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Research Paper
[Name of the Writer]
[Name of the Institution]
Child Sex Trafficking
Abstract
Child sex trafficking is one of the significant dilemmas of the present time that needs to be addressed at priority because the cases of trafficking are increasing day by day. Child sex trafficking is an issue that invites attention from all the departments of society because it engages everyone ranging from close relatives to strangers. There is a dire need to take initiatives that can help to stop child sex trafficking by promising adequate life standards of a layman along with life security of children.
Introduction
Child Sex Trafficking is one of the emerging crimes and a significant dilemma of today’s society. It is an issue that has a worldwide prevalence where children are at a significant threat. The focus of this paper is to get an insight into the dilemma of “Child Sex Trafficking” so as to create awareness and get knowledge about the offense. The purpose of this paper is to determine the prevalence of child sex trafficking and know if the rate is increasing or decreasing over time. Moreover, this paper will highlight statistical information that could convey the prevalence of child sex trafficking, particular characteristics of an offender along with an analysis of treatment methods, and recidivism. Certain legal frameworks would also be quoted so as to determine the significance of child sex trafficking from a political point of view. Child Sex Trafficking is a dilemma that is increasing overtime, side by side, it is compromising present, and the future of children, society, and state.
Discussion
Sex trafficking is also termed as human trafficking, meant for sexual exploitation or sexual slavery. In a simplified form, sex trafficking is enslaving of an individual by trafficker so as to provide sexual services. (Franchino-Olsen, et al. 2019). However, child sex trafficking is defined as the transportation, recruitment, provision, harboring, patronizing, obtaining or soliciting of a child for providing commercial sex act. It is also called a cycle of abuse. (Gibbs, et al. 2019). According to the information collected from “A Global Report on Trafficking in Persons," that was launched by the United States Office on Drugs and Crime, it has been highlighted that 155 countries have been found to be a victim of child sex trafficking over the past few years. (Rothman, et al. 2018). This report asserted that child sex trafficking is done by keeping into consideration a number of aims, however, about 79% trafficking is done for sexual exploitation where the victims are mostly girls. Out of 155 countries, about 30% of countries are predominant by child sex trafficking with females or girls making up the largest proportion of traffickers. (Gibbs, et al. 2019). One of the critical facts is, child trafficking is also a norm in few regions of different countries. Forced labor is also found as one of the forms of child trafficking, taking into account the fact that it is counted in the broader spectra of sex trafficking. (Rothman, et al. 2018). Moreover, forced labor has a very less rate of detection and reporting as compared to child sex trafficking. It is also found that child begging, and drug transport is also one of the aspects of child sex trafficking taking into account that all aspects are directly and indirectly related to the exploitation of children with a sole aim to achieve private interest.
The ratio of 20% in the context of child sex trafficking became 100% when countries of the West were analyzed. Although the statistics of recording the exact number and magnitude of child trafficking is much difficult to obtain since the initiatives by International Child Organization have estimated that about 1.2 million children are trafficked each year. (Franchino-Olsen, et al. 2019). In the year, 2012 the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has reported that the overall ratio of the incidents of child sex trafficking has increased from 20 percent to 27 percent in the last three years. On average, about 300,000 children are abducted from around the world, and they are sold by the sex traffickers as slaves or laborers. Out of 300,000, about 170,000 children are brought to the United States, making a ratio of 46 children each day. (Gibbs, et al. 2019). According to a research that was conducted by the National Human Trafficking Organization, it was found that there are a number of the websites that are doing the business of child trafficking, taking into account the selling of children along with the provision of sex services. It is more added that there are websites such as Craigslist that are doing online business of children trafficking, and according to an estimate, about 70% of the children involved in sex trafficking survivors were found to be sold online. (Gibbs, et al. 2019).
It is important to note that sex trafficking offenders can be both males and females. Traditionally women are seen as the victim of trafficking, but over time span of the last few years, there is a shift in perception. Today, women are also involved as perpetrators. A casual observation infers that usually a child or a girl becomes a victim of child sex trafficking, and then she joins the criminal partnership in order to exploit others. Research has proven that usually a romantic relationship is found between the perpetrators and one of the victims, that further continues the business. It is important to note that an offender can be of any age from 15 years to 24 years. In many of the cases, it is found that the recruiters are comparatively older than those who are the victims. (Moore, et al. 2019). Moreover, a trafficker can either be single or married. Even, some of the traffickers’ have children while others are just broken couples. In accordance with a research in India, it is found that out of 160 traffickers, about one third stated that their family members were themselves involved in the trafficking activities, while 43% stated their spouses as active participants in the crime, about 21.6% traffickers involved their children as well and about 35% involved their extended family as well. In a nutshell, there is no justified or set characterization of child sex traffickers. (Moore, et al. 2019).
It is found that sex traffickers are overconfident in their actions, they are disregard, reactive, self-focused, and emotionally disengaged that made them isolated from society. Sex traffickers are treated by increasing prosocial behaviors, along with supporting a crime-free lifestyle that can help them develop a clear understanding of life. Moreover, these offenders are taught to reinforce prosocial skills in pressurized and high-risk situations. (Rothman, et al. 2018). The anti-social personality pattern of sex traffickers is treated by training them to increase self-control and develop problem-solving skills. There are a number of offenders who yearn for employment, and they find trafficking a source of employment, for such people employment opportunities are introduced so as to provide consequences and rewards. There are certain laws for imprisonment on sex trafficking, taking into account that recidivism is found to be enforced by different physical and social factors that may also prove to be biological in nature. Research has proved that there are individual factors such as, substance abuse, mental health, and history of abuse are the prime factors that promote recidivism. (Rothman, et al. 2018).
Several legal initiatives are introduced to reduce and overcome child sex trafficking. One of the significant initiatives is the international instrument “Palermo Protocols," also named as Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Protect in person, especially Women and Children. Both state and federal laws are formulated to address child sex trafficking. Other significant laws are trafficking Victim Protection Act (TPVA) 2000, according to which three-pronged approaches are applied to prevent and protect children. (Gibbs, et al. 2019). This law was reauthorized through the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2013. Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 is another legal approach that responds to human trafficking. Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act 2014 is another law that is meant to reduce the incidents of sex trafficking among the youth that is involved in the foster care system. (Moore, et al. 2019).
Conclusion
After collecting and writing information from different resources such as journal articles books, news articles and legal framework, I came to know that child sex trafficking is one of the major dilemmas of the present time that is empowered by the influence of technology and lack of attention towards children. It would not be wrong to say that child sex trafficking is a heinous crime that can compromise the future of a society, nation, and then a country as well. One of the interesting facts is, child sex trafficking is more like a threat that may misdirect youth because it is very easy to distract a child rather than getting oneself engaged in any other crime that is well paying. (Fedina, et al. 2019). Moreover, society, level of causality and attitude towards others play a major role in determining the rate of sex trafficking. This dilemma is a huge question mark on the state and state affairs because children are the pillars on which the progress of a country is strongly dependent. In a nutshell, there is a dire need to make efforts that can help children stay away from sex traffickers and authorities should try to expand their search so as to locate people who are engaged in this crime. I think the end of all observations redirect human thought to the central and prime school of thought that is related to "opportunities of employment” and sufficient salaries that can fulfill social desires. So promoting better living standards would be a major step to overcome sex trafficking.
Bibliography
Fedina, L., Williamson, C., & Perdue, T. (2019). Risk factors for domestic child sex trafficking in the United States. Journal of interpersonal violence, 34(13), 2653-2673.
Franchino-Olsen, H. (2019). Frameworks and theories relevant for organizing commercial sexual exploitation of children/domestic minor sex trafficking risk factors: a systematic review of proposed frameworks to conceptualize vulnerabilities. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 1524838019849575.
Gibbs, D., & Aboul-Hosn, S. (2019). Human Trafficking and the Child Welfare Population in Florida [Slides].
Moore, J. L., Houck, C., Barron, C. E., & Goldberg, A. P. (2019). Patients referred for domestic minor sex trafficking: a comparison of confirmed and suspected youth. Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology.
Rothman, E. F., & Bair-Merritt, M. H. (2018). Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the United States. Violence and Trauma in the Lives of Children [2 volumes], 227.
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