“There is an assumption that slavery is an issue from a bygone era. Or that it only exists in countries ravaged by war and poverty. These findings show that modern slavery exists in every country.” – The Global Slavery Index
35.8 MILLION PEOPLE ARE ENSLAVED ACROSS THE WORLD – Walk …
Improved methodology highlights 20% more people across the world in modern slavery than previously estimated, according to the Global Slavery Index 2014.
Many people don’t know that western countries are a part of human exploitation. People think it’s only located in third world countries, but it isn’t. What many people fail to realize is that there are many different types of exploitation. People think that exploitation is just doing something without someone’s consent, but it’s more than that. When someone does something without consent it’s violating someone’s privacy. Like servile marriages, which means when someone is arranged to be married, or child soldiers, which is essentially children who are recruited to fight in wars. That is a form of exploitation because those children are not able to legally consent that they understand what they’re doing. It’s also illegal to recruit children for such matters. Another example of exploitation is when someone uploads an inappropriate picture of you for their gain. Especially in that situation because you are being taken advantage of and your privacy is being violated. When stuff like that gets on to the internet it’s hard to get rid of it. If you delete it, there’s probably a chance that all your friends or foes have seen it and they could have taken a screen-shot of it and uploaded it to other media channels making it viral.
In western countries human exploitation is still very active. Back in the 1800’s it was slavery but now it’s more internet-centered. Now our version of exploitation can range from inappropriate pictures to obtaining sex slaves online and worse. People don’t realize that there’s human trafficking in western countries because traffickers usually disguise what they’re doing. In other countries traffickers will lie to poor families, telling them that their children have better opportunities (education and jobs) in richer countries, when in reality their children are forced to become slaves.
“Women and girls make up 98% of victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation.” – Equality Now
“Worldwide, 35.8 million men, women, and children are in forced labour (including sexual exploitation).” – The Global Slavery Index
“It is estimated 1.2 million children are sexually exploited each year.” – Unicef
Many sex traffickers go for people who are at a disadvantage. Like I stated in the first quote, they will go for minorities, children of minorities, and children living in poverty. Many Asians, Africans, and other minorities either came from bad situations because their parents migrated from places with very little money. Or they feel left out and try to get into places where they’ll be accepted such as gangs. Sex traffickers will notice these people and try to pretend that they care and that these people will be better off being with them. Little do they know they will be subjected to physical and emotional torture.
For example, women who are trafficked from Vietnam and China are most commonly trafficked into Cambodia. A 2005 report estimated 2000 victims in Cambodia had been trafficked there. About 80% were Vietnamese women and girls. The reason why Cambodia is the destination is because it is the transit country from Vietnam to Thailand. Studies say that Cambodia is fairly new when it comes to sex trafficking/exploitation which is why it’s easy to bring people there. Studies also say that traffickers use Cambodia because it’s more rural and underdeveloped, so it will not be suspected.
All these statistics are so discouraging. People are being exploited in ways that will leave them emotionally and physically scarred. Some victims end their lives because they can’t cope with that pain. That’s just so disheartening. Also children are being exploited. When they get older they’ll use sex and drugs as a coping mechanism. That’s not okay. We as a society have to educate each other and other countries that there is a way out. We need tougher laws that will protect and rehabilitate the victims. We also need laws that will track and shut down these destructive operations.
Photo Credits
Nepali girls working in brick factory – Wikimedia Creative Commons
Guest Author Bio
Ama Amponfi-Kyei
I am a 15 year old girl who loves reading, watching movies, hanging out with friends and biking. I have a couple of academic awards that I am very grateful for – my grade 7 French award and my grade 8 History and Geography awards. I have been in the honor roll since grade 7.
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