I was surprised to find that grown women and men are kidnapped in large numbers and they are forced to work in factories. They are beaten, starved and often handcuffed or kept in locked rooms.
I have linked Jessie Foster's story below. Her family believes that she is a victim of human trafficking. This is just one girl. Kansas City, Missouri has been in the recent news for allegations of human trafficking rings. One report describes the Midwest as a pipeline for human trafficking.
Please read the links below. You might be able to save someone from a terrible future in being aware and knowing what to do if you suspect someone of being involved in human trafficking. Please support Abolish Slavery Now or an organization to stop this crime that seems to have a very large and very dark market that has cast it's net over the entire world.
Stop Human Traffic!
- Successful Interventions For Toledo, Ohio: Third Largest City for Child Sex Trafficking and Slavery
Task Forces and partnerships among agencies and private citizens in Ohio are combating the proliferation of human trafficking in Ohio with some success. The port city Toledo, because of its location on Lake Erie near Detroit and Windsor, has been a g
Help Find Jessie Foster!
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Jessie Foster - Home
The TIP Report - 2011
10 Things You Can Do To Fight Human Trafficking
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Wow wow and wow... I am so utterly disturbed by this. I can't even say anything. I have seen this in the movies and what not, but I guess I wasn't aware how much it actually happened in real life. I mean... this is stuff that should only happen in the movies!
Wow - I got nothing!
Hi Joelipoo - I am ashamed to say I had no idea - but I was betting that if I didn't know - many others don't either. I watch the news a lot and I have never heard that much and I live about 4 hours away from KC!
Thanks very much - I hope I am helping in at least raising awareness. I have 3 girls...I shudder to think of the mothers who are wondering where their daughters are right now. I hope they find their way home.
BBG - I know...I had to check to make sure I wasn't repeating myself...I was dumbfounded and felt really stupid that I didn't even consider these things. I didn't realize it was so integrated into the US! I am truly shocked! I am glad Mr. Cohen contacted me and I hope I have helped him in about the only way I know how. Thank you!
I know this happens but I certainly didn't realize how bad it really is. I was shocked to learn that everyone, all ages and gender are affected. Thanks for educating us on this and sharing your knowledge. WOW!!!! is right.
Hi Marellen! I am with you - I did not know it included adults really, how narrow my mind was. I couldn't even repeat the stories of the victims - unbelievable. I thought everyone should see the links like I did because you can't deny that reality then.
Thank you so much for your support. As a mother marellen - I don't know what I would do if my girl had gone missing like that - I would want to scream from the roof tops - I would not shut up until someone heard me. I hope awareness helps in some small way:)
Grrr I can't read the last paragraph because every time I get to it my computer suddenly scrolls all the way to the bottom. So I will just comment on what I did read. I knew quite a bit about Human Trafficking. I always say to people, when we get in the debate about certain topics, that slavery is not gone and exists everywhere in the world including the United States. Although it is illegal that does not stop it from existing. I am fully against slavery or human trafficking as any decent person should be, but I can't help but wonder how the world would change if we did manage to fully eradicate it. It would be an interesting thing to witness and I hope someday we get the chance to find out what a difference it might make in our world in ways that we might not even be thinking about! Another great and informational hub :-) Way to bring a very real problem to the surface!!!
Very provoking hub. We should give attention to this problem. We don't want this happened to children. My friend, you have real report and I learn many things from you. Thanks for share with us. Rated up!
Prasetio
This is very alarming! I knew this happened in third world countries today, but I had no idea that it was this rampant world wide. This is very well written and very eye opening. Well done!
Thanks for sharing this Kelly. In this day and age people are still being enslaved for various reasons, as you mentioned. It is a worthy cause to fight because peoples rights to freedom are being exploited.
Hey Myth - you made an interesting point - I wonder what would happen if we could snap our fingers and end it right this second? I bet we would all have lots of surprises. I think it's also terrible that the Mike Vick with the dog ring thing went crazy - people were up in arms and he was so hated. You hear about human trafficking and I don't see everyone jumping up in anger or freaking out. Now that tells me not one person is surprised really. Isn't that strange? I suppose everyone just knows it's going on and pass the salt please? I really hope we see people seriously try to end this stuff. Supply and demand.
Thanks so much - you're a terrific commenter!
Hi Prasetio - good to see you:). Thank you so much for reading and commenting - power is in knowledge:). I hope we can eradicate this problem:)
Hey Tammy - isn't it nuts? They busted a ring in KC very recently! Omg! I feel so sorry for thoe young girls who get trapped - I just wish I could flip a switch and send them all to a nice home. As a mother - I swear I would go crazy if one of my girls disappeared...I don't ever want this to happen to any person - but I especially feel sorry for young children who are exploited. I am glad we have the opportunity though to try to educate other people! Thank you for helping:)
Hi Cardisa. - you are so right and I'm so glad I have the chance to be heard and to do my part to try to stop it. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I hope to make more people aware as Mr. Cohen is doing too. I think it is the only answer andhopee we can try to put an end to it:)
Good article RHW. Yes, there is still a slave trade out there in the world. Human cruelty will continue to exist side by side with the goodness we also see.
The Frog
It's so sad and upsetting, but everyone needs to be aware and do their part in reporting any suspicious activity. Education, maybe even in the schools. I read a story about a girl that thought she was meeting up with a guy she met on the internet while her mother was in a drunken coma. We have a duty to protect our kids if nothing else. It's effortless and natural for most of us, but some just dont care. I know i'm doing my part, I have 2 girls and would walk in front of a bullet for them, their my world. My mother worked 3 jobs but trusted anyone to watch me, u could only imagine. I truly believe we can help to eliminate this catastrophy. People just have to care. Thank you for writing about this.
Dear RealHousewife, I am going to go back and watch your video, but I wanted to respond with a question to your informative, thought-provoking article. I recently saw a report on the poor, indigenous people of Honduras that are dying young (slowly at home) or risking paralysis due to lack of proper diving equipment to supply America with lobster. This is the only way they can make money to support themselves and their families. A local doctor worked and paid for a hyperbaric chamber that is curing these young men of paralysis, but they turn around and immediately dive, as this is their only means of income. This seems to me to be a form of enforced labor (since it is the only profitable one this part of Honduras offers), where the divers risk their lives to provide the commodity Americans desire. It would be a different story if the countries making huge profits from the lobster, donated diving equipment that absolved the heavy risk these people take everyday. Thank you for this important topic, Real, as it affects many innocents each and every day.
Thank you, Kelly, for taking a stand and alerting folks to this international problem. The slave trade is still alive and well and it's called human trafficking. It affects men, women and children of all ages in almost every country in the world.
Defeating it requires not only declaring it illegal but establishing a close partnership between businesses and the government. The impact to individual victims is immeasurable.
We all need to be aware that this despicable practice can exist anywhere and alert the authoities when necessary. Bravo for this intelligent and informative hub.
Hi Frog - It is terrible isn't it? I can tell you are not surprised and I think so many of us are naive about this - I really was! The horrors of the stories I read! Some of it too graphic to want to think about and I guess why it continues to be swept under the rug.
Thanks so much for the read and comment!
Hi Wildrosebush - Thank you so much for your comments:) I do think much of the key is in education. If people do not know it exists they can't possibly do anything about it. I had heard of it - but I didnn't know it was so ubiquitous!
I have 3 girls and I know what you mean - I always say I will do everything possible to not take my eyes of them and I keep close tabs on them but sometimes it takes a village:) There was a guy driving around in my county trying to pick up young children - everyone was advised through our school networks and email and we were an alert community on the whole. I think the guy even got caught! I guess my point is - the whole world needs to work together to eradicate this serious problem.
RHW - Yes dear, I've been wearing my big boy panties for some time now. Having circled the globe twice I've witnessed some things along the way.
The Frog
Hi Amy - I read of many stories like that! And I think the answer may lie in boycotting things that use these types of labor. It isn't like we would starve as a nation if those kids weren't diving for lobster - or what about the fact that there are perfectly safe ways to take fish from the ocean? Sheesh - Africa is huge for using children to mine for diamonds. Salt mines in some countries use child labor. The TIP report really says it all!
Thank you so much for your support as always Amy:)
Hi Drbj - thank you so much! I was so shocked - I am really proud of Hillary Clinton's work on this cause. The TIP report was very imformative and eye opening. And that is what she says too - our governments must cooperate from all countries to make it stop! And the fact there is a demand for this is so bothersome.
I read this crazy statement from a government official in Malaysia - they want to be allowed to hold the pass ports of their employees because they say that if they don't they will just run away again and then what will they do for house servants? I am serious! Good Gravy.
Thank you SO much for your support always too!
Hey Frog - I envy you in lots of ways (I LOVE to travel) but I bet you have also seen things I should be plenty glad I haven't. When I travel I always like to rent a car so I can try to see the real parts of the cities - not just the major attractions. I always talk to the people that live there and ask questions about what it is really like to live there. Almost everyone says there is somewhere better to live:) LOL
In the Bahamas - I was pretty shocked. I was amazed at how they really live there and how people are kept away from that image. Many of the people said they fear they will never get off that Island because they are too poor. They have a big problem with trafficking there too.
Yes, this is a problem and has been for quite a while. As long as there is a demand however, such things will happen.The people creating the demand are the ones with the money and often times the ones in authority. They are often the ones who look squeaky clean and who you will hear condemning slavery. They are addicts just like any other addict except what they are addicted to are not drugs. Like the drug trafficers the sex trafficers are supplying what is in demand. Drugs will not be abolished by petitions neither will sex trafficing by these means. It is through education in human values which is missing in our affluent world. It is by each one of us looking within and finding our purpose in this world that any progress can be made. People are still too focussed on the material desires and they have forgotten that they are more than their bodies. Thank you for writing this hub and making us think.
It is almost impossible to believe that this is going in in 2012. We have accomplished so little in terms of ridding the world of monsters who prey upon other human beings. We have so much to do, don't we? Up and awesome.
SW - that is what scares me the most - there is such a huge demand for it all over the world. It will be hard to stop but the more we educate and tell others the better chance we have of saving some people from that kind of life. Thank you so much for your great comments!
Hi BPop - so good to see you! Yes I can't believe what a huge overwhelming problem this is - in this day and age. I think the criminals will keep finding ways to try to own the whole world and it's people. Hmmmm remind you of any other entity?? Lol. Thank you so much for commenting!
I knew someone who was almost a victim of forced prostitution. There was a prostitution ring operating in Oregon and they came within 1 day of forcing her out of the state to another location. She got very lucky. The police were aware of the ring and managed to catch a few members. It ended well.
It's a problem all over the world and believe it or not a lot of trafficked women end up in America. Every now and then you'll hear of busts on forced prostitution rings or some wealthy couple using fear and intimidation to keep domestic helpers confined to a house.
I recently heard of one in KC too that got broken up! Apparently KC is really bad for this! Daffy - I had no idea it was so widespread - and shocking that different governments will not even criminalize it!
Thanks so much for that comment - just goes to show it touches many of us!
Hi Mandy - Yep - there was a lot of that noise going on when the government started trying to crack down on illegal immigrants.....afterall - who is employing the maids and groundskeepers? I certainly don't know any middle class people here that have servants.
I am beginning to see that it is a huge American problem for two reasons - one is the girls and boys that get kidnapped and sent to foreign countries so they have more barriers and little help - secondly because the opposite happens and Russian or Asian people are brought here - and they face the same barriers.
I am surprised too - about how often we find out the very people that are supposed to discourage these type of things are the ones who are behind it. Thanks so much for the read and comment!
Real Housewife-
Why is this huge? There are many cultures across the world that don't see this as a terrible thing. Seriously. They DON'T see this as sick and wrong. For lack of a better word, it's custom. One has to understand that child statue laws are not the same around the world.
Another problem is that many Americans, despite warnings from the State Department, routinely prance around in hostile, rogue Anti-U.S. and Anti-Western countries and these U.S. citizens (in particular, women and children) "disappear"- translation - taken and sold into the human slave trade. I don't think I need to list the countries that fit this description to a tee here.
We also have thousands of miles of open border that our government REFUSES to contain, and trust me, drugs aren't the ONLY things that are coming across it.
Mandy is correct. Many of these slaves end up in the gated communities of the wealthy right here in the good ole U.S. of A.
Fantastic hub. Although scary. Thanks for bringing this to light. Mainstream Americans have been living under rocks for too long.
T.J.H.
Another huge problem is that thousands of Americans (many of them women AND children) are abducted in foreign countries every year and are sold into the slave trade. Most of these countries they are taken in are hostile to the United States and the West.
My point is, these countries DO NOT see children's rights the way we do; over there they have NONE! A cultural thing? Perhaps. Sealing up our borders would be a step in the right direction. But I don't know if we can ever change other countries' mindset and their beliefs of right vs. wrong. Getting these rouge nations to stop these atrocities will require a HUGE and vast overhaul in changing their behavior. Sanctions? Embargos? Cutting off aid? Dare I say it- war???? How far can we realistically go? Are modern nations up to THAT task? Your guess is as good as mine.
Fantastic hub. Thanks.
T.J.H.
Hi there - I agree with you! And I said too - who are these people being brought here for? I mean not mainstream America - they are play things for the rich I believe. It has to stop and you are so right about the governments involvement! And it's why there are only 32 con tries out of 184 that are tier 1.
Thank you! Thank you so much for speaking out and validating this cause!
Hey Tara - bingo! What do we do? I thought maybe boycotting imported goods but you're right - it would probably cause an all out war - including children soldiers:(.
I don't think modern nations have the balls to fix the problems the right way to be honest....everyone is too worried about stepping on toes.
I am a huge advocate for children's rights - I say they have no vote - no power. If American children could vote - don't you think the politicians would be falling all over themselves to fix issues that are wrong like this....but a kid is useless to political America.
This truly is a shame, and not much is really being done about it. This is something that would be perfect for the U.N. to consentrate on, but they simply stand by and let it happen.
Very informative hub...
Yes, this is a real tragedy. I was hearing the other day on the radio that there are parts in Africa that have prostitutes as young as 6-7 years of age: male and female, horrible....
John
Hi 910chris - good point! I am not sure why the United Nations isn't doing more about it! They are the very unit that is put together to ease world relations! I am going to have to look into that a little more, now I am really curious. Thank you so much for commenting:)
Hi John - I was just reading about Africa and human trafficking and how bad it is there. No matter how many times I see a new headline - I am shocked and saddened by it. It is insanity! I do not even understand how someone could WANT to use a child in that way but it happens so much.
Thank you so much for your comment!
A somewhat frightening statistic from the report you linked. But I'm glad you're publicizing this issue. Voting this Up and Interesting.
Hi alocsin - thank you so much for your comment. The statistics are scary - and even if i just have a small voice - I hope I can do my part to try to stop it. A ripple in the pond is better than silence.
RealHousewife - your data is nothing less than startling. There truly are extremely evil and greedy monsters out there. This is beyond revolting. It is unfortunate that this topic is even necessary, but you have brought light to something that needs to be actively exposed and eliminated. Thank you for your research and for bringing this issue to the forefront.
your response to alocsin holds very true, a ripple in the pond is better than silence
voted up, useful and interesting. (sharing link from my blog/twitter/stumble/digg)
Hi MissOlive - thank you so much! Your support makes me smile and feel that others do want to make this stuff stop! It is so unbelievable - revolting is a great word! How can these atrocities happen? I guarantee you it's another case of the haves and have nots. I can't help but notice - when certain people go missing - all the stops are pulled out...we see photos, circus news coverage but when it is someone maybe poor? Not so much. I know I've heard people can't even get media coverage for some kids and people when they go missing....why not?? I hate that! I think every single body in the world is equivalent and worth the same amount of money, love and attention.
Thanks very much for highlighting this issue. It truly is appalling that this still goes on today. There have been a few high-profile cases in the UK, and police do take it very seriously here but it is still a problem, particularly sex trafficking. It’s hard to understand how people get so uncaring about others that they would do this.
I’ve been a member of Amnesty International for many years and they do a lot of work to highlight and combat human trafficking across the world. Some of the stories are so terrible I wonder how they survived.
A very useful hub. Voted up.
Thank you Melovy! I want to see what Amnesty International is about!
I'm with you - how could people be so cruel? Selfish? All for more money and pleasure. So terrible and I really hope the agencies work together to stop it. I just heard about a case when a police man was arrested because he was all involved and got caught in a traffic ring. Amazes me - how wrong that it:). Thank you so much!
I was like you - I believed that human trafficking was about the sex trade - didn't realize it was for slavery,as well. Also didn't realize that it was happening three or four hours from my home!
Have you seen the film 'Taken'? I know it's just a film, but it's so true to life! Human trafficking is by far one of the scariest thoughts. And with it happening so close to home...I can't believe people would be so cruel! It is beyond sick! I hear about people getting caught and trialed...Why not bring back the stocks?! My husband knows a lot about this stuff due to different job training/roles and some of the stuff I hear is so hard to believe. These people are not human! I was considering writing a hub on this, now I don't have to. Voted up!Thanks :-)
Hi teacher - I really did think it was about sex and that's it! But there are whole groups of adults that get kidnapped and forced to work in like factories or the like. Children and men! Oh my...it's so much worse than I thought. There are people being arrested for this every day! Amazing - I think the numbers prove they set up shop in a large city and just start grabbing pretty girls. Yeah I live not far from all of that too - KC I about 4 hours from me - St. Louis county - about 5 minutes.
One scary thing is - for as much of it is going on - there are so many people that KNOW about it - and allow it!!
Hi smzclark - so true - Taken might be fiction but it's probably based on a real story somewhere. People better wake up and start doing something about it. I have 3 daughters! I'm being proactive because I get so annoyed when people wait to get involved be ause it hasn't happened to them YET. No one wants to stick their neck out - until they are a victim. I say everyone keep your eyes open Nd we all have to stop this stuff - it takes more than a village!
Thanks so much for weighing in!
My friend, you are absolutely gorgeous!
Now as to this article, the U.S. is #32? ;( That disgusts me! Human Trafficking is so terrible, so mortifying, that I am appalled-as are you.
The U.S.'s position must be rectified, and the sooner, the better.
Love,
Laurel
Hi Laurel!!
Oh I agree - 32! Yuup! I think it is just such a shame - and so many people won't pay attention or care until it hits home or close to it, unfortunately. I just can't imagine how many young girls right this second - are enslaved somewhere! It can be stopped - there are too many people involved that keep it going.
Love and best wishes to you sweetie!!
Right back at you, gal!
It's such a serious issue, and no one even speaks of it-taboo, I suppose.
Too bad, too horrifying!
Beautifully written, by the way, doll!
Love,
L
Thanks so much Laurel! you are so kind:). I would have guess you would care about this cause like I do!! So very like you to be concerned about your fellow man. What I love ya so much!!
Well, Sweets, if you think I'm kind, as I do you, then would you paleeeze come over to my new business blog at http://theauthorlink.wordpress.com/ and comment? And/or submit some of this gorgeous writing of yours?
And gad, child, why did you not show us just HOW gorgeous you are before-don't get me wrong, I thought the first pic was very pretty, but this one bowled me over...ahh, lovely women make me soooooo jealous. Not saying I look pretty good for 55, but, well, you know!!
Anyhow, I'm shocked that the U.S., our country, would be involved so hugely in this thing.
It makes me ill.
Bye,
L
Hi doll - I sure will go over and check it out! I was on your page today and it looks like it is shaping up nicely!
You're too kind btw:) thank you so much - my friend Lela helped me fix it so it looks better! Hahha!
Oh I hate the human trafficking and there is slot of it going on around here. Too many young ones go missing!
Joelipoo Level 4 Commenter 4 months ago
This is a serious problem that needs brought to light. Isn't it crazy to think about this occuring in today's day and age? It just doesn't seem like people can be sold and traded around like objects. When I was in college in Toledo a few years ago, stories about child sex trafficking always broke. Toledo has high rates of it due to the proximity to Canada. Voted up and useful.