Human Trafficking: Getting off Square One

If you want to know how far away we are from really addressing a particular problem, take a look at the news reports and op-eds about it. Assuming the discourse has managed to get past the question of whether a problem even exists (i.e., global warming) then chances are it has become mired in disagreements over what causes the problem (poverty, gun violence) or what to do about it (recession, terrorism).
 
With the issue of human trafficking, we are still at the stage where almost every piece has to be prefaced with a basic primer. So here goes:
 

What is human trafficking? 

Human traffickers recruit, transport and sometimes literally imprison people, whom they deceive or coerce, in order to exploit those people. This can mean literally buying children from desperate families in poor nations, or luring victims with promises of paid work. The victims can then find themselves alone, in unfamiliar places, dependent on the trafficker. The trafficker may confiscate their legal documents and control them with threats of prison or deportation. The trafficker may withhold their wages (if any) against a “debt” they or their family are presumed to owe the trafficker. The victims are then used for prostitution, forced labor, as servants or beggars – or even for their bodily organs.

 

How big is the problem?

The UN’s 2012 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons declines to put a number on the problem (since, like drug cartels and child pornographers, human traffickers obviously don’t issue annual reports with helpful statistics). However, based on the International Labour Organization’s figures on forced labor around the world, the UN report does estimate that there are easily millions of victims of human trafficking globally.

How does that break down?

About three quarters of trafficked persons are women and girls. About a quarter are children. More than half of detected human trafficking involves sexual exploitation (most common in Europe, Central Asia and the Americas). More than a third involves other forced labor (more frequent in Africa and the Middle East, South and East Asia and the Pacific). That forced labor number has been going up, which may be in indication of how global economic factors impact the “shadow” economy as much as the official one. Not all trafficking involves crossing borders; about a quarter of cases the report looked at were “domestic.” The biggest transnational trafficking flow originates in East Asia. The rate of criminal convictions for trafficking is low compared to the scope of the problem.  

What causes human trafficking?  

Exploiting human beings is profitable, just as it was in the time of the Atlantic slave trade. We often read outraged reports about sweatshops where workers are underpaid and exposed to dangerous conditions. Those places exist because low-cost labor means higher profits. After that, it’s only a matter of degree. If the victim is vulnerable enough, the trafficker ruthless enough, and the cracks in the system big enough, market forces can push profit-seeking into dark nightmare territory.

 

What can we do about human trafficking? 

Human trafficking could not exist without the vulnerability of the victims, the secrecy with which traffickers operate, and the demand for services provided by trafficked persons. Addressing the problem therefore requires a multileveled approach.

As with so many crises, ranging from diseases like HIV/AIDS to wars and disasters, people at the bottom of the social ladder are most vulnerable and most impacted. Fighting poverty and inequality can help build a healthier and more resilient population, so that people have the resources and social infrastructure to protect themselves. However, this is hardly a new idea. Poverty and inequality are long-term (if not eternal) problems, so the other factors require equal attention.
 
Secrecy can be addressed by gathering more and clearer information. Since trafficking is such an international problem, this will require increased cooperation among governments. More and better information can raise awareness, help legislators determine what laws (and international agreements) are effective in combating human trafficking, and enable better enforcement of existing laws. Helping and protecting the victims of human trafficking can help bring them out of the shadows, changing the culture of fear and silence that enables traffickers’ coercive methods.
 
Demand is the trickiest element. The same mechanisms that spur voluntary labor migration (legal and illegal) also create the conditions for human trafficking: namely, a demand for cheap labor. In the United States and other developed nations, there is some momentum with educating consumers about goods and services produced in unethical ways. This can impact demand for end products, but since labor laws and standards vary widely around the world, affording more direct protection to workers of all kinds continues to be a challenge. When it comes to standards for protecting workers, international competition sometimes ends up in a race to the bottom, and traffickers take advantage of this.

In the case of sexual exploitation, the demand issue is further clouded by the issue of commercial sex work. In a statement entitled “Prevention: Fighting Sex Trafficking by Curbing Demand for Commercial Sex Acts,” the U.S. State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons maintains that ending the demand for commercial sex would mean that sex trafficking would no longer exist – at least, not “in the form it does today.” However, in a letter to the Office’s director, a group of advocates and researchers spearheaded by the Rights Work Initiative objects that “these assumptions are not proven in any empirically meaningful way, and… only serve to deflect attention away from the structures and actors that in fact lead to trafficking of women, men and children. The proposals and statements in the document threaten to divert precious resources from protecting victims of trafficking who urgently need help into a politically contested and futile anti-prostitution campaign.” In their report “Moving Beyond ‘Supply and Demand’

Catchphrases: Assessing the uses and limitations of demand-based approaches in anti-trafficking,” the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women even contends that “Decriminalising sex work has the potential to assist anti-trafficking efforts by fostering cooperation between police and sex workers. Sex workers would be more enabled to practice their rights and feel safer about reporting concerns to police without fear of arrest or harassment.”

 
In its 2013 Trafficking in Persons Report, the U.S. State Department identifies some  common misperceptions about human trafficking as obstacles to effective action. Among these are the view of trafficking as something that occurs only in far off places (possibly as a “cultural” practice rather than a crime), the stigmatization of victims as criminals, and the mistaken notion that unless victims are literally held under lock and key, they are “free” from control. In response to the attitude that “There’s nothing I can do about it,” the report states:

Everyone can learn the signs of human trafficking and take action to alert authorities of possible crimes as appropriate. Citizens can learn about organizations that assist victims of trafficking in their hometowns and how to safely refer potential victims for help. They can spread awareness of, and dispel common misperceptions about, human trafficking.

There are awareness programs right now, but not enough victim prevention and recovery tools. As traffickers increasingly using the Internet and social media to facilitate their operation, victims and law enforcement need to access the same tools to counter traffickers. Large global corporations can help by monitoring their labor pool and supply chains. Countries that fail to meet standards set by the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 could be subjected to tougher sanctions, and more nations could partner with the U.S. to make those sanctions consistent and stringent.

The challenge of human trafficking is daunting and global. It is estimated to be a 32 billion dollar industry, and it is run by criminals who are commonly linked to drugs and weapons. This is all the more reason to get off square one and do whatever we can to help current victims and prevent future ones.

Internet Activity~Stumble Upon

Stumble Upon. Is it the next big thing? Or is it just one more branch of social networking that will continue to gather and store personal information about every user? Or can we even categorize this information as personal anymore? We know nothing on the Internet is private. Yet the majority of this current generation does not seem to be phased by the public factors of social networking. Stumble Upon is a website that specifically asks you to tell them a few things that fall under your personal interests and then begin to “stumble”. Every time you stumble, the website brings you to a new site of interest chosen specifically for you. You can then “like” the site it brings you to or just keep stumbling. Being that all my college buddies were doing it, it intrigued me. All you need is your email and you’re ready to go! So yes, I started to stumble. It was entertaining at first but then eventually for me it got a bit old. You come across some funny sites here and there, everything from fitness tips to funny videos. Soon enough you’re copying the links and posting them on your friend’s Facebook walls to share what you “stumbled upon”. Perfectly enough, this is what they want you to do! This website is the ideal depiction of profiling based upon personal interests.

The day after my stumbling experience, I went to check my email. I was surprised as to what my inbox had in store for me: “enjoy your weekly recommendations from Stumble Upon”. “Oh no” I thought…I’ve been duped by this personal profiling. I told myself I’d never fall into any of these traps. I wouldn’t sign up for any websites that track your personal information and use it to advertise to you. But since this website was cleverly designed, leading you to come across cool facts and funny tips to share with your friends, and everyone was doing it, I fell for it. After I received the email, I became aware of what I did last night. Funny how most college students would be scared about what pictures they were tagged in last night that they do not recall, while I’m nervous about what I stumbled upon and who was tracking and storing my personal information! When I opened the email, it only got worse, “Hi “your email here”! - We’ve gathered a personalized selection of sites we think you’ll like, enjoy!” What in the world have I done? I set myself up for more personalized profiling and specified advertising. But then again I thought, is there any way to avoid it nowadays? Some businesses are seeing this as a great way to find out what individuals like and target them based on their interests. Which evidently, is good for the businesses, they’re going to advertise to the right people, easily and effectively. But the whole idea frightens me. Facebook spread like wildfire, it’s only a matter of time before these little sites become more and more popular and profiling becomes easier and easier. It’s inevitable. Our society is becoming more and more in tune to what every individual likes and it’s becoming easier and easier to target specific people and advertise to them. The craziest part…we the individuals are willingly setting ourselves up for it all.

I took a communications class this past semester and we talked a lot about this use of one’s Internet activity and online profiles as a way of gathering personal information about individuals and directly advertising to them. Again I wonder, is this necessarily a good thing? I have my doubts.

Bryan Adams--Up Close and Personal

I met Bryan Adams. No, really, I did. It was at the Morristown Community Theater. It was backstage. It was just before he got on stage to perform. It was total luck. I had gotten tickets to see his concert. It just so happened that my mother and he share a mutual friend – Katherine from Calvin Klein. Katherine mentioned to Bryan that I was an aspiring journalist, and he agreed to let me interview him briefly backstage before the show! Could I have gotten any luckier? I don’t think so. The only thing to trump the idea of meeting Bryan Adams (yes, yes, the “I got my first real six-string… bought it at the five-and-dime” Bryan Adams) was actually meeting him. Because he is one cool, awesome, down-to-earth, sincere, super-nice guy.

To say that I was taken back by the singer’s personable and yet insightful personality would be a massive understatement. Instead of feeling intimidated, as I expected, I couldn’t have felt more comfortable. Not to mention honored. After all, he had a full house of fans awaiting his arrival onstage and here he was talking to me! In my brief moments with this talented, popular, rock star, I asked him about his music, his life, and his plans for his future musical career. This is what I learned:

Bryan Adams not only has sixteen mainstream albums that have shaped him into the sensation he has been for years, he is also a true philanthropist. He is deeply involved in charitable giving to such causes as improving educational opportunities and fighting poverty around the world. I find his dedication to these endeavors to be so moving and inspiring. He also is pretty sure he will be releasing songs from here on out rather than albums (in this internet age, they just make more sense).

The other thing I learned about Bryan Adams is that he’s as real as it gets – a regular guy with loads of talent and a huge heart. In between each of his songs, he took the time to tell a funny story or give a simple dedication. One of these dedications was to female friend of his who thought she’d never find love again, but did – he was clearly so happy for her. It was stories like these that made me realize what a good friend Brian Adams must be.

The popular musician certainly has a sense of humor, too. While backstage, he acknowledged our mutual friend, Katherine from Calvin Klein, mentioning that earlier that day she had helped him pick out his shirt! He looked pretty good! But even more than good looks and an insane amount of talent, what struck me about Bryan Adams is his larger-than-life personality. In the middle of one of his songs, he started altering his accent to make the song sound country, resulting in laughter and excitement throughout the theater as everyone joined in singing. His light-heartedness was infectious. He has such a unique way of captivating and relating to his audience.
After this unexpected, unbelievable experience, I now see Bryan Adams with even more respect than I did before that night. Meeting this legend and hearing him sing live was the experience of a lifetime. Bryan Adams’ impact on me gave me one more reason to believe, and one more piece of evidence, that even when you climb the highest rung on the ladder of success, you can still remain grounded in your sense of reality.

http://www.bryanadams.com/index.php?target=news

(reposted under news for April 28th 2010)

Alonzo Mourning-More Than Meets the Eye

Alonzo Mourning is commonly known for his skills on the court. As a previous NBA superstar, Alonzo gets lots of attention for being a 6 foot 10 center on the court whose number was the first to be retired on the Miami Heat. But there's more to Zo than getting awards such as a Defensive Player of the Year. Alonzo is a humanitarian at heart. Some people may fail to realize how charity-oriented Alonzo truly is and how much time and effort he devotes to raising money and supporting underprivileged children. My family and I continually support Alonzo Mourning Charities, an organization focused on the needs of young children in today’s complex society. You wouldn’t believe the time and effort Alonzo puts into helping these young children first hand. Not only has he created annual fundraising events such as Zo’s Summer Groove, he is involved on a much deeper level. The story that moves me the most is Alonzo’s interaction with a young boy named Zach. Although there have been many articles written on Zach, I heard the story from my dad who’s started to read Alonzo’s new book, “Resilience.” When you hear stories such as Zach’s, a kid who’s had a kidney transplant just like Alonzo, it tells you something. Zach’s transplant was successful for nine days when his body began to reject the new kidney. Zach was depressed and wouldn’t eat for weeks until Alonzo, a miracle worker, turned this child’s life around. When Alonzo heard about Zach’s refusal to eat food after his transplant, he invited him to a game. Before the game Alonzo showed Zach his muscles and said, “You want some of these, you’ve got to start eating; I had a transplant too, and look at me.” During the game, Zach asked for a hotdog and then nachos -- he was suddenly eating real food on his own. These instances remind us that beneath the load of suffering many underprivileged children face, there are still people out there who truly care. People like Alonzo who go to the extreme to better the lives of children in need, economically and emotionally. I may not know what it’s like to be in Zach’s shoes, but even to me Alonzo Mourning is unquestionably a hero.

Luke Walton’s Basketball Camp

This summer, because of a mentor I have at Fox News in LA, I had the incredible opportunity of “covering” Luke Walton’s first annual basketball camp is Los Angeles like a real broadcast reporter would. I went out with a camera guy who shot the footage, conducted on-camera interviews with Luke Walton himself as well as a bunch of the young campers, wrote the story, and produced it with an editor. How cool is that?

Anyway, one of the things that struck me the most from the whole experience is how generous Luke Walton was with his time and his energy when it came to these kids. I mean, how many professional athletes would spend long days in the gym, while on crutches, teaching young campers? It showed me how different Luke Walton is from many other successful athletes. Many celebrities gradually become self-centered. They enjoy their success and put aside anything and everything else, spending their time on silly excesses and throwing away their money on superfluous materialistic things. But Luke Walton seemed to me to be the exact opposite; he’s selfless, giving, and certainly not wrapped up in being successful and famous. After talking to Luke, I realized that his basketball camp is a way for him to use his knowledge and his skills to give back to children in the community. He really came across as a kind hearted regular guy, who truly cares about others.

On that note, what kind of role models do you wish you saw in more of our celebrity athletes and movie stars? Do you think it is someone’s responsibility to be a good role model if society has allowed them to become successful? After all, without public support and fans, where would these people be? I know there are many successful people in a variety of industries, but there is also no shortage among these people setting lower and lower standards for my generation and the next. Should people learn to strive for generosity, kindness, and charitable qualities in addition to success?

Americans everywhere are faced with many economic and social challenges right now. Celebrities and athletic superstars are in a position to influence and inspire young people to meet those challenges. Luke Walton patiently spoke to his campers and explained why he was anxious to have his own basketball camp, remembering that some of the best times of his life were playing at camps where counselors not only taught him the fundamentals of basketball but were genuinely interested in making camp a positive life experience. The way he continued this cycle of inspiration was very obvious at the Luke Walton Basketball Camp.

Take a look at the story and enjoy!

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1uizxCFudk

Safe at Home

A classmate of mine lost her older brother this past year. Until recently, I didn't know the circumstances. But, I later found out that he was shot and killed in the neighborhood in which they live. Our high school is pretty high profile, with most of the kids coming from well to do families and neighborhoods where there are watchful eyes and security is tight. This classmate, however, falls into a different category. She is at our school on scholarship from a family of modest means in a so-so neighborhood where things like this do happen. Not often, but more often than the rest of us would like to think. But having this happen so close to the heart makes you think. About the daily struggles so many people face in our current society. About whether or not a lot of people really "fit in" and feel they can relate to the people around them. About what's fair in our world and what isn't and what we can and can't do to change things. And about the real-life situations around you that can't help but touch you emotionally. After I heard about what happened to my classmate's brother, I started thinking about everything. Does my classmate feel safer at school than at home? Does she feel at place in our school just because she's so bright, or does she feel like it's hard to relate to the people around her? Do some kids put on acts when they come to school in the morning, wearing a happy face even when unsettling things have happened to them at home? My school is a socially inviting environment. We have a small class that allows us all to relate to each other like we are family. I know I feel as if I can be open and honest with friends at my school but is that true of everyone? How many students feel safer and happier at school than in their home environments? How many students struggle with safety in their neighborhoods, domestic violence at home, or physically and emotionally abusive parents? I think a lot of people take for granted that kids are just "happy." But I'm starting to think that this may not apply to the majority of kids. And it makes me wonder what I can do, and what we all can do, to keep students feeling safe in both their home and school environments.

Eliot Spitzer's Daughters

It’s been a little over a month since Eliot Spitzer resigned and while the topic seems to have died down in the press, I’m sure the effects are still lingering in the Spitzer household and especially in the hearts of his wife and teenage daughters. As a teenage daughter myself, I realized not a lot has been written about what effect this must be having on his girls and I thought maybe its time somebody brought up the subject.

Similar to Eliot Spitzer’s girls (who go to Horace Mann), I go to a small private school where all the students have a pretty good connection with their teachers. I can’t imagine what it would be like for me to come into school, day after day, and face my teachers with them knowing something like that about my father. Just thinking about it makes me feel weird. I think if I was in that situation, every time I interacted with my teachers whether it’s to talk about a history paper or my recent math test, I would be envisioning them envisioning the news about my father like headlines in the bubble of a cartoon character. I would be imagining them imagining the television news clips, the internet articles, and the front page pictures of my father and of Ashley Dupre on the covers of everything from the New York Times to the New York Post to New York Magazine. Suddenly New York would feel very small.

Moving on from school and teachers, let’s talk about something as basic as bringing friends home. What are the Spitzer girls doing? As a sixteen year old, I have to admit I like spending a lot of time with my friends both in and outside of school. I especially enjoy inviting my friends over to my house. If my dad was involved in this type of scandal, it could make a normal routine of inviting my friends over pretty awkward. Would my friends run away from my dad? Would their parents even be warning them that he might be looking at them the wrong way and that they should watch out? I mean how strange would that be?

The final blow I think would be the way the Spitzer girls might end up viewing guys because of this whole thing. I know my father impacts how I view boys my own age. As many people have stated, in a sense, a father is a daughter’s first love; an example of how your father treats your mom and even you is often how you come to expect guys to treat you later on. How do you deal with it when your father breaks your mother’s heart, and yours too, when you are so young? I wonder.

When I asked my father about the whole thing, his comment was typical for him. Compassionate but also optimistic. He said that while it hurts him to imagine what Eliot Spitzer’s girls are going through, he also thinks its encouraging to see how resilient young women from successful families can be. The person he pointed to as an example of this: Chelsea Clinton.