Presidents Address



"It ought to concern every person, because it is a debasement of our common humanity. It ought to concern every community, because it tears at our social fabric. It ought to concern every business, because it distorts markets. It ought to concern every nation, because it endangers public health and fuels violence and organized crime. I’m talking about the injustice, the outrage, of human trafficking, which must be called by its true name — modern slavery.” PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA



Saturday 5 April 2014

How are we fighting it?

The fight against human trafficking and enslavement for the purpose of sex has been long-standing and incredibly difficult. Not surprisingly, when the profits are so great and the demand has not ceased (despite the penalties threatened) it is an attractive industry to many well organised criminal groups. In order to stop sex slavery continuing, it must be fought across international, national, and societal levels.

The United Nations (UN) has been leading the charge, and continues to do so with the new Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) which started in 2007. This initiative includes many specific aims, but of primary importance are ways in which to protect people from being trafficked, stop and prevent trafficking, and provide support to victims of trafficking. These three key areas will be investigated over the next 3 posts.

1. PROTECTION
Protecting people from being trafficked involves reducing their vulnerability to it. This is an incredibly difficult task as those trafficked are predominantly from underdeveloped countries, impoverished, and have little or no support or safety networks. Reducing vulnerability requires change at the governmental level to increase social equality, educate society about what trafficking involves, how to be aware of it and how to avoid it. These strategies are currently implemented by governments in many countries, and adhere to guidelines set out by the USA (as depicted in our previous ‘Maps and Stats’ blog) in a global effort to stop trafficking. Unfortunately, several countries are yet to adhere to these guidelines and, not surprisingly, it is these countries that have the greatest prevalence of trafficking and enslavement.

Improving protection through reducing vulnerability requires the empowerment of individuals. This is especially important for women, as they comprise the vast majority of those enslaved and trafficked for sex. It is one of the UN’s Millenium Goals to increase empowerment of women through ensuring equal education and employment opportunities across the sexes. Numerous non-government organisations (NGO’s) are also providing significant support on the ground, providing education and employment opportunities in countries where women are not provided an equal opportunity, and are most at risk of falling victim to traffickers because of it (for example: free the slaves).


By Hamish Prosser
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