Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking

Candace-Eunice V. Bernard

Liberty University

Abstract

Human trafficking is a dark act that has continually taken place throughout the history of the world. This social crime continues to be in active practice across the globe. Researchers estimate that over 2 million individuals are victims of human trafficking every year (An, Alpert, Purcell, Konstantopoulos, McGahan, Cafferty, et. al., 2013). This work will summarize the history of slavery and human trafficking, and discuss how it has evolved to its current state. This work will go on present the social impact of human trafficking, and the legislation in place to prosecute traffickers and to help victims. Finally, this work will show the steps that human services professions are taking to create positive change within the world of human trafficking.

Keywords: human trafficking, human services

Human Trafficking

Throughout the past several decades, the world has becoming increasingly interconnected. People from all over the world are crossing international boarders in an effort to seek out a new life for themselves and their families. Many succeed in this venture. Unfortunately, there are millions more who do not. One unprecedented consequence of the rapid global migration has been human trafficking (Mirjam & Rijken, 2015). According to Dunne (2012), human trafficking is defined as taking people against their will and forcing them into labor. It is act that involves kidnapping, bribery, rape and other forms of torture. It is a highly profitable and secretive form of organized crime. No one can say with certainty how many people are being trafficked each year or how much income the practice brings. The best estimates have found each year that more than 4 million people become a victim of human trafficking, bringing in over $7 billion USD in profits (Lee & Lewis, 2004).

History of Slavery

The Mediterranean region is know as the birthplace of all life. Historians...