BOSTON—Human trafficking, modern day slavery, is often invisible, but is much more prevalent than many know. According to Detective Donna Gavin, who spoke at an event at MIT hosted by Amnesty International, human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal activities in the world, tied with the illegal arms industry and second only to the drug trade. It is estimated that 14,500-17,500 people, primarily women and children, are trafficked to the United States annually.
According to Thomas Maloney, human trafficking coordinator in Boston, the Internet is part of the reason that these activities stay under the radar. Most of the transactions are conducted online. Websites like Craigslist have made it easy for people to advertise illegal services. Although Craigslist now has taken its adult ads down, other sites have taken its place. According to Gavin, there are three components that fuel human trafficking, supply, demand, and distribution.
In handling the supply or prostitution side of trafficking, one important aspect is help for women who have been sexually exploited. According to Gavin, “Research overweeningly shows that about 90 percent of women are not doing it (prostitution) willingly.” With this information, one may view prostitutes with less of a negative connotation and view them as victims of sexual exploitation.
Although there are many services for these victims when they are under the age of 18, very few resources exist for women, because they are too old for the social services programs. Some organizations have set up resources for these women, such as the Somaly Mam Foundation in New York (www.somaly.org) and Amirah (www.amirahboston.org), a safe house in Boston for women who want to escape human trafficking.
Demand is another issue, according to Bill Livermore of the Somaly Mam Foundation in New York. He said, “It’s growing quickly because there is such a large market. That has to do with globalization, and access to places where the rule of law is not so prevalent.” He said, “One of our partners has tracked the cost of a slave. Up until 1950 the cost of a slave was about $40,000. ... Today, you can buy a slave for about $300.”
One way to combat demand is setting up “Johns schools,” like the First Offender Prostitution Program (FOPP) set up in San Francisco in 1995. In this program, Johns, those seeking sex from prostitutes, are required to take classes about how their activity, impacts the lives of individuals and the community that they live in.
The crackdown on the distribution is another front on the war to end human trafficking. Just this week, Eddie Jones, of Dorchester, Mass., was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. According to a release from the Department of Justice, Jones was found guilty of conspiring to traffic women in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution and of transporting minors in interstate commerce for the purposes of prostitution. Jones and his co-conspirator Darryl Tavares treated the women like cattle. One woman testified that Tavares intentionally mutilated her, as a mark of ownership. Many victims are too afraid to come forward and testify, making prosecution more difficult.
Public awareness of the issue of human trafficking is important to help stop it. From Dec. 2 to 5 the Human Rights and Sex Trafficking film forum will be held in Cambridge, Mass. According to its website, the forum will explore the power of film in starting a movement to combat commercial sexual exploitation and modern-day slavery.
More information can be found at: www.bitahrfilmforum.org
According to Thomas Maloney, human trafficking coordinator in Boston, the Internet is part of the reason that these activities stay under the radar. Most of the transactions are conducted online. Websites like Craigslist have made it easy for people to advertise illegal services. Although Craigslist now has taken its adult ads down, other sites have taken its place. According to Gavin, there are three components that fuel human trafficking, supply, demand, and distribution.
In handling the supply or prostitution side of trafficking, one important aspect is help for women who have been sexually exploited. According to Gavin, “Research overweeningly shows that about 90 percent of women are not doing it (prostitution) willingly.” With this information, one may view prostitutes with less of a negative connotation and view them as victims of sexual exploitation.
Although there are many services for these victims when they are under the age of 18, very few resources exist for women, because they are too old for the social services programs. Some organizations have set up resources for these women, such as the Somaly Mam Foundation in New York (www.somaly.org) and Amirah (www.amirahboston.org), a safe house in Boston for women who want to escape human trafficking.
Demand is another issue, according to Bill Livermore of the Somaly Mam Foundation in New York. He said, “It’s growing quickly because there is such a large market. That has to do with globalization, and access to places where the rule of law is not so prevalent.” He said, “One of our partners has tracked the cost of a slave. Up until 1950 the cost of a slave was about $40,000. ... Today, you can buy a slave for about $300.”
One way to combat demand is setting up “Johns schools,” like the First Offender Prostitution Program (FOPP) set up in San Francisco in 1995. In this program, Johns, those seeking sex from prostitutes, are required to take classes about how their activity, impacts the lives of individuals and the community that they live in.
The crackdown on the distribution is another front on the war to end human trafficking. Just this week, Eddie Jones, of Dorchester, Mass., was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. According to a release from the Department of Justice, Jones was found guilty of conspiring to traffic women in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution and of transporting minors in interstate commerce for the purposes of prostitution. Jones and his co-conspirator Darryl Tavares treated the women like cattle. One woman testified that Tavares intentionally mutilated her, as a mark of ownership. Many victims are too afraid to come forward and testify, making prosecution more difficult.
Public awareness of the issue of human trafficking is important to help stop it. From Dec. 2 to 5 the Human Rights and Sex Trafficking film forum will be held in Cambridge, Mass. According to its website, the forum will explore the power of film in starting a movement to combat commercial sexual exploitation and modern-day slavery.
More information can be found at: www.bitahrfilmforum.org
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