Category: Sex Trafficking

Introduction

Sex trafficking is a complex public health problem and human rights violation that is prevalent worldwide. The recent Global Report on Trafficking in Persons revealed that sexual exploitation remains the primary reason for smuggling people, which accounted for 59% (Kangaspunta et al. 2). Consistently, the 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report disclosed that no country is immune to this modern slavery (United States Department of State 2). Zona Norte, Tijuana Mexico is a central hub of the sex industry due to the thriving sex tourism in the area (Goldenberg et al. 478). The blooming sex business in this district contributes to the widespread sexual exploitation of girls and young women in the region. This essay explores the sex trafficking menace in Zona Norte, Tijuana Mexico. It further discusses previous measures that have been put in place to combat this criminal activity.

The Nature of Sex Trafficking in Zona Norte

Trafficking of children, girls, and young women for sexual exploitation in La Zona Norte has attracted significant attention in both developed and developing countries in recent years. Zona Norte is globally recognized as a leading source, transit, and destination city for children, teenage girls, and young women to sex trafficking and human smuggling in general (Boyce et al. 1050). Goldenberg et al. report that thousands of children, adolescent girls, and young women are transported from the US and many parts of the world to this Mexican district for sexual exploitation. They are lured by pimps, human traffickers, and other facilitators. The human rights violation is endemic to this red-light district due to its proximity to the busy US-Mexico border (Zhang 16). The red light district reports widespread prostitution and trafficking of children and young women for sexual exploitation (Goldenberg et al. 478). Tucker explains that many illegal activities, including sexual trafficking, occur in this district because Tijuana is very accessible by both American and non-American residents.

Moreover, general tolerance to sexual exploitation of children explains why this particular zone report increased cases of sexual trafficking. Prostitution, sex trafficking, and other related human rights breaches are considered “quasi-legal” (Goldenberg et al. 479). Recent research established that “to avoid persecution by police, adults who exchange sex are required to undergo routine STI/HIV testing to maintain health permits, which are unavailable to minors” (Goldenberg et al. 479). Although several laws and regulations have been enacted to boost efforts to fight sex work and prostitution in the Northern Zone of Tijuana, most of them are hardly implemented, consequently creating a conducive environment for sex trafficking.

Moreover, the high prevalence of this menace in this zone can be attributed to the lack of specific laws and regulations focused on addressing the needs and rights of girls and women in this area. An extensive analysis of children and women’s experiences of sex trafficking across several cities located along the US-Mexico cities revealed that legal measures or interventions are hardly legally implemented to safeguard the fundamental needs and rights of female workers in the region (Boyce et al. 1051). Thus, the absence of strict policies against sex trafficking in Zona Norte, Tijuana Mexico, accounts for the high prevalence of this vice in this red-light district.

Sex trafficking and prostitution in La Zona Norte and Mexico have been known to exist throughout Mexican history. The roots of this vice can be traced back to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries throughout the colonial era, where Spanish settlers created a demand for prostitution (Nuñez and Fuentes 442). During the late 19th century, the Mexican authorities started regulating sex work through the implementation of monthly quotas and medical examinations, among other requirements imposed on sex workers. However, the root of modern slavery dates back to the Mexican revolution and the Cold War, where many factors, such as poverty, forced women to offer sexual services to make a living. The post-war period was characterized by a surge in the number of impoverished women opting for the sex trade.

The fight against this vice has brought together several individuals, groups, organizations, and governments. The U.S. and Mexican governments have implemented a raft of measures to curb the transit and sale of children and women for sex along their shared border (Zhang 21). Their law enforcement and social service agencies have erected several checkpoints and patrol agents along the southern board to deter unauthorized smuggling activities, including sex trafficking and illegal immigration (Maldonado Macedo 313). Moreover, local, regional, and international non-governmental organizations, such as Justicia para Nuestras Hijas (JPNH) and the United Nations, are actively involved in the fight against this vice (Tyburczy 96). These agencies contribute to this common cause in many ways, including aiding in the investigation of sex trafficking and supporting the victims. Furthermore, academic practitioners, human and women rights activists, and artists complement existing interventions (Castaneda and Patricia 1055). Therefore, many parties are responsible for the fight against this iniquity.

Sex trafficking is a distinct form of human rights violation because it is perpetrated with the victim’s informed consent. Unlike prostitution, where a person decides to solicit or provide sexual services, victims of sex trafficking are often coerced by the perpetrators to obtain their “consent” (Hickle and Roe-Sepowitz 123). Law enforcement and healthcare professionals who work with this vulnerable population have reported that the victims are often encountering severe physical, emotional, and financial abuse and exploitation (Varma 98). Therefore, the lack of voluntary choice of victims and the brutal nature of their experiences make sex trafficking a gross violation of human rights.

Measures for Combating Sex Trafficking

Many countries and organizations have adopted an aggressive stance on combating this modern form of human rights violation. The United States and Mexico, in particular, have implemented several measures to abolition sex trafficking. This section explores some of those strategies with a focus on examining their effectiveness in preventing the menace.

Legal Measures

The US and Mexico have taken several bold steps to prevent sex trafficking and human slavery. These measures focus on imposing strict sanctions to deter the practice and prosecute perpetrators, as well as protect those who have been affected (Correa-Cabrera and Sanders Montandon 4). Both countries have criminalized all forms of human trafficking within and across their jurisdictions. The US enacted the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) in 2000 to boost its anti-trafficking efforts (Doonan 274). The legislation has been reauthorized several times to deter the smuggling of persons and protect the victims. Through the T-Visa, the Act allowed victims to access critical resources, including social services, healthcare, and other medical programs (Shih 66). At the state level, the California Supply Chain Accountability Act of 2010 and other statutes have been created to boost local efforts. These abolitionist policies focus more on increasing sanctions for sex traffickers and enhancing access to services for the victims. Similarly, Mexico has implemented several laws and policies to fight sex trafficking along its borders, including the southern border with California. Notably, the Law to Prevent and Sanction Trafficking in Persons of 2007 provides a comprehensive legal framework for managing trafficking cases (Correa-Cabrera and Sanders Montandon 4). Both nations have implemented significant legislative policies to improve their anti-trafficking strategies.

However, these laws have been ineffective in controlling sex trafficking and other forms of human slavery within and across the two countries. Majorly, there have been concerns over inconsistencies in the enforcement of these regulations and prosecution of offenders. Weak enforcement of the TVPA accounts for the persistent sexual abuse against women and children. The burden of proof, which falls on the victim, is one of the most controversial aspects of the current legal policy. Doonan states that amending this requirement may facilitate prosecution and punishment for traffickers (278). Moreover, there are marked inconsistencies in how the concept of human trafficking is defined across the states and countries, which hampers transnational collaboration and partnership in the fight against this global problem (Shih 66). Correa-Cabrera and Sanders Montandon pinpointed similar inconsistencies in the definition of trafficking in persons by arguing that Mexican legislators conceptualized this issue in their terms (4). Correa-Cabrera and Sanders Montandon assert that such weaknesses have created challenges in detecting both victims and perpetrators, besides heightening the risk of being trafficked multiple times. The weak legislation is compounded by runaway corruption and interference from interest groups whose goals obscure better reforms. Another barrier to the success of the current legal framework is treating prostitution as a legal business. Legalizing sex work in trafficking Zona Norte, Tijuana, and Mexico at large increases women’s vulnerability to trafficking and other forms of slavery. These limitations illuminate a strong need for more comprehensive anti-trafficking legislative reforms to promote legal migration which can reduce the risk of victimization upon entrance and improve current outcomes.

Public Awareness Campaigns

Creating public awareness about sex trafficking and other types of modern slavery has been proposed as potential mechanisms for dealing with this menace. In the most basic sense, this approach involves training individuals, local communities, and the public on how to identify and report potential cases of trafficking, as well as accessing victim services (Shih 66). This approach to law enforcement reflects contemporary models of public governance, such as community policing, which operates outside the conventional boundaries of “state control” (Shih 66). Such an advocacy initiative “backyard abolitionism,” was implemented by a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California (Shih 67). The anti-trafficking agency conducted regular outreach programs aimed at mobilizing Californians and developing their ability to detect potential cases of trafficking, especially in high-risk neighborhoods. The neoliberal strategy has revolutionized anti-trafficking efforts in the state and nationally by promoting sharing of knowledge about tackling the vice from different perspectives. This method ensures that the majority of the public has some basic understanding of the multifaceted nature of sex trafficking, as we the multiple factors which exacerbate the risk of victimization.

However, concerns about the lack of disclosure have compromised the success of this abolitionist method. Notably, sex trafficking has been conceived as an overt crime because victims are likely to interact with potential offenders in the community. Research shows that close friends and other people who are known to the victim account for the majority of sex trafficking perpetrators (Boyce et al. 1051). As a consequence, issues such as fear of endangering oneself or family members often discourage victims from self-identifying (Goldberg et al. 109). Although public awareness and training may improve the identification and reporting of suspected cases, this approach is hampered by low disclosure.

Border Patrols

Border patrols are the most prominent measures that have been implemented to curb sex trafficking along the US-Mexico border. This approach has been informed by the idea that law enforcement agents, especially police and immigration officers, play a vital role in disrupting individuals, groups, and organizations responsible for sex trafficking. As such, both countries mounted several checkpoints to boost their border security. For instance, the US spent over $250 billion on enforcing immigration and border security in the last three decades (Young 35). These expenditures include escalating the border patrol, adding numerous miles of fencing, and procuring more advanced technologies such as ground sensors and unarmed aerial vehicles (Young 35). These vast investments are intended to eliminate illegal entries and beef up security along this corridor. However, the complexity of sex and human trafficking has compromised the effectiveness of this approach. The smuggling of humans occurs on many fronts, including land, water, and air (Rosenblum and Hipsman 2). The strong emphasis on controlling entries through land leaves other entry points open for illegal immigration. Canada implemented a similar policy in 2009, requiring immigrants to have a visa which helped to deter refugees from entering its border with Mexico. However, the cost of implementing and maintaining the program was high, making it unsustainable.

Tracking Illicit Financial Flows

Tracking the flow of the illicit money involved is another emerging solution to sex trafficking. Research shows that money laundering constitutes an integral part of organized crime as most criminal gangs, including sex traffickers, adopt this business model (Kotecha 61). Sex and human trafficking make up some of the highest valued transnational crimes, which generate substantial illegal financial transactions. In the past couple of years, some countries such as the US and Canada are increasingly shifting their focus towards tracking money laundering tips to boost the identification and prosecution of criminal gangs potentially involved in smuggling and exploitation of children and women for sex. For instance, the proceeds of this trade are seized, and the culprits are held accountable for the offenses (Kotecha 63). Monitoring and investing the movement of such money can be an effective strategy for combating such cross-border crimes because it disrupts their operations. Tracking such illegal businesses is a promising anti-trafficking strategy as it creates numerous opportunities to detect and disrupt perpetrators but also identify and compensate those impacted by these activities using the seized assets. However, the deep-rooted nature of sex trafficking requires an enormous investment in advanced technologies for tracking illegal financial flows (Kotecha 63). Besides, substantiating the integrity of online financial transactions remains a serious challenge. This issue can be explained by the fact that sex traffickers diverse and expand their operations in other activities such as illegal mining, logging, and drugs, and counterfeiting. These issues are compounded by low disclosure of beneficial ownership information, which is essential to curbing transnational crime.

Recommendation

Building a robust multi-stakeholder partnership and cooperation can be a viable solution to the sex trafficking menace. Establishing strong collaboration comprising vertical (local, district, state, national, and regional) and horizontal (law enforcement, service providers, local communities, and other primary actors) integration can transform the fight against this vice. Implementation of this solution requires creativity, voluntary support, strong collaboration, and active participation of all key parties in developing anti-trafficking protocols and intervention and prevention measures. Furthermore, the solution integrates a range of actions for preventing and managing the problem, including strict enforcement of current legislation, enhanced border security, tracking of illegal financial flows, and enhancing public awareness about the forms, risk factors, impacts, prevention, detection, reporting, management of sex trafficking incidences. This approach necessitates a shift in attention towards punishing perpetrators and providing victim-informed care and support. The viability of this intervention can be explained by the fact that sex trafficking can affect any individual, household, or community (United States Department of State 3). Thus, everyone has an important role to play in eradicating this issue. For example, the criminal justice system needs comprehensive support from the public, service providers (e.g., healthcare providers and social workers), local leaders, nonprofit organizations, corporate institutions, and other relevant stakeholders). These parties would facilitate the detection and reporting of potential cases, arrest and prosecution of perpetrators, and provision of services for the victims. Therefore, a response that encourages and values the involvement of different parties at all levels can be a viable solution to this menace.

Works Cited

Boyce, Sabrina C., et al. “Childhood Experiences of Sexual Violence, Pregnancy, and Marriage Associated With Child Sex Trafficking Among Female Sex Workers in Two US–Mexico Border Cities.” American journal of public health, vol. 108, no. 8, 2018, pp. 1049-1054.

Castaneda Salgado, and Martha Patricia. “Feminicide in Mexico: An approach through academic, activist and artistic work.” Current sociology, vol. 64, no. 7, 2016, pp. 1054-1070.

Correa-Cabrera, Guadalupe, and Arthur Sanders Montandon. “Reforming Mexico’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Legislation.” Mexican law review, vol. 11, no. 1, 2018, pp. 3-30.

Doonan, Christina. “A house Divided: Humanitarianism and Anti-immigration within US Anti-trafficking Legislation.” Feminist Legal Studies, vol. 24, no. 3, 2016, pp. 273-293.

Goldberg, Amy P., et al. “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Patients: A Retrospective Analysis of Medical Presentation.” Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, vol. 30, no. 1, 2017, pp. 109-115.

Goldenberg, Shira M., et al. “Exploring the Context of Trafficking and Adolescent Sex Industry Involvement in Tijuana, Mexico: Consequences for HIV Risk and Prevention.” Violence Against Women, vol. 21, no. 4, 2015, pp. 478-499.

Hickle, Kristine, and Dominique Roe-Sepowitz. ““Curiosity and a pimp”: Exploring Sex Trafficking Victimization in Experiences of Entering Sex Trade Industry Work Among Participants in a Prostitution Diversion Program.” Women & Criminal Justice, vol. 27, no. 2, 2017, pp. 122-138.

Kangaspunta, Kristiina, et al. “Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2018.” PDF file.

Kotecha, Archana. “Human Trafficking, Conflict and Money Flows.” Human Trafficking in Conflict. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2020, pp. 61-80.

Maldonado Macedo, Juliana Vanessa. “Being a Sex Worker and Migrant in Times Of Trafficking: Experiences from the Mexico (Chiapas)–Guatemala border.” Victims & Offenders, vol. 15, no. 3, 2020, pp. 313-329.

Nuñez, Fernanda, and Pamela Fuentes. “Facing a Double Standard: Prostitution in Mexico City, 1521–2006.” Selling Sex in the City: A Global History of Prostitution, 1600s-2000s. Brill, 2017, pp. 441-465.

Rosenblum, Marc R., and Faye Hipsman. “Border Metrics: How to Effectively Measure Border Security and Immigration Control.” Migration Policy Institute, 2016.

Shih, Elena. “Not in My “Backyard Abolitionism” Vigilante Rescue against American Sex Trafficking.” Sociological Perspectives, vol. 59, no. 1, 2016, pp. 66-90.

Tucker, Duncan. “Shooting the Messengers: Women Investigating Sex-Trafficking in Mexico.” Index on Censorship, vol. 45, no. 2, 2016, pp. 54-57.

Tyburczy, Jennifer. “Sex Trafficking Talk: Rosi Orozco and the Neoliberal Narrative of Empathy in Post-NAFTA Mexico.” Feminist Formations, vol. 31, no. 3, 2019, pp. 95-117.

United States Department of State. “2018 Trafficking in Persons Report.” United States Department of State, Web.

Varma, Selina, et al. “Characteristics of Child Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking Victims Presenting for Medical Care in the United States.” Child abuse & neglect, vol. 44, 2015, pp. 98-105.

Young, Julie EE. “The Mexico-Canada Border: Extraterritorial Border Control and the Production of’ Economic Refugees’.” International Journal of Migration and Border Studies, vol. 4, no. 1-2, 2018, pp. 35-50.

Zhang, Sheldon. Sex trafficking in a Border Community: A Field Study Of Sex Trafficking in Tijuana, Mexico. Scholar’s Choice, 2016.

Shocking stories of trafficked children forced into slavery is often cited in newspapers. Children are trafficked for sexual exploitation, slavery, etc. Children from poor families from Africa, Southeast Asia, etc. are lured with dreams of migrating to Europe or America and gaining a better life. But instead, they are caught in the web of servitude.

Trafficking in children is a global problem that has serious consequences to the present and future generations. An estimated number of 1 to 1.2 million children is trafficked globally annually (Beyrer 2004). The global trafficking industry is estimated to have a turnover of more than $10 million and 50 percent of this is child trafficking (UNICEF 2005).

Children are sold as commodities in this web of international trade. They are sold in foreign countries or internally usually from rural to urban areas. The enslavement of children results in millions of victims who are abused, smuggled and traded. These victims face cruel assault on their security and solemnity.

Child trafficking violates many core human rights, as it is a severe attack on human dignity. These children become victims of different forms of exploitation like sexual exploitation, forced labour, removal of organs etc. (Larsen 2011). Sexual exploitation of children being trafficked is a major problem is regions like Southeast Asia (Rafferty 2007), EU (Staiger 2005), Canada (Grover 2006), etc.

One of the main issues related to trafficking of children is how rampant is the problem and the identification of the victim. Further, trafficking of children poses concern for policymakers from both the countries where trafficking occurs and those where these children are trafficked.

Issues related to the prevention and subsequent rehabilitation of the trafficked children is observed in many developed countries. This paper discusses the various facets of child trafficking and its related issue of sexual exploitation of the trafficked children. Further, the paper sheds light on the trafficking of children in Canada.

In order to understand the problem related to child trafficking it is necessary to define the term trafficking. Trafficking is defined under Article 3 of the United Nations Protocol as the process of “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion … for the purpose of exploitation.” (UNICEF 2005:11)

The definition clearly identifies the process of trafficking as a serious impingement to human rights and as an illegal activity. Further, the protocol clearly identifies the case of child trafficking as different from that of women or male adult trafficking, as it concerns a minor.

The nature of the trafficking crime becomes more intense as a minor gets into the trap of the trafficker due to deceit. The nature of exploitation of the children trafficked are varied in nature. According to the protocol exploitation is defined as “at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs” (UNICEF 2005:11).

The exploitative nature of child trafficking makes it more severely inhuman as an activity. Trafficking is a criminal act even though the definition many times does not explicitly mention it to be illegal. There is a definite lack of proper identification and data maintained for the number of trafficked children, but the number is huge and it is increasing consistently every year.

The exploitative nature of trafficking is abundantly clear. Children are trafficked for various exploitative purposes that include forced labour, sexual exploitation, marriage, domestic labour, military recruitment, and most heinously, for their organs. However, most of these children are trafficked for sex trade.

An estimated number of 1.8 million children in 2000, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), are traded into prostitution or pornographic industry. (UNICEF 2005; Staiger 2005) These children become victims of extreme form of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.

Children are widely being recruited in conflict zones in armies or militia (Beyrer 2004; UNICEF 2005). The role of the children varies in such outfits where they work as soldiers, cooks, messengers, porters or sexual partners. Girls in conflict zones are extremely vulnerable to sexual abuse. Children join such outfits due to extreme poverty or are abducted.

In EU, children are trafficked for sexual exploitation from Central and Eastern European countries (Staiger 2005). Children above the age of 14 years are forced by poverty or gender related factors to succumb to traffickers. For instance, trafficking of Nepalese girls for sexual exploitation is largely related to domestic gender differences (Rafferty 2007).

In such countries, children are recruited mainly through the Internet, and transported to the EU countries. Germany is one of the destinations for children trafficked for sexual exploitation from Czech, Russia and Ukraine (Staiger 2005). Italy, Greece, and Belgium are destination for Albanian kids to be trafficked (Staiger 2005).

Why there is a rise in global trafficking of children? The reason lies in the widening gap between the poor and the rich, as the latter has access to greater chunk of the already scarce resources. The structural reasons that are driving child trafficking is demand for cheap child labour, especially those who can be controlled and continuously monitored.

An ILO estimate reveals that in 2003 there were 8 million children living under debt bondage mostly due to trafficking (Beyrer 2004) and more than 2 million children trafficked globally are exploited for sexual labour (Rafferty 2007). Omnivorous sex trade is also in demand, but girls are mostly in demand among traffickers as heterosexual sex trade has a greater demand. Sexual abusers may be paedophile abuser, prostitution, pornographic industry, and sex tourism (Rafferty 2007).

Canada, like many other developed countries, is destination for child traffickers. Children are brought in the country in crowded cargoes in ships in inhuman condition without food or water or ventilation (Grover 2006). These children are forced into prostitution or in the pornographic industry. However, there is an increasing problem of identification of these children. Further, the Canadian government is yet to provide a refugee status to the child victims of trafficking that add to their woes, even after they are rehabilitated, in a foreign land (Grover 2006).

A video report on child trafficking and child sex industry in Cambodia shows how young girls are lured into the sex industry (Journeyman Pictures 2007). The video demonstrates how the children are driven into prostitution at an early age of 10 years.

The video shows mostly the mothers sell their young daughters into the sex industry and it is due to poverty. the report shows that though it is believed that the Cambodian child sex industry developed due to demand from foreign tourists of virgins. But actually, Cambodian men demand for virgin girls, for which this industry developed.

Child trafficking is a growing problem globally. The way to counter is not only identification of the victims but also through prevention of the incidence of trafficking. In many cases the children are so brutally abused and traumatized, rehabilitation is of hardly any use to them.

The aim should be preventing and absolutely doing away with child trafficking rather than identification and protection of victims. However, it is difficult for the government to prevent or stop trafficking for sex trade for a few reasons. First as it is difficult to ascertain the age of the trafficked person and the reason for which she is trafficked.

References

Beyrer, Chris. 2004. “Global Child Trafficking.” Lancet 364(1):16-17.

Grover, Sonja. 2006. “Denying Right of Trafficked Minors to be Classed as Convention Refugees: The Canadian Case Example.” The International Jornal of Chindren’s Rights 14:235-249.

Journeyman Pictures. 2007. “Stolen Innocence – Cambodia.” YouTube. Web.

Larsen, Jacqueline J. 2011. “The trafficking of children in the Asia-Pacific.” Trends and Issues in crime and criminal justice, Australian Institute of Criminology, Australian Governement.

Rafferty, Yvonne. 2007. “Children for Sale: Child Trafficking in Southeast Asia.” Child Abuse Review 16:401-422.

Staiger, Ines. 2005. “Trafficking in Children for the purpose of Sexual Exploitation in the EU.” European Journal of Crime, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice 13(4):603-624.

UNICEF. 2005. “Combating Child Trafficking.” UNICEF. Web.

Human trafficking is one of the most serious and extreme social problems, being a crime present in every country in the world. In general, human trafficking involves the illegal and forceful movement of people in an attempt to either acquire profit, or sell their labor. The process often occurs in specific and hidden circles, allowing it to continuously exist outside the reach of the government and law enforcement. Sexual trafficking, as a variation of human trafficking, is considered to be even more severe, as it involves the procurement of sexual acts from trafficked individuals, often including children. The process is extremely damaging to individuals, communities and families, as it leaves many people displaced from their homes and loved ones. Due to the intimate and violating nature of sex trafficking in particular, it most certainly leaves heavy, lasting trauma on its victims, as well as exposes them to the risk of contracting STD’s (“What is human trafficking,” n.d.). Trafficking also has a tight connection to rape and child molestation, as the victims of the crime cannot provide their consent to the acts performed on them. The practices leave people both physically and emotionally vulnerable, allowing the exploitative parties to further use the person for their own benefit. Some groups in society are more susceptible to sex trafficking than others, and might require much community support to properly safeguard their life (“What is human trafficking,” n.d.). Such categories can include individuals that have already been subject to abuse, those experiencing either foster care or homelessness, as well as people from marginalized communities (“What is human trafficking,” n.d.). Other risk factors also exist, and they need to be taken into account to properly address the possibility of sexual trafficking occurring. On both a the personal and community-scale, people need to be aware of the potential signs of trafficking occurring, to safeguard others individuals and ensure a better quality of life for everyone.

Reference

What is human trafficking? (n.d.). The Administration for Children and Families.

Introduction

Sex trafficking is a modern problem that affects vulnerable populations on multiple levels. In this particular paper, the specific characteristics of sex trafficking in the US states bordering Mexico will be discussed. Thus, the demographic that is most affected by the phenomenon will be identified based on individual, community, family, culture, and environmental characteristics. It is also important to highlight that the inhumane practice is linked to multiple adverse health outcomes, both in regard to physical and mental well-being. The aim is to illustrate the challenge and highlight potential solutions formulated in a comprehensive plan that can assist Doctors Without Borders in minimizing the harmful effects of sex trafficking. The current examination is individualized and comprises data and recommendations for US states bordering Mexico, as it is essential to consider certain aspects (cultural, economic, political, and personal) that may put the vulnerable demographic at risk.

Location

In order for the challenge to be comprehended, it is important to illustrate the specific characteristic of the location selected for the analysis. Based on a 2018 report, the states in which human trafficking and sex trafficking specifically are more prevalent are those bordering Mexico. Namely, the largest number of victims have been reported in California and Texas (Polaris, 2018). The proximity to Mexico is the most important factor influencing geographical centredness. As most of the victims are Central and South American women and girls, the closest states for traffickers to transport them are those on the border with Mexico. Needless to say, addressing these locations in the Doctors Without Borders initiative would have the most extensive positive impact, as a well-located intervention can potentially benefit multiple victims. Moreover, over-the-border trafficking allows perpetrators to estate legal repercussions and benefit from inequalities by luring victims under the pretense of giving them a better life.

Sex trafficking

Sexual trafficking in US states bordering Mexico is characterized as the victimization of vulnerable populations. Namely, researchers mention women and girls from Mexico and South American countries from rural areas being the main victims. A lack of financial opportunities allows traffickers to lure the victims under the pretense of finding jobs and supporting their families in the more prosperous United States (Acharya & Bryson Clark, 2021). However, the victims find themselves in situations in which they are forced to perform sexual acts for the monetary gain of the trafficker. Moreover, a lack of legal status in the US, potential substance abuse problems, inability to seek help from the outside world, and physical threats stop victims from being able to escape. Hence, sexual trafficking is a form of slavery in which an individual is directly or indirectly imprisoned and exploited sexually and physically for the purpose of generating income for the perpetrator.

Impact on Population

There are several negative implications related to sex trafficking in US states bordering Mexico, both in regards to victims and demographics living in the cities most affected by the phenomenon. According to researchers, the daily victimization that individuals who are trafficked experience has a long-term effect on psychological well-being (Marti Castaner, Fowler, Landers, Cohen, & Orjuela, 2021). Moreover, studies show that victims often have substance abuse problems that act as a mechanism traffickers use to keep the victims dependent and unable to leave the situation (Graham, Macy, Eckhardt, Rizo, & Jordan, 2019). Furthermore, human trafficking also correlates with an overall increase in drug-related crime in affected areas. Other impacts include physical injuries experienced by victims, sexually transmitted diseases due to the sexual acts they are forced to perform, and reproductive issues.

Health Risks

As mentioned prior, sex trafficking is not merely a social, economic, and legal challenge. It also correlates with various health risks that Doctors Without Borders can address through certain measures. It is vital to consider the psychological abuse victims go through. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideations are several of the multiple mental health issues experienced by the victims. Trauma and frequent abuse lead to such problems that are to be addressed through phycological help (Graham et al., 2019). The physical risks, which have been addressed previously, include injuries inflicted by abusers, STIs, and reproductive problems. It is also vital to highlight the health issues related to drug and alcohol use as they are common escape mechanisms among sex trafficking victims.

Vulnerable Populations

Several characteristics have been observed as patterns that highlight vulnerability toward becoming a sex trafficking victim. Namely, traffickers target women with low income or minors from poor families in rural areas in Mexico and all over South America (Acharya & Bryson Clark, 2021). As the abusers usually lure victims by highlighting professional prospects in the US, it is certain the victims are either impoverished or unemployed. Researchers also mention that studies show trafficked minor girls have often been sexually abused prior to being forced into prostitution (Boyce et al., 2018). The same pattern is observed in minors who were married or became pregnant at an early age. Furthermore, women and minor females with a history of substance abuse as also often victims of sex trafficking in US states bordering Mexico (Rocha Jiménez et al., 2018). Similar evidence links human trafficking to childhood abuse and related traumatic experiences.

Causes

The causes that have caused the issue of sex trafficking in US states bordering Mexico to occur are extensive, from individual to community and family circumstances. As mentioned prior, people who are often victimized have a history of abuse, trauma, and violence in their childhood (Boyce et al., 2018). However, besides these individual factors, the community is also a causality. Mexico is a country in which individuals in rural areas cannot access resources such as economic progress, jobs, high-quality education, and effective healthcare. Thus, women leave for the prospect of having a better life yet become sex trafficking victims. Family circumstances also play a role as single-parent households represent lower income demographics, which on one factor that leads to women being forced into prostitution.

Besides individual, community, and family causes facilitating sex trafficking in US-Mexico border states, cultural aspects are also to be considered. According to researchers, certain regions in Mexico and South America correlate with the normalization of violent relationships and crime (Rocha Jiménez et al., 2018). Thus, perpetrators are willing to traffic individuals and force them into prostitution as criminal actions and violence become a pattern correlating with individual culture. Another aspect, the environment, also may present itself as a cause. For example, an environment with high-crime rates, extensive poverty, cartels, and prostitution generate sex trafficking. As a result, criminals involved in certain illegal activities may resort to slavery for sexual purposes.

Exacerbation of the Issue

The exacerbation of the challenge correlates with the exacerbation of the same factors that have generated the presence of sex trafficking in US states bordering Mexico in the first place. Thus, governments do not allocate enough resources to rural areas, which leads to a continuation of individuals seeking jobs in other countries and being forced into sexual labor. Moreover, single-parent households are becoming more common, implying that more families have low incomes. A lack of cultural change in high-crime rural areas creates circumstances in which victims are being trafficked to the US. Furthermore, the inequality among various areas of Mexico and South America based on differences in income between cities and villages facilitates poverty and, as a result, sex trafficking instances.

Intervention Plan

First and foremost, it is essential to conduct educational meetings or interventions in US states bordering Mexico. This will bring awareness to the issue and facilitate crime prevention. Meetings can be held in relation to strategies on how to spot a sex trafficking victim, where to seek help, and how to communicate with individuals in need. Moreover, children can be informed on strategies to avoid becoming victimized since, according to researchers, young girls are especially at risk (Boyce et al., 2018). Doctors Without Borders can also assist in existing shelters for victims, which will give them an opportunity to receive the needed medical support. Moreover, therapists are to work with the victims as sex trafficking correlates with long-term mental health issues related to the trauma.

Doctors Without Borders can become volunteers for a sex trafficking hotline. The National Human Trafficking Line receives frequent calls in which individuals forced into prostitution seek help (United States Department of State, 2021). The volunteers can provide assistance, refer callers to in-person institutions, and facilitate a safer environment for them. Another step is conducting research, as it can help identify patterns, hence, determine ways in which future incidences can be prevented. Last but not least, the volunteers can assist with medical care since victims of such crimes often suffer from STIs, injuries, reproductive system problems, and substance abuse. The plan tackles the challenge on multiple levels and creates an environment in which sex trafficking is not only directly addressed but also prevented through education, awareness, and collaboration.

Conclusion

Sex trafficking in US states bordering Mexico is still a major problem affecting vulnerable populations. Namely, poverty and a lack of resources in local communities drive individuals to seek opportunities across the board but become forced into prostitution by traffickers. Inequalities faced by high-crime rural areas directly correlate with the level of forced sexual labor. The issue can be tackled through a complex approach involving education, practical assistance with healthcare needs, research, and mental support. The plan can potentially lead to a decrease in negative implications faced by the victims as well as minimize the occurrence of such crimes through prevention measures. As a result, Doctors Without Borders have an opportunity to directly impact the problem by targeting US states close to Mexico for a more extensive intervention.

References

Acharya, A. K., & Bryson Clark, J. (2021). Narco-violence, forced displacement, and sex trafficking: A qualitative study in Mexico. Global Crime, 22(3), 205-221.

Boyce, S. C., Brouwer, K. C., Triplett, D., Servin, A. E., Magis-Rodriguez, C., & Silverman, J. G. (2018). Childhood experiences of sexual violence, pregnancy, and marriage associated with child sex trafficking among female sex workers in two US–mexico border cities. American Journal of Public Health, 108(8), 1049-1054.

Graham, L. M., Macy, R. J., Eckhardt, A., Rizo, C. F., & Jordan, B. L. (2019). Measures for evaluating sex trafficking aftercare and support services: A systematic review and resource compilation. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 47, 117-136.

Marti Castaner, M., Fowler, R., Landers, C., Cohen, L., & Orjuela, M. (2021). How trauma related to sex trafficking challenges parenting: Insights from Mexican and Central American survivors in the US. PLOS ONE, 16(6).

Polaris. (2018). Fighting Human Trafficking Across the U.S. – Mexico Border. Web.

Rocha Jiménez, T., Salazar, M., Boyce, S. C., Brouwer, K. C., Staines Orozco, H., & Silverman, J. G. (2018). “We were isolated and we had to do whatever they said”: Violence and coercion to keep adolescents girls from leaving the sex trade in two U.S–Mexico border cities. Journal of Human Trafficking, 5(4), 312-324.

United States Department of State. (2021). 20 ways you can help fight human trafficking. Web.