The Persecution Of Human Trafficking

Throughout the world, many countries, whether developed or underdeveloped, endure a crime, human trafficking, that exploits humans and restricts them from their human rights. According to Polaris Project, “ Human trafficking denies freedom to 20.9 million people from around the world.” (Human) Human trafficking enslaves its victims through force or manipulation to engage in forced labor or commercial sex acts. Like many other crimes, this form of modern-day slavery depends on the economic principles of supply and demand. Victims will be sold and exploited multiple times throughout their lifetimes, making human trafficking a multi-billion dollar industry. That is why it is no surprise that this is happening here in America’s states, cities,
In 2000, the federal government passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), the first law to address human trafficking. This law provides a three-pronged approach that includes prevention, protection, and the prosecution of trafficking. Further, the FBI has been empowered to investigate labor trafficking, sex trafficking, and the unlawful conduct in the progression of trafficking. (Human Trafficking/Involuntary) The numbers of victims are nearly impossible to determine, but it is estimated that 14,500 to 17,500 victims are trafficked into the United States annually. (2
Department of State rates countries from tier one to tier three annually on their involvement with human trafficking through the Trafficking in Person Report (TIP). International organizations, foreign governments, and nongovernmental organizations, engage and monitor the efforts of foreign governments on human trafficking, and help target prevention, protection, and prosecuting programs of human trafficking, use this tool worldwide. Tier one is when a country fully complies the TVPA, tier two is when a country complies with the bare minimum but is making improvements, tier two watch list is when a country complies with the bare minimum standards, but has an increasing number of victims, and tier three is when a country does not meet any standards of the TVPA. The goal of the TIP is to give freedom to victims, prevent new victims, and bring traffickers to justice. (Human Trafficking - US) This report increases our knowledge and broadens our efforts for human trafficking. However, many countries fall under tier 3 because they lack the legal instruments and political