Human Trafficking Essay -- forced labor, sex trafficking, debt labor

Introduction Human trafficking is phrase that is used to describe the various ways in which a person â€Å"obtains or holds another person in compelled service† (U.S. Department of State, 2011, p. 9). There are several categories of human trafficking, such as forced labor, sex trafficking, and bond or debt labor. Human trafficking can affect adults and children, with the trafficking in children for sex being particularly egregious (p. 9-11). Human trafficking frequently goes unnoticed, and victims often blame themselves for their problems and therefore are unlikely to self-report (Office for Victims of Crime, n.d.). Although many might think of this is a third world problem, human trafficking occurs in every country in the world, including the United States. It is believed about 600,000 to 800,000 victims of human trafficking cross boarders each year, and somewhere around 15,000 of them are brought to the U.S. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2004). Countries are ranked in a tiered system by the State Department, with Tier 1 countries being the most proactive towards recognizing, preventing, and prosecuting these crimes, and are required to report incident numbers annually. As of 2010, Tier 1 countries reported a total of 6,017 prosecutions for human trafficking, with 3619 resulting in convictions. But more importantly, Tier 1 countries identified an astounding 33,113 number of human trafficking victims during that same year (U.S. Department of State, 2011, p. 38). Myths and Misconceptions There are a variety of misconceptions held by the public about human trafficking crimes that can hinder discovery. Many people believe only foreigners can be victims of this crime, but in truth anyone from any nationality ... ...Victims of Crime. (n.d.). Anti-human trafficking task force strategy and operations e-guide. Retrieved from https://www.ovcttac.gov/TaskForceGuide/EGuide/Default.aspx. Polaris Project. (2006). Common myths and misconceptions about human trafficking in the U.S. Retrieved from http://ccatcoalition.site.aplus.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/common- myths-and-misconceptions.pdf. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2004). Human trafficking fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/about/fact_human2004.pdf. U.S. Department of State. (2011, June). Trafficking in persons report: Introductory manual. Retrieved from http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2011/index.htm. Warren, V. (2008, October 30). Nude photos, massage lead to indictments. Dayton Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-19414528.html.