Image via WikipediaEmily Trussell • Kirstin Heydel • December 9, 2010
Human trafficking, whether sex trafficking or labor trafficking, is a human rights violation. It is a form of modern slavery.
Human trafficking, whether sex trafficking or labor trafficking, is a human rights violation. It is a form of modern slavery.
Victims of trafficking are often lured through force, fraud and/or coercion. They are held in bondage through physical and psychological abuse, and are exploited for services, labor and commercial sex acts.
Perpetrators are masters at exploiting vulnerabilities. Their victims are denied basic needs such as safe shelter, food, sleep, clothing, hygiene and affection.
Despite a person's age, race, ethnicity, gender, ability, socioeconomic status, etc., no one deserves to have their basic human rights violated.
Many sex-trafficking victims are labeled "prostitutes" and put through the criminal justice system. Recently there has been a paradigm shift in which individuals who have been trafficked are being recognized as victims of sex trafficking. However, our society has a long way to go in restructuring our response.
If placing them in detention or jail is the only option to keep them safe, we are not providing them with an alternative where they can be free.
Human trafficking is a criminal industry driven by basic economics of supply and demand. If there wasn't a demand, the industry would not exist.
If we want to stop human trafficking, we need to ask ourselves: What in our society makes the exploitation of humans an option in the first place?
Many of us may think that these issues do not exist within our own community. The reality is that human trafficking is occurring in Marion County. A victim could be a mall sales representative, a homeless youth, your neighbor or even a relative.
As human rights advocates who have power, it is our responsibility to speak up against this injustice.
Marion County has developed a Human Trafficking Task Force in order to raise awareness and bring community agencies together to build a collaborative response. Many agencies throughout Marion County are doing a lot of good work around this issue, but all of us could use more community support.
There are opportunities for agencies and individuals to get involved and speak up against this human rights violation.
Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service is also available to provide advocacy and resources to victims and survivors of human trafficking in Marion County and West Salem.
Kirstin Heydel is the youth services coordinator for the Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service. Emily Trussell is the sexual assault services Coordinator with Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service. For more information, please contact Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service at (503) 378-1572 or the 24-hour crisis line at (503) 399-7722.
Source: statesmanjournal.com
Perpetrators are masters at exploiting vulnerabilities. Their victims are denied basic needs such as safe shelter, food, sleep, clothing, hygiene and affection.
Despite a person's age, race, ethnicity, gender, ability, socioeconomic status, etc., no one deserves to have their basic human rights violated.
Many sex-trafficking victims are labeled "prostitutes" and put through the criminal justice system. Recently there has been a paradigm shift in which individuals who have been trafficked are being recognized as victims of sex trafficking. However, our society has a long way to go in restructuring our response.
If placing them in detention or jail is the only option to keep them safe, we are not providing them with an alternative where they can be free.
Human trafficking is a criminal industry driven by basic economics of supply and demand. If there wasn't a demand, the industry would not exist.
If we want to stop human trafficking, we need to ask ourselves: What in our society makes the exploitation of humans an option in the first place?
Many of us may think that these issues do not exist within our own community. The reality is that human trafficking is occurring in Marion County. A victim could be a mall sales representative, a homeless youth, your neighbor or even a relative.
As human rights advocates who have power, it is our responsibility to speak up against this injustice.
Marion County has developed a Human Trafficking Task Force in order to raise awareness and bring community agencies together to build a collaborative response. Many agencies throughout Marion County are doing a lot of good work around this issue, but all of us could use more community support.
There are opportunities for agencies and individuals to get involved and speak up against this human rights violation.
Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service is also available to provide advocacy and resources to victims and survivors of human trafficking in Marion County and West Salem.
Kirstin Heydel is the youth services coordinator for the Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service. Emily Trussell is the sexual assault services Coordinator with Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service. For more information, please contact Mid-Valley Women's Crisis Service at (503) 378-1572 or the 24-hour crisis line at (503) 399-7722.
Source: statesmanjournal.com
Related articles
- Southwest Airlines Does Ziltch to Stop Human Trafficking, Says Issue Is Closed (womensrights.change.org)
- Children of the Night and IOION: Partners in the Fight Against Human Trafficking (pr.com)
- Kentucky Students Develop Human Trafficking Tools for Local Police (humantrafficking.change.org)
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