If one were to walk down almost any major street in the US and ask random people if slavery still existed today in the modern world, chances are most would say no. These people would be dead wrong however. Slavery is still a major problem in the 21st century; millions of people are enslaved world-wide as sex slaves and laborers. It is absolutely despicable that this problem exists at all in this day and age.
How can this deplorable problem be solved? Well, as far as the US goes, I would suggest funneling a large part of the money that is being used to fund the war against drugs and putting it towards anti-human trafficking organizations. In fact, I believe there should be an agency that specifically deals with human trafficking. There are multiple organizations against drugs (DEA, ATF, etc) that are receiving substantial (to say the least) amounts of funding to crack down on drugs, why not something more important like people? In fact, the US government spends 300 times more on cracking down on drugs than it does human trafficking.
The government alone cannot end this horrible market however. No supply exists without demand. A business cannot survive without its customers. Sadly, most of the demand for human trafficking comes from Americans. The American customers aren’t exactly out of the ordinary people as well. Most are businessmen, many married, many of whom have children. They are remarkably average. If demand can’t be reduced down to 0%, then a harm-reduction path should be taken. It pains me to say it, but prostitution should be legalized. If a businessman wants to have a fling, it’s better if he goes to a place where the women are there by choice and are getting paid, rather than going to a shady, run-down, hole-in-the-wall kind of place where the girls there are underage and forced to be there against their will.
Education also plays a huge role in stopping this problem. People have to be informed that this problem still exists and that it must be stopped. Girls should also be taught at a young age about this problem, they should be shown what can happen to them if they are not careful, just like the 12 year old from Human Trafficking.
Daniel, I completely agree with you that this modern day slavery is a major problem within our borders. The fact that this sort of thing still goes on is disgusting and the fact of the matter is the customers are just as much responsible by paying for the sex and continuing the trade. I also agree that this trafficking of humans needs to have more focus placed upon it, more so than drugs even. Although I know prostitution can be a touchy subject I am glad you mentioned the legalization of it because, like you said, if people are going to pay for sex at least make it so the employees are kidnapped children from third world countries or innocent women tricked into slavery. Like you said, people need to be more educated on these matters to be able to do whatever it takes to avoid getting caught in these situations.
ReplyDeleteDon't you think it is completely disgusting and disturbing that in our beautiful country, men (and women) are buying enslaved women and children to use for sex? I personally find that horrifying. One of the many who partake in this modern day slavery could even be someone you know. I think it's horrible in general that people desire sex so much that they would buy someone to have sex with, especially someone who obviously is not enjoying it and does not even want to be there, and even worse that people buy CHILDREN.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that people need to be more educated. Lots of people are not even aware that this is happening, as you said. And how could we ever possibly put a stop to it if no one knows about it? And if people knew about the dangers, they might be able to better protect themselves and others.