Human Trafficking: The World's Biggest Threat

Human Trafficking: The World’s Biggest Threat Karla Jacinto, who was dragged into the sex industry by a pimp who deceived her by sweet talks and false promises at the age of twelve, has been raped 43,200 times in four years. She was forced to meet at least thirty men every day starting from morning until midnight. Karla was beaten with chains, punched in the face, and burned with an iron by the traffickers. Luckily, Karla was rescued at the age of sixteen by an anti-trafficking organization in Mexico City (Romo). According to U.N. Trafficking Protocol, human trafficking is "the recruitment, transport, transfer, harboring or receipt of a person by such means as threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, or fraud or deception

Since victims of trafficking experience constant torture, humiliation, and threats, they undergo many intense psychological problems (Chung). These problems occur when victims realize that they have no control over their own lives and there is no way to escape from the disgusting reality. Victims suffer from insomnia, guilt, depression, paranoia, anxiety, and isolation during trafficking (Chung). Victims of trafficking attempt suicide by cutting their nerves, swallowing pills, drug overdosing, or hanging themselves (Chung). In fact, 39-66 percent of victims have suicidal thoughts after being tortured and humiliated regularly by traffickers (OVCTTAC 7). In addition, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is another serious psychological dilemma caused by human trafficking. Almost all women suffer from PTSD due to sexual and physical violence, anxiety nightmares, and threats posed by traffickers. In fact, Melissa Farley, who wrote a book about trafficking and traumatic stress, said that about 70 percent of women experienced PTSD during trafficking in the sex industry (qtd in Mlizzard). In brief, trafficking in person poses many severe psychological problems to victims’

Human trafficking is the world’s third-largest illegal economy (Masci 280). According to Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking, “Human trafficking around the globe is estimated to generate a profit of anywhere from $9 billion to $31.6 billion, half of these profits are made in industrialized countries,” (qtd in Random Fact). As calculated by ILO, total profits from all forced sex exploitation in the globe are approximate $33.9 billion (qtd in E. Wheaton & T. Galli). However, human trafficking can also slow down the economic growth of countries. Some pimps and smugglers around the world cross international borders with the victims which can cause breaking the law due to illegal immigration and initiating illegal documents (Seelke 3). In fact, U.S. officials “estimate that 75%-80% of unaccompanied minors now travel with smugglers,” (qtd in Seelke). Illegal immigration of traffickers increases crime rates, population, “lack of enforcement of law”, and poverty (Pokharna). Therefore; illegal immigration slows down the economic development of the nation. All in all, human trafficking can have positive and negative effects on the globe’s