Human Trafficking in the 21st century

A report for the Mission and Social Responsibility Committee of the Church of Christ the Cornerstone

Glynne Gordon-Carter

January 2014

History

In preparing this paper it would be remiss of me not to refer to the History of the Atlantic Slave Trade which was carried out from 1518-1865. Western European nations were actively involved in this slave trade and countless fortunes were made at all levels. The system became well established and slaves were sold to slavers mainly by African kings and chiefs. During this period no less than 20 million Africans were sold out of West Africa. This figure does not include those who were killed during collection in Africa, or who died on the long and hazardous trans- atlantic crossing, as they were crammed into slave ships like books on a shelf.

This was a massive movement of people who were wrenched from their homelands, families, communities, ancestors and their history. This horror should never be forgotten as long as the world lasts- a monstrous example of human trafficking. Many did not survive the long sea voyage as they died and those who caught diseases were thrown overboard. On arrival in the West Indies or in the Americas, slaves were auctioned off, people from the same tribe were separated, slaves were given sub standard housing, names were changed, once bought they were branded as they were counted as stock on the estate like the cattle, they had to work extremely long hours on plantations without wages, could be sold to another planter, suffered cruel punishments, rapes etc. A slave and his family were bought for life. The planter had absolute control over the person and liberty of the slave. In the case of the British, one island in the West Indies was used to breed slaves.

Today

I have deliberately stated these facts because although on a different scale in terms of numbers and other aspects, one can identify similarities in the human trafficking which is being carried out in the 21st century across the globe, as people are trafficked within their countries, as well as across borders. The question might be asked where is it happening? In fact there are not too many places where it is not happening. ILO figures show that 4.5 million people across the world are sex slaves. Every minute- 2 children are trafficked, and 2.5 million women are trafficked per year.

In Cambodia for instance there are many examples of parental complicity where girls are regarded as blessings as they can be sold to provide money for parents and the girls feel that they have to honour their parents. Girls are sold for items such as cell phones, TV sets and other consumables. They are sold at a young, tender age and men fly in half way around the world to buy children for sex. If the parents traffic the child in the country then it shows that they love the child, if trafficked out of the country then they do not love the child. They are often picked from a lineup with numbers on their chests. Thousands of girls are sold in this way and once bought they are expected to have encounters with from 5-40 men per day, seven days per week for up to possibly seven years. Some die, contract diseases, or end up so broken psychologically that they consider themselves worthless. This also happens to older victims as well. Buyers can pay for services with credit cards and the receipt given could read: Beer-US$4.00, Grapes- US$5.00, Girl-US$3.00 (whatever you want). One victim remarked ‘I would pray day and night to God that he would help me escape’. UNICEF has reported that in Cambodia, 19,250 children are trapped in trafficking. Cambodia is not an isolated example, there is well established human trafficking in Thailand and several other countries in that region.

In Moldova, Eastern Europe-400,000 women have been trafficked in the past 20 years as criminal gangs recognise how much money they can make. It is alleged that Spain has a high incidence of human trafficking.

What is Human Trafficking?

HOPE FOR JUSTICE UK defines it as ‘modern day slavery. It is serious organised crime and it is big business. Criminals can only profit from the sale of drugs and guns once but they can sell a victim’s services again and again.

The Act

What is done? Recruitment, Transportation, Harbouring or receipt of persons

The Means

How it is done? Threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or position- vulnerability.

The Purpose - Why is it done?

In order to exploit victims e.g. prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation e.g. pornography films, forced labour or services, slavery, servitude, or removal of organs. (When the victim is a child only act and purpose need to occur for human trafficking to exist). Information correct as of September 2012’.

Initiatives to counteract Human Trafficking

One of the main organisations is the INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR MIGRATION (IOM) which includes a counter trafficking unit. In Europe there is the ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION. These agencies have websites which provide very helpful information on how they are working to counter human trafficking. People are becoming more aware of this scourge and so support is growing against human trafficking.

In January 2014, the God TV Channel held a campaign in order to educate viewers worldwide and encourage people to speak out against this horror.

EXODUS CRY, USA has produced an excellent film entitled ‘Nefarious :Merchant of Souls’. The film focuses on redemption, reference to Psalm 10, in which the wicked are in the shadows looking for the vulnerable and weak to entrap them. There is no nudity and the film is suitable for a Christian audience. EXODUS CRY, USA is a major foundation which employs full-time staff, and they intervene where there is trafficking. They recognise trafficking as a spiritual matter and hold prayer vigils as part of their awareness raising programmes. They recognise that orphans, marginalised, stateless, sexually abused, poverty stricken, weak and vulnerable persons are preyed upon by traffickers. In order to bring victims under control they use systematised ways of breaking them down through violence, rape, gang rape, drugs, also threats to harm their families if they do not submit. Once the victim’s spirit is broken, in order to survive psychologically the victim begins to identify with the pimp or trafficker (Stockholm syndrome) as the only source of life.

In Sweden, men are arrested for buying sex and are given a serious penalty. So sex buyers are criminalised, not the women. They are victims and are offered protective services. The last murder of a prostitute was in 1989. Sweden is protecting the sanctitiy of human life. This has resulted in a low rate of human trafficking.

In Cambodia, safe houses have been set up by some individuals and NGOs in order to rescue victims. Counselling services are included in the rehabilitation of victims. It is interesting to note that an ex pimp and an ex trafficker have devoted their lives to helping children get out of the sex industry.

In December 2012, I had the opportunity to attend a Conference on ‘Toward Tier One- Preventing Human Trafficking in Jamaica’. This was organised by Soroptomist International of Jamaica and the College of Health Sciences- University of Technology Jamaica. It was stated that in 2000, the UNITED NATIONS had set up a protocol on human trafficking and arms trafficking. Jamaica was working towards achieving Tier 1, which would indicate full compliance.

Conference participants regarded human trafficking as violence against the soul. Churches, schools and civic organisations needed to be educated to the signs of trafficking. The main concentration was violence against women and girls. It was recognised that there was also violence against boys and men. Some governments in the region were still in denial about human trafficking, the Jamaican government had promised to set up a Task Force. Legislative changes were needed, and cases before the courts should be fast tracked. There was collaboration between the NGOs and the Police. There were 3 stages in the process of entrapping victims: Recruitment, Transportation, and Exploitation. The main types of exploitation were sexual exploitation, forced labour, servitude, and removal of organs. Persons were mainly young bright females e.g. University students who were recruited for so called modelling jobs; school drop outs, young single mothers and boys. Traffickers publicised offers of work and a better life through websites and newspapers. There was trafficking within Jamaica, and into Jamaica e.g. Filipino maids. Through the existing programme victims from Burma, Guyana, Panama and India have been rescued. Women were also used as ‘mules’ to bring drugs into Europe. Child Protection Officers were over burdened as parents sometimes sold their child to a man or to a family for a certain amount of money per month. Vacant houses were being used in some instances for trafficking. The Saxthorpe Methodist Church had set up a counselling centre to help victims. They were often traumatised to the point of not being able to speak, had mental issues, and found it difficult to reintegrate into the family.

HOPE FOR JUSTICE-UK

This organisation inspires people to rise up against human trafficking and slavery and see God restore people. Their Annual Report states ‘We believe Freedom is worth the fight. We believe Justice is non negotiable. We refuse to abandon the Least, the Last, and the Lost’.

In the case of Forced Labour, victims are told about good jobs which will provide them with an opportunity to improve their circumstances. Their ID is taken away, they are paid very low wages, kept in extremely poor conditions, and can be sold from person to person. In the case of one man, he was told that he was not worth even Three Hundred Pounds.

Sexual Exploitation involves being coerced physically, threatened verbally or ground down psychologically for sexual acts. This may be prostitution, the creation of pornography or involvement in ritual abuse. Trafficking for sexual exploitation does not just involve migrants brought into the UK but also victims who are moved from location to location in the UK. Children as young as 3yrs. have been trafficked into the UK for sexual exploitation. In 2003, it was estimated that there were 4,000 victims of trafficking for prostitution in the UK at any given time. Between 2011-2012, HOPE FOR JUSTICE, UK assisted 78 victims. In February 2013, the organisation opened the first Hub Investigators group-Emma’s Hub. They are appointed regionally and sent into communities to reach the most hidden victims. Also, the organisation has produced a Comprehensive Training Pack for frontline Police to boost Investigators and Prosecutors. The HOPE FOR JUSTICE UK team responds to intelligence received from NGOs and Community groups who have been trained to recognise the indicators of trafficking. This work enables them to assist in the rescue of victims from situations of exploitation who are transferred to after care providers. The following should be noted: 81% of victims referred to this organisation by those they trained were reached within 24 hours; 23% of victims rescued were children, the youngest 3 months old: 96% of victims made a direct report or submitted intelligence to Law Enforcement because of HOPE FOR JUSTICE, UK Involvement.

Top 5 Victim Nationalities

• Slovak
• Romanian
• Czech
• Hungarian
• Latvian

What Can We Do?

The God TV channel describes ‘Human Trafficking as one of the greatest evils of modern times’ and “At the heart of being a Christian there is a call to action. To shine a light into the darkest areas of the world and humanity”.

The Human Trafficking Search website states “No one size fits all solution—Eliminating human trafficking requires focused and serious action by countries of origin, transit or destination by international organisations, and by individuals within communities where slavery exists—We can each play a part directly or indirectly in our lives”.

1. Prayer is absolutely essential as this is a spiritual battle. Jesus came to set captives free. Pray for the victims and the traffickers.
2. Awareness and education- injustice thrives hidden in the shadows, shine a light on this evil. Become part of the abolition movement through the social media
3. Make a one off gift towards helping to rebuild lives.
4. Regular financial giving to help abolitionist organisations rescue victims, and help them through restoration programmes.
5. Corporate Social Responsibility- partner with HOPE FOR JUSTICE, UK- hear stories, receive updates, join campaigns.
6. Invite a Guest Speaker so that we can become better informed.
7. STAND UP FOR THE LITTLE ONES- ‘Kids as Commodities? Child trafficking and what you can do about it’.

“YOU MAY CHOOSE TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY BUT YOU CAN NEVER AGAIN SAY YOU DID NOT KNOW”.
William Wilberforc

“IF SLAVERY IS NOT WRONG THEN NOTHING IS”.
Abraham Lincoln

Bibliography

• 2012 Annual Report-HOPE FOR JUSTICE, UK.
• “The Making of the West Indies” Augier, Gordon, Hall and Reckord,1960 Longmans.
• “Black Cargoes, A History of the Atlantic Slave Trade (1518-1865)”
• Mannix & Cowley,1962 Longmans.