Don’t Get Hyponotised by the Stats and Stories

It’s difficult to ignore a headline on TV or in the newspaper that reads “Paedophile gangs preying on children…”, or “Teenage sex slaves used as ‘personal ATM’”. But sex trafficking and sex enslavement is a topic that tends to be sensationalised by the media, fed by exaggerated facts, figures, and the graphic real-life stories of the victims, and unfortunately do little to support those whose lives are affected by this reality on a daily basis.

The far-reaching extent of sex trafficking and enslavement should not be ignored, nor the devastating impact it has on individuals’ lives. However, it is important that we don’t get lost in the hype and the emotions which are provoked when we see these articles. As stated by Ryan Turner, (Associate Director of Advocacy for the Human Trafficking Centre, USA):

 “Reveling in graphic details does not help victims and survivors, nor does it contribute in any meaningful way to the fight to end human trafficking. Rather, it tokenizes the experiences of victims and can trigger trauma for human trafficking survivors.” Ryan Turner.

While increasing public awareness of sex trafficking and enslavement is critical in order to combat it, it is important to recognise what is actually being portrayed by an article reporting about sex trafficking/enslavement. Is the article simply there to attract and entertain readers, or is it actually advocating in order to increase public awareness and help combat the issue? Ask yourself; if I was a victim of sex enslavement, would that article have empowered me or persecuted me further? Lastly, ask yourself what can I do that would be beneficial for victims of sex enslavement, or help combat sex trafficking? We will supply links on this blog to organisations where you can provide support to help prevent sex trafficking, and aid in the recovery of those trafficked. These organisations have been chosen as they provide direct support to those trafficked, and are subsequently most effective in their actions (please note we have no affiliation with any of these companies).

We promise that this blog will advocate for combatting sex enslavement using a positive and productive format without exaggeration or sensationalism.

By Hamish Prosser

Pornography: The Acceptable Link?

I was planning on including the effects of pornography in a previous blog, however it has become apparent that the issue of pornography is far more complex than I first expected in reference to links with sex trafficking. Hopefully this blog will show you how the pornography industry can contribute to the problem of sex trafficking.

So what are the actual links between pornography and trafficking?
According to one review article,¹ it has been found that sexual erotica such as pornography has wide spread personal acceptance and tolerance amongst adults in society. This is further reiterated by Covenant Eyes, a company that provides internet accountability and filtering services, which found that 85% of young men and 47% of young women watch porn at least once a month.² But just because viewing pornography is generally accepted by many people in society, it does not mean that the actual actors/actresses are not exploited, trafficked and enslaved.

According to the UN definition of trafficking, people are recruited by means of threat, force, coercion, fraud or deception, which means many individuals in the pornography industry are actually sex trafficked.³ One NGO states that performers are frequently threatened when they protest against doing something they do not want to do, or are coerced to act in scenes outside of their contract.³ Others are offered fraudulent promises of employment, money and working conditions. Furthermore, extreme coercion and force have also been reported on pornography sets.³ The following video tells the story of a young woman who was coerced and sold into porn by her husband, and is advocating for awareness and help for those enslaved in the pornography industry. Warning: This video does include specific and very upsetting details.

Taken From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFLGVyE7vnw

There are also numerous cases of trafficking that have been reported globally where individuals have been kidnapped for the purposes of filming pornography. For example, three victims from vulnerable populations in North Africa were kidnapped by an organised group who then forced the women to participate in sexual behaviour. The only difference from classic sex trafficking was that the clients were not served directly, but via the production of pornography.⁴

How else does pornography contribute to slavery?

Shockingly, in the United States, the average age of entry into the prostitution and pornography industryis 12 to 14 years. This is not surprising given that the primary targets of traffickers are youth, due to their lower life experience, fewer coping mechanisms and smaller social support.⁵

Furthermore, pornography has also been a major contributing tool used by traffickers to train women and children for sex trafficking^.6

By Joshua

References:

1.         Diamond, M. (2009). Pornography, public acceptance and sex related crime: A review. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 32(5), p.304. Retrieved from Elsevier.

2.    http://www.covenanteyes.com/pornstats/

3.    http://stoptraffickingdemand.com/trafficking-within-the-industry/

4.    Peters, R., Lederer, L. & Kelly, S. (2012). The slave and the porn star: sexual trafficking and pornography. The Protection Project Journal of Human Rights and Civil Society, 1(5), 1-21. Retrieved from Porn Harms Research. http://pornharmsresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/MIM_PhArticles_PornTrafficking_JohnsHopkinsArtitcle_PetersLederer_11-26-2012_FinalReprint.pdf

5.http://sharedhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/SHI_National_Report_on_DMST_2009without_cover.pdf

6. http://stoptraffickingdemand.com/spread-the-word/

Influences on Sex Trafficking and Slavery

While it is clear that sex slavery has been an industry in operation for millennia, I was interested in finding out what the current drivers and influences are for the industry to be so shockingly prevalent.  

The particular context in each country is slightly different, and thus I would advise, if you are interested in a particular country, to have a look at the U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report which specifically addresses the issues of trafficking in each country. I decided to investigate the underlying factors, motivations and settings in which sex-trafficking occurs in India, as it is not necessarily thought of as a country with high sex trafficking rates (either that, or I am completely naïve!), and it faces many of the same challenges as many countries globally.

Shockingly, one NGO based in New Delhi, Courage Homes, estimates that 200 women in India alone enter into prostitution per day, with 80% doing so unwillingly.¹

Who is most vulnerable?

The most vulnerable women in India are those who are from a low socio-economic status (SES) background, however it is now clear that young women of higher SES backgrounds are at risk.²

How are women coerced?

As well as brazen kidnapping, girls are often coerced into the sex trafficking industry by two main tactics. One of the most common tactics to coerce girls (including those who are well educated) is to make promises of well-paying jobs in major cities, where they are instead forced into prostitution.² The second tactic (which was also seen in the movie Taken), is to have a girl ‘fall in love’ with a man who will sell her to a sex trafficker or pimp, or will prostitute her himself.¹ The Indian newspaper, The Hindu, highlights a personal story of this very case happening:

The latest case is that of 17-year-old Wahida (name changed) from South 24 Parganas, who was smuggled into the city by an acquaintance of her lover’s brother and sold to a brothel on G.B. Road in Central Delhi about a week ago. “Having completed my Class X, I had gone to get myself enrolled with a nurse training school where Siraj, an acquaintance of my lover Nasir’s brother, met me. He took me to an eating joint where we had some food, after which I lost my senses. My body was functioning properly, but I could not utter a single word. What happened thereafter I cannot recall. It seems he made me consume food laced with some drugs,” said Wahida, daughter of a rickshaw puller.³

Where is this most prevalent?

The major hubs for child sex tourism and sex slavery are in major cities and towns, as well as in religious pilgrim centers such as Tirupati, Puri and Guruvayoor.² Furthermore, women from Bangladesh and Nepal are trafficked through India for commercial sexual exploitation in the Middle East (as well as in India).² Indian women have also been found in sex slavery as far as Europe, trafficked through Ginea.²

What other contributing factors are there?

One of the major influences is the Indian government and their lack of compliance with minimum standards for eliminating trafficking (however changes are being made).² To highlight this, most police raids of brothels and other places of human trafficking such as rice mills and factories were prompted and insisted upon by NGO’s.² Furthermore, there are also allegations that some police harass and adversely affect the work of NGO’s in some areas of India. The factors surrounding sex trafficking in India are obviously deeply entrenched, as one NGO activist pointed out to The Hindu,

“I am working in a community which traditionally supplies women for prostitution and sees it as a source of livelihood. So to fight for a positive change by educating the girls in the community is an uphill task’’.⁴

Not For Sale, an NGO set up to fight slavery, has also found that up to 95% of female victims of trafficking in New Delhi rehabilitation programs are not provided education, employment, job or life skills training, thus leading them into the original state of vulnerability.⁵ Organisations like Courage Homes and Not For Sale are currently doing amazing work to restore trafficked victims’ dignity and future employment opportunities, as the video (Not for Sale India demonstrates.^5,6 However there is desperate need for more government help and society awareness to prevent sex trafficking from occurring in the first place.

 

Obviously this post has just focused on one country, and the factors listed here are by no means exhaustive.  However similar factors and struggles with the sex trafficking industry can be found globally and I would encourage you to visit the Trafficking in Persons Report that specifically addresses the issues of trafficking in each country. For more information, follow this link: http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2010/142760.htm

- Joshua 

 References

1)   http://www.couragehomes.org/facts/

2)   http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2010/142760.htm

3)   http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article3681596.ece

4) http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/alleged-police-harassment-hampers-antitrafficking-activists-work/article4104109.ece

5)   http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/global-initiatives/india/

6)   http://www.couragehomes.org/therapy/

7)   http://vimeo.com/40600041

Health and the Sex trade

With all this information about the human sex trade, I was becoming more worried about the health consequences of people who are trafficked for sexual purposes. This is a pretty emotional area and must be treated with all due care and sensitivity.  

Also, with all this information, I was having a little trouble digesting it all. I usually pick up information visually and so I made a little infographic about some of the health consequences faced by trafficked inviduals. Although we know males comprise a small number of people trafficked, the majority seem to be females and thus I have concentrated on their health.

Reading these reports and listening to the people who help ladies after they are rescued, I was really impressed by the various strategies undertaken to help them out. I never realised the long term consequences of trafficking on emaotional and mental health. I now realise that care must involve the longer term treatment of mental and emotional health even after the physical scars have healed. 

by Andrew Garrett

Sex trafficking and enslavement in Australia

Just recently sex enslavement became National news with the exposé that:

‘Organised gangs of men are sexually exploiting children in out-of-home care and enticing them into trading sex for money, drugs and alcohol.’ ABC News.

Police reported that up to 40 children living in the care of the Department of Human Services in Victoria may have been sexually exploited in the past 18 months. This included children as young as 12 being transported interstate, exchanging sex for cigarettes, money, alcohol or drugs. The offenders gained the trust of these children through social media and befriending them ¹.

The most disheartening and disgusting part of this story is that the offenders preyed on children already suffering from significant trauma and pain, removed from family and support systems that you or I take for granted every day. These children were vulnerable, and the offenders exploited this.

Fortunately, in this case several men were charged, including the ‘ring-leader’ of the organisation.

Cases like this are rare in Australia, prevented largely by a police force targeting the exploitation of children, with 2,000 police, child protection and care workers in Australia (Bernie Geary, Commissioner for Children and Young People in Victoria), and well-defined and enforced legal Acts. Moreover, Australia is geographically isolated, has strong migration controls, and has numerous anti-trafficking agreements with countries across South East Asia to improve cooperation, prevent trafficking, and provide victim support ².

However, trafficking for sexual purposes DOES occur in Australia. In fact, the UN ranked Australia 21^st as a destination of human trafficking ³. The vast majority of people considered to be enslaved in Australia are women from South East Asia for the purposes of sex. (Statistics can be viewed at: http://www.law.uq.edu.au/human-trafficking-statistics).

It also appears that those enslaved in Australia are predominantly forced into prostitution. This raises the obvious question: Has the legalisation of prostitution driven sexual enslavement in Australia?

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/wwtravel/960_540/images/live/p0/17/bg/p017bg2j.jpg and http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2009/05/17/1225713/050253-sex-out-of-control-in-sydney.jpg

Sweden would argue yes. And they may be right. Legalisation of prostitution in Australia has increased the demand for prostitutes, however this increase in demand has not been filled ². Sweden argues that this demand-driven system generates the trafficking and enslavement of women into prostitution. I tend to agree with this argument, however I also recognise that it is somewhat of a catch 22. As a nation we want to prevent humans being trafficked and forced into prostitution; but we also want to be able to provide those who choose to work in the sex industry with a safe environment, just like any other workplace. Prostitution is the oldest profession in living history, it will continue whether it is legal or not. Whether the benefits of legalising prostitution outweigh the potential for increased sex enslavement I’ll leave for you to debate by leaving comments on this post.

By Hamish Prosser

References:

1.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-11/criminal-gangs-enticing-children-in-state-care-into-prostitution/5313632

2.http://www.humantrafficking.org/countries/australia

3.http://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/HT-globalpatterns-en.pdf

Tide of Traffick over Time

So….when did all this trafficking start?

Image from: www.athensdaytrips.com

It is well known that prostitution is one of the oldest and most celebrated occupations in humanity. During the Roman empire, the city port of Corinth was so wealthy that 1000 prostitutes/priestesses were paid to work at the temple of Aphrodite, and to ‘Corinthianize’ was to engage in extreme sexual promiscuity.¹ While prostitution and promiscuity has been evident throughout history, I was not sure how this related to the history of sex-slavery. So I decided to investigate a few different ancient cultures, particularly the Roman empire, in order to see how prevalent the sex trade was in other eras compared to the 21^st Century. What I found was quite astounding.

History of Polygyny (sex-wives)

Table 1, ² shows the extent to which polygyny was present throughout the ancient world, which had a strong relation to sex slavery.

Agents of the rich and powerful would ‘scour the empire’ and ‘procure as tributes’ women and girl sex slaves for their masters. It was clearly a brutal industry.

Image From: outre-monde.com

The Roman emperors, of whom most information has been recorded, were notoriously brutal to their slaves (or anyone who took their fancy). According to one historian of the time (Deo), when one father in imperial favour sent his beautiful daughter away to prevent her from being a forced sex slave of emperor Tiberius, both he and his daughter were killed. Other gruesome records of the emperors of Rome (Julius, Augustus, Caligula, Claudius and Nero) and their sex-slavery can be found in the article Roman polygyny ². This slavery did not just occur for the emperors of Rome however. In the Roman Empire, approximately half of the people were slaves, and the role of women slaves was primarily to produce more slaves, to wait on their women masters, or be sex slaves for their masters. Other historians of that time refer to higher prices being paid for women who were more physically attractive (thus being bought as masters sex-slaves).¹ It is therefore clear, looking at both Table 1, and focusing on the Roman Empire, that sex slavery was very much the norm in ancient civilization.

By - Josh Jeyaraj

 References

1) Swindoll, C. (2009). Insights on Romans. Zondervan. Retrieved from Google scholar.

2) Betzig, L. (1992). Roman polygyny. Ethology and Sociobiology, 13(5), 309-349. Accessed 30 March 2014.

For an interesting read, check out the abstract for [2], I've linked it here  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/016230959290008R

Traffic Maps and Stats

The more people I speak to about sex enslavement and trafficking, the more evident it is just how naïve we are about the raw facts; both globally and within our own country. I must admit that I too am one of the naïve. But no more! SO HERE ARE THE FACTS:

REALLY IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

Due to the secretive and illicit nature of human trafficking, the figures outlined above are best estimates only. Sadly, it is most likely that these numbers are substantially underestimating the true figures.

Profits earned by sex trafficking globally: 

 Approximately $32b US… yes, that’s with a b for BILLION!

Relative global impact?

Sex trafficking is number 2 on the United Nations list for profits made from organised crime, second only to drugs (National Human trafficking resource centre 2011).

How many people? 

A minimum of 12.6 million enslaved for sexual practices, 2 million of which are children (UNODC 2012; International Labour Organisation, 2012).

Average age of a trafficked victim? 

14 years

Women vs Men? 

Women and girls account for approximately 80% of trafficking victims (UNODC 2012)

Primary Countries involved: 

Europe, Central Asia and The America’s

Image taken from: http://europost.eu/article?id=614

Number of people convicted of sex trafficking globally:

Just 4,746 in 2012 (Trafficking in person report 2013, Department of State, USA).

The map below indicates compliance in enforcing the Trafficking Victims Protection Act to stop and prevent human trafficking. Lighter blue countries are more compliant in preventing trafficking.

 Image from:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/19/46000-human-trafficking-victims-identified_n_3467978.html

Insane fact: 

Humans sold for enslavement are worth less now than during times of legal slavery: the equivalent of $40,000 US per slave in 1850, and today children are regularly sold for $72 US (www.love146.org).

In Australia:  

Every year it is estimated that between 300 and 1000 people are trafficked into Australia, predominantly women from Asia for the purposes of sexual enslavement (UNODC 2012, human trafficking statistics UQ).

So wow ! I never knew just how far reaching and encompassing  sex trafficking is globally. With  32 billion dollars passing hands annually, this is an enormous, illegal industry.  I wonder how many other people knew the size of this problem. Did you?

by - Hamish  Prosser