TRAFFICKING; IT CANT HAPPEN TO ME

We go about our lives assured everything is alright, everyone is as they seem and no one would possibly want to harm us. Why would they want to harm us? After all, we are good people.

Indeed, that is the way the world should be but it is not quite so. There people out there ready to plunder others for self- benefit. Awareness on key issues is principal in keeping yourself safe as well as those you love therefore let us examine the people and motives and results of modern day slavery called Human Trafficking.

WHAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

There is a broad aspect when it comes to describing Human Trafficking. Simply put it is illegal trade in which humans are made to do inhumane work or work conditions for the benefit of illegal perpetrators. This description could fall short of many aspects of trafficking. The United Nations puts it this way;

(a) 'Trafficking in persons' shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs;

(b) The consent of a victim of trafficking in persons to the intended exploitation set forth in subparagraph (a) of this article shall be irrelevant where any of the means set forth in subparagraph (a) have been used;

(c) The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation shall be considered 'trafficking in persons' even if this does not involve any of the means set forth in subparagraph (a) of this article;

(d) 'Child' shall mean any person under eighteen years of age"

Information from Salvation Army Website.

WHO ARE HUMAN TRAFFICKERS?

• Plunderers, anyone who plunders another for cheap or free labor is a plunderer regardless of whether the labor comes from a relative or someone they claim to help, as long as the terms fit the description above.
• Some Companies, for example,commercial agricultural i.e the cotton used to make your shirt could have been picked up by a trafficked person, some traffickers pose as modelling agencies offering opportunities abroad, entertainment massage parlors .
• Anybody can be a human trafficker but not everybody is a human trafficker. Learn to identify them;

WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?

No, they do not have to an eye-patch over their eyes. You cannot tell by looking. From the view of many different victims of trafficking, the person who made them victims promised them a good life, wore clean clothes and had a smile on their face. So how do you identify a trafficker from everyone else?

• VALIDATE ALL YOUR JOB OFFERS. Many traffickers appear to be having good intentions for you and look like they want to make your life better with their promises of work. Sometimes it is hard to tell by looking but always do background research on what they promise and do not take anyone by their word.
• GET RICH FAST SCHEMES. If you cannot trace where there success is from but they look successful and offer you the same success be wary. If what they promise is true, are they able to show you the life of someone they had helped or worked with in the long run. They may well be able to but do more research and ask around anonymously even search for details on internet if you must but remember these people are skilled in their illegal trade.
• STRANGERS WITH A KEEN INTEREST ON WHO YOU ARE AND YOUR LIFESTYLE. MAY EVEN OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AT FIRST. They appear to have a genuine interest in your life, how much you make, where you live, your relationship with your family, your education and well being and your needs. Even though they may not know you but offer you the much needed assistance. Is the person well known in your area? If you go with them or according to their plan and something happens to you, will they be able to hold this person accountable for you? Traffickers disguise themselves in many forms so you should make sure that you are confident with this person, never take a person by what they say.
• TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. You cannot know who is a trafficker at first sight but do not follow anyone you feel is not trustworthy even if they promise you what you most desire for they come in many manners and shapes, female or male, young or old. Do not be a victim;

WHO IS A VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING?

Anyone can be a victim of trafficking but traffickers usually target specific people;

• Migrant workers
• People with little foreign language efficiency which makes it hard for them to communicate in countries they are trafficked to.
• Young children from poor backgrounds.
• Immigrants.
• People with limited education.
• People with cultural barrier.
• People who are unaware of their Human Rights.

WHY ARE PEOPLE TRAFFICKED?

You cannot blame a person for being trafficked. Lack of adequate means to identify traffickers because they are so well synced with the society has allowed for trafficking to go on behind closed doors even into the 21st century. People are trafficked for all the bad reasons some of the few are;

• Sexual Exploitation
• Forced cheap labor
• Slavery
• Removal of Organs

HOW CAN I HELP OR LOCATE SOME ONE WHO IS TRAFFICKED?

• Firstly, you have to learn how to identify trafficking victims.
• Join a Voluntary Organisation  in your area and report that is involved in trafficking and report what you know.
• It is not advisable to take matters into your own hands as this may put you in danger, rather work with the law enforcement or with the Organisation in your area to set the captives free.
• If their is no Organisation in your area, seek help on behalf of the victim from International Organisations such as Human Trafficking.Org and Trafficking Project.Org.
• If you know someone has traveled for work but you have barely heard from them, contact the ICRC with the help of the National Red Cross can help you locate your loved one.

Do you know anyone who has been trafficked or do you want to fight against this modern day slavery. Or do you know something not added to this article that you would like to add. Feel free to comment or contact us; safetyfirstforgirls@aol.com

This is am I AM SAFE Project by Safety First for Girls.