Cults and Trafficking

By Constance Thum, Senior Contirbuting Writer

Cults generally refer to a relatively small group led by a charismatic leader who engages in deviant and anti-social practices. In popular culture, cults such as the Manson family and the Children of God have been infamous for their violent, exploitative, abusive, and predatory behaviour, targeting vulnerable people in particular. While it is difficult to estimate the number of people trafficked globally and those with ties to cults, this has not prevented academics and institutions from studying the factors that make people vulnerable to cults and trafficking. 

According to the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), psychological stresses such as periods of transition in life, be it school, work, or middle age, can lead to feelings of vulnerability and desires to escape in individuals. Consequently, they may be more likely to join cults who promise ways to solve their problems or alleviate their suffering. This is especially true for individuals with a history of trauma or psychological disturbance. Other psychological needs like finding answers to universal questions can prompt individuals to join cults that profess spiritual knowledge and/or powers. Vulnerable individuals may then be sexually exploited, abused, and/or trafficked by other cult members or figures of authority once they join cults. This was the case for fundamentalist sect leader Warren Jeffs, convicted in 2011 for sexually assaulting two young girls to whom he was illegally married, and for Keith Raniere who used his self-help group Nxivm to blackmail young women into entering inappropriate relationships with him. When interviewed by Reuters, Eric Nichols who had prosecuted Jeffs noted that “the insidious parts of these cults or groups is that you can get individuals involved who try to use those religious principles and beliefs and turn them to gratify themselves”. As the Reuters article notes, the intersection between cults and sex trafficking lie in the imbalanced power dynamics between women and church-appointed men whereby sexual relationships are often arranged without female victims’ consent or through coercive measures.

Addressing the problematic ties between cults and trafficking requires protecting vulnerable individuals from entering potentially dangerous situations. Cults often use tactics of isolating victims and removing other sources of influence like family and friends by restricting contact or through threats and even non-disclosure agreements. Raising awareness of cults and trafficking among communities is thus important in helping people protect their loved ones and spot red flags early on. Accessibility to counselling and support groups is also key for individuals with psychological needs to seek help, which would reduce their risk of joining cults and falling prey to traffickers. It is equally important to help victims of cults and trafficking to heal. Victim-blaming is rarely helpful and more likely to be harmful. Education, again, can help professionals and, more importantly, the public to understand that cults and trafficking can affect the general population, not just those who are psychologically vulnerable. According to the ICSA, clinicians’ invalidation of victims’ concerns about self-disclosure may also be a barrier to treatment. It is thus critical for professionals to listen to victims’ experiences to prevent them from feeling even more alone and misunderstood. Ultimately, helping victims of cults and trafficking is not an easy task for family members, friends, and professionals. It requires consistent and continuous patience, persistence, and kindness. But, it is a worthwhile cause if we remember that all individuals have the right to safety and liberty. 

If you would like to know more about One Bread and our mission, please subscribe to our website and share this cause with your friends and family. You may also consider donating to One Bread Foundation if you are interested in playing a crucial part in the rehabilitation of sex trafficking victims. 

References

Cults and Sex Trafficking 

In New York Sex Cult Trial, Leader’s Tactics Echo Those of Other Cults 

Forced Marriage and Human Trafficking

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Forced marriages violate an individual’s rights to enter marriage with free and full consent, sexual and reproductive health, autonomy, and physical and mental health. It is an issue that affects both men and women, though the latter represents a disproportionate number of cases. As of 2021, there were an estimated 22 million individuals in a forced marriage, with women making up roughly two thirds of such marriages.

The number of forced marriages has increased over the years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other crises such as climate change, wars and conflict also contribute to a demand for human trafficking victims. Most forced marriages occur in Asia and the Pacific, followed by Africa, Europe and Central Asia. 40% of forced marriage victims are children, with many of them forced to marry before the age of 16. Among them, girls account for 87% of forced marriages.

Common causes of forced marriages include poverty, low status, and lack of education and employment opportunities, all of which make women especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. For women and girls of a disadvantaged background, their family members and friends may see them as a quick way to get cash. Parents and relatives make up an appalling 89% of perpetrators for forced marriages. Compounded by the young age, these girls may lack the experience to spot red flags when encountering predatory situations, or detect signs of manipulation from those they trust. Violence, isolation, restrictions on movement, and deception may be tactics used by family members and friends to coerce girls (and boys) into forced unions.

Prevention and rehabilitation should seek to address these issues. Empowering girls with knowledge and skills for employment would both reduce families’ incentive to force them into marriages and increase girls’ awareness towards human trafficking and sexual violence. Campaigns that raise awareness about the harms of forced marriage are also helpful in changing societal mindsets, and motivate members of the community to intervene when necessary. The engagement of multi-level stakeholders is necessary for synergistic action to combat forced marriages. They include law makers and enforcers, religious and traditional leaders, grassroots organisations and victims themselves.

Women and girls subject to forced marriages rarely seek help from authorities or speak to others out of fear of stigmatisation and revenge by their perpetrators. Furthermore, only a minority of cases reported result in convictions, due to corruption and social attitudes towards forced marriages. Reducing loopholes in laws towards marriage and sexual violence combined with training for law enforcement on how to provide assurance to victims of forced marriages and human trafficking is paramount as the first step of addressing the issue. Working with religious and traditional leaders to combat misogynistic attitudes like victim-shaming is another measure.

In terms of rehabilitation, counselling and support from grassroots organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) can go a long way for victims of forced marriages who are often shunned from society and need shelter or necessities to get by. For these victims, the trauma of their experience may not be completely made up by such efforts. However, it is all the more crucial that we address forced marriages and human trafficking. Only then can we face those who have been hurt by it.

References and further reading

UNODC: When Marriage is a Crime

UNODC: Preventing and eliminating child, early and forced marriage

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime: Cambodia’s Trafficked Brides

International Labour Organization: Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage

The Sinister Workings of International Sex Trafficking

by Elesha Pimentel, Senior Contributing Writer

For the 17th year in a row, Irvine, California has been named one of the safest cities in the United States. When people think of the safest city, they imagine California beach trees and happy families. What they miss are the countless women and girls being herded into prostitution right under their noses. In 2017, four people were arrested for running an international sex trafficking ring based in Irvine, California, the safest place in the U.S. (CBS Los Angeles). According to CBS Los Angeles, the leaders of this sex trafficking ring took away the women’s passports and forced them to work over 14 hours or more a day until they made $800. As horrific as this sounds, these types of evil organizations are more widespread than they seem. International sex trafficking rings have crept their slimy tentacles across the U.S. and throughout many different parts of the world.

The women who are forced into the sex trafficking rings are recruited from impoverished parts of foreign countries, including China, Thailand, Mexico and South Korea. They’re fed promises of easier lives and better working conditions. Many of these women enter into the sex trafficking rings believing they’re on their way to a better job or even a chance at a better education. They’re unaware of the true sinister circumstances until they arrive (University of Southern California). Other women know that they will work as sex workers; however, they are fed a false idea of what their work will be like. One survivor of an international sex ring in Australia said that she was told the work would be easy and that she could work whenever she wanted to (60 Minutes Australia). Even worse, some young women enter into these sex trafficking rings under the guise of love (2KUTV). Traffickers would find local girls with rough home lives and poor upbringings. Then, they would trick these young girls into thinking that they are in love and that they could lead them away to a better life.

The traffickers take the women away from their homes to countries including the U.S., Australia, Britain, France, and many others. Some women and girls are smuggled across the border illegally (2KUTV). Other women are brought on legitimate visas like tourist or student visas. 60 Minutes Australia reports about officials being paid off by traffickers to bring the women into these countries through visa scams.

The working conditions the women endured were villainous. One survivor spoke of how she was forced to work from 8am to 1am the next day (60 Minutes Australia). Many women were given a quota they needed to hit every day to pay off food and rent to the sex traffickers. If they didn’t make the quota, they were punished (University of Southern California). Another survivor talked about how she was shuttled off through motels in many different cities across many different states. She told reporters she felt as if she were a pizza being ordered off the menu. Men would make requests for different types of girls, and the newer girls were often requested the most (KUTV). These women and girls were also not given a place to stay and many of them had to live in the motel rooms or even illicit massage parlors that they worked in (60 Minutes Australia).

Even though these women are taken to countries where help is available, they are unable to reach it. For instance, most of these women come into these countries unable to speak any English. Therefore, they are unable to figure out where to go for help. Because some of these women are smuggled in illegally, traffickers gaslight them into thinking that the police would do horrible things to them or deport them if they sought help. Women who come on visas have their passports taken away as soon as they arrive so they can’t leave (CBS News). Traffickers also threaten to hurt the victims or their families back home if they don’t cooperate. One survivor spoke of how her traffickers threatened to kill her family and bring her little sister to work in her place if she tried to leave (KUTV). Other traffickers use debt bondage to keep women trapped in the sex trafficking rings. University of Southern California went over how women were forced to give the sex trafficking ring money they made for things such as food, hotel rooms, and ads they were placed in. This led them down a steep hill where they were always in debt to the traffickers and could never leave.

The money the traffickers took from these women was used to fund their sex trafficking rings overseas. For instance, money would be used to pay off recruiters in foreign countries, government officials who created visa scams, transportation fees, and ads for services. Large scale sex trafficking rings funded money into call centers where buyers would call in and then have the closest sex worker sent to them (University of Southern California). Other large scale sex trafficking rings would fund money into automated text message lines that would provide a list of services and prices for buyers and then send them a corresponding address when they called a certain number (60 Minutes Australia). In order to use this money, traffickers would launder it into legitimate businesses such as purchasing and selling real estate. (University of Southern California).

Although international sex trafficking rings try their best to remain discreet, there are still many warning signs one could look out for. The University of Southern California lists a few things to be on the lookout for to help shut down these sex trafficking rings. One warning sign of sex trafficking taking place is different men coming and going from a specific property (especially a rental property) at all times of the day and night. In massage parlors, suspicions should be raised if the women working at the massage parlor speak little to no English, the services are not listed in print but are decided upon verbally, the establishment is locked up during the day but open very late, and if there are signs of people living inside. Lastly, the biggest warning sign would lay in the women themselves. If they appear frightened, timid, or malnourished, there may be darker forces at work. If you see any of these warning signs, it’s best to report them to 911 as soon as possible.

References and further reading

2KUTV: Survivor shares story of escaping, bringing down international human trafficking ring

USCPrice Safe Communities Institute: International Sex Trafficking and Money Laundering Rings in Southern California

CBS News: Global Sex Trafficking Ring Busted in One of America’s ‘Happiest’, ‘Safest’ Cities

Vice: International Sex Trafficker Extradited to the US for Family-Run Prostitution Ring

60 Minutes Australia: Exposing an international human trafficking ring hidden in plain sight

The Truth Behind "Taken" and "Rambo: Last Blood"

by Elesha Pimentel, Contributing Writer

In this digital age, movies are used as some of the most popular forms of representation. The right movie can effectively shed light on an issue or topic that most people would not think about. It can pop the blissful bubble of ignorance surrounding us and provide us with proper information about the issue at hand. This can spark more conversation about the issue or even garnish more support for the issue.

Unfortunately, not all film representations are effective. Some film representations only contribute to the miseducation of the general public. This problem can be seen in the way sex trafficking is portrayed in popular films.

Currently, the most popular representation of sex trafficking in the media, as recorded by IMDb, is Taken with a $145 million gross profit and Rambo: Last Blood with an $18.87 million gross profit. Even though both of these movies portray sex trafficking in their plots, they are action movies to the core. They do not provide accurate information about sex trafficking and, as can be expected from an action movie, primarily focus on depicting fight scenes and narrow escapes. There are many inaccuracies in these movies that give the public a false sense of what sex trafficking is like.

The first major inaccuracy spread in these movies is that sex trafficking is a foreign problem. Both movies depict sex trafficking happening in foreign countries by people who are not American. In Taken, the sex trafficking took place in France by a group of Albanian men. In Rambo: Last Blood, the sex trafficking took place in Mexico by a Mexican cartel. On the contrary, the sex trafficking industry is also prevalent in the United States. The U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline reported 10,583 situations of human trafficking involving 16,658 victims in 2020.

The second inaccuracy spread by these movies is that people are kidnapped into sex trafficking and only stay because they are physically incapable of leaving. Both movies portray women being kidnapped by groups of men, drugged, and trapped so they cannot leave. However, many victims of sex trafficking knew their traffickers beforehand and are bound to them by psychological and emotional bonds. Bonds so strong they don’t run away even when they’re physically able to. The documentary Sex Trafficking in America follows the story of a young girl who was trafficked by a man she met online. She was having problems at home and reached out to a friend online for support. He fed her false promises of a better life and lured her away from her family so he could further exploit her. The documentary shows that this is a pattern. Traffickers will prey on vulnerable women and girls from low-income neighborhoods.

These inaccurate portrayals pose a problem for the general public when it comes to sex trafficking. It can misguide people into trying to protect themselves and their families from the less prevalent threat: being kidnapped by people on vacation or by people from different countries. Sex trafficking is a threat that’s much closer to home. Real traffickers are lurking on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. There are two main things families should focus on to protect against sex trafficking. The first is to establish strong, healthy support systems for their children. It’s important for a child to know who they can go to when they need to talk. This could be a few trusted adults like family members and school counselors or online resources like Teen Line. This will stop children from seeking comfort and support from strangers on the internet who might try to exploit them. Secondly, it’s important to teach children about internet safety. This includes things like which profiles should be set to private and what’s okay and not okay to share on the internet.

Movies like Taken and Rambo: Last Blood may be fiction, but the issue of sex trafficking is not. It’s important to stay informed of the actual issue and what you can do to work against it. There are many ways to get involved. You can help to educate people about the true nature of sex trafficking by sharing our blog posts with family and friends. You can subscribe to our newsletter to get more detailed information about what we’re doing to fight sex trafficking and what you can do to help. You can also help the cause by doing your everyday online shopping using the links on our website. Together we can work against sex trafficking and build a better future.

References and further reading:

Polaris Project: Myths, Facts and Statistics

Stop The Traffik: Human Trafficking in the Movies

FRONTLINE PBS, YouTube: Sex Trafficking in America

Impact of COVID-19 on sex trafficking

By Elesha Pimentel, Contributing Writer

COVID has cast a wide net of changes over our everyday lives, including closures of schools and workplaces. Staying at home has led to more time spent online for both adults and children. For the everyday person, these changes might result in online shopping and baking sourdough bread. Unfortunately, the effects of these changes are not as light-hearted for everyone.

According to the United Nations, “The COVID-19 pandemic is more than a health crisis; it is an economic crisis, a humanitarian crisis, a security crisis, and a human rights crisis.” Many families are struggling with financial instability, with Tech Against Trafficking reporting that “81% of people in the workforce are being affected by full or partial workplace closures.” Thus, leading to families becoming more susceptible to sex trafficking as a way of survival.

Children bear the brunt of this vulnerability from school closures. Schools serve as a safe haven for many underprivileged children. Providing an education and important resources to help children in need (i.e. second chance breakfasts, counseling services). With access to these safe havens being restricted, many children are being pushed onto the street, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), leaving them vulnerable to predators who make false promises of a better life.

Decreased availability of resources for sex trafficking victims, increased difficulty in identifying and rescuing victims, and exposure to contracting the virus while being less equipped to prevent it and having less access to healthcare to ensure recovery are further impacts of COVID-19 on sex trafficking victims, according to the UNODC.

While reports of some forms of sex trafficking have decreased, many sex traffickers are now turning to the internet. The Polaris Project reports that “the number of online situations of sex trafficking reported to the hotline increased significantly by more than 45%.” At the same time, “traditional forms of commercial sex trafficking situations such as street based prostitution went down by approximately 30%.”

Not only has COVID affected the way people are exploited by sex trafficking, it has also affected the way we are able to support victims of sex trafficking. Financial instability has seeped into many anti-trafficking organizations. Tech Against Trafficking reports that “lack of consistent reliable funding may cause an irreparable negative spillover effect in regions where these organizations are the sole providers of these services.” A number of anti-trafficking organizations and support centers are expected to close without the hope of re-opening in the future.

In this new era predominated by COVID, the future of sex trafficking may look bleak. However,

hope is not lost. There are still a number of ways that we can combat sex trafficking. The first would be to teach children internet safety so that they are not so easily exploited by online predators. Internet Matters explains we can do this through a number of ways. For instance, teaching children which personal information to keep private, talking to them about dangers of meeting online friends without a parent present. And lastly, establishing a multitude of communication lines (both adults and organizations) they can turn to if they ever encounter an online situation where they start to feel uncomfortable.

You can support anti-trafficking organizations so that we can continue to support victims of sex trafficking. You can donate to One Bread Foundation through our website, or you can support us by simply starting your online shopping from our Shop Now page.

Sex trafficking rings have evolved during this new COVID era, it’s time for the way we face them to evolve too.

References and further reading:

United Nations: UN Response to COVID-19

Tech Against Trafficking: The Effect of COVID-19: Five Impacts on Human Trafficking

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Trafficking in Persons

Polaris Project: Sexual Exploitation During the Pandemic

Internet Matters: Protect your child from online grooming

Child Soldiers and Human Trafficking

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Edited by Hallie Carton, Contributing Editor

In the relative prosperity that most of us live in, the idea of a child working long hours in dangerous conditions, not to mention being enrolled in war efforts, is painful and unthinkable. However, this is the reality for child soldiers in countries facing political instability and deprivation. Human Rights Watch has reported that thousands of children and adolescents serve in government forces and armed opposition groups. For boys, they may be involved in front-line combat and suicide missions, while many girls are forcefully taken as sexual slaves. The age of child soldiers varies with some being as young as eight years of age. Some are coerced into joining, abducted against their will to be trafficked to war-torn regions, while others may be deceived into believing that joining armed groups may improve their livelihood. In comparison to forced labour and sexual exploitation, the topic of child soldiers is neglected in the fight against human trafficking. The failure to give the issue of child soldiers its due attention, coupled with the rapid increase in child solider levels since 2012, makes for a potent combination that threatens the lives and welfare of countless vulnerable, innocent children. With this knowledge, more should be done in three broad aspects: (1) stronger, comprehensive legislation, (2) rehabilitation and assistance, and (3) raising awareness and development aid. 

From a macro perspective, an immediate step that should be taken is the strengthening of legislation against persons and bodies involved in human trafficking and the use of child soldiers. While defined as a war crime in international law, the recruitment of child soldiers remains an issue in many countries with weak state and legislative systems. It is critical that we increase penalties towards offenders, implement visa bans on officials known to recruit and use child soldiers, and withhold military assistance to foreign entities that recruit and use children as combatants to promote reform. Law enforcement can also be made more comprehensive through international cooperation for data collection. Although statistics are notoriously difficult to amass in conflict zones where violence is rife and verification methods are patchy, such measures are essential to identify areas or communities most at-risk of human trafficking. In doing so, more support can be given to these groups.

From the perspective of child soldiers and victims of human trafficking, rehabilitation and assistance is necessary to ensure these children can continue their lives as normally as possible. Central governments, local organizations, and international bodies like the United Nations may target affected communities to provide shelter, food, and counselling to address trauma from war and trafficking. Besides addressing the material and psychological needs of the affected children, grassroot groups may also facilitate the transition from childhood to adulthood especially in education and employment matters. These efforts would empower victims to become more independent in an effective and sustainable manner. Other initiatives may include special visas for former child soldiers that take into account their unique situation and enable them to seek the help they need.

Finally, advocacy and development aid must be included to address human trafficking. Raising public awareness about the realities of child soldiers and the long-term effects on their communities may spur political action if citizens apply pressure on their local governments and international organizations to combat human trafficking of child soldiers. Education initiatives about the warning signs of predators and the misconceptions about human trafficking among at-risk populations may also be a useful preventive measure. In the personal stories of child soldiers, it is evident that poverty is a major contributing factor to human trafficking. Consequently, development aid may keep children off the streets, reducing exposure to traffickers and making joining the armed forces a less attractive means of survival.

Ultimately, a triangulation of strategies in the three outlined areas would prevent the future recruitment of child soldiers and help formerly associated children regain their autonomy in a safe environment. It is equally important to remember that these strategies must take into account local nuances and not be applied rigidly in a way that further harms victims of trafficking.

References and further reading:

Human Rights Watch: Child Soldiers

Child soldier levels doubled since 2012 and girls’ exploitation is rising

In the Fight Against Human Trafficking, Child Soldiers Get Ignored

Trafficking in Persons Report

World News & Stories

Impacts of human trafficking on Indigenous populations

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Besides the harrowing accounts of multigenerational hardships and loss from the legacy of colonialism that has generated Indigenous historical trauma, Native Americans have also suffered from high rates of human trafficking. For example, despite making up 11% of the population in New Mexico, Native Americans account for a quarter of trafficking victims. Searchlight New Mexico, an independent investigative journalist organisation, conducted a 16-month investigation and found that Indigenous women are most vulnerable to trafficking since they are the least recognised and protected population. This is compounded by limited resources (such as funds or manpower) and failings of tribal agencies, law enforcement, and the healthcare system. These include poor protocol, inadequate training for officers in handling trafficking cases, lack of coordination among departments, and general neglect or oversight. 

Other reasons why Indigenous populations are disproportionately affected by human trafficking include the exoticisation of non-White women. Poverty in tribal communities also greatly increases the chances of exploitation. Violence and destitution at home may drive young adults to the streets, leading to homelessness and runaways. Alternatively, such individuals may be placed in child welfare and foster care systems where they are groomed, preyed upon, and manipulated by traffickers who target their unmet need for trusting adults. Another major factor is the lack of awareness of human trafficking. Many cases of Indigenous trafficking involve exploitation and betrayal by the victim’s own family.

In light of this, a direct and highly feasible measure to prevent occurrence of trafficking may be spreading awareness among Native American populations. Information on signs of trafficking, emergency contacts, and cases of trafficking may be disseminated either through social media platforms or through tribal agencies. Schools may also consider inviting volunteer, qualified speakers to educate children about trafficking. However, a fundamental issue with tackling human trafficking remains in systemic and legislative shortcomings. Mandatory training for law enforcement officers on human trafficking has yet to be implemented due to delayed legislation and renewal of the Violence Against Women Act which would increase communication across agencies. Given the economic downturn post-COVID and strained finances, financial resources may be diverted to other areas. Even so, trafficking represents a violation to treasured human rights and its victims deserve to be treated with compassion and dignity. 

References and further reading: 

'Nobody Saw Me': Why are so many Native American women and girls trafficked?

Why Traffickers Go After Native American Women

Human Trafficking in Native Populations: Q&A with Commissioner Jeannie Hovland

Stolen and Erased: A Navajo girl was exploited and sex trafficked in urban and rural New Mexico. Why did so many fail to help her?

Child Labour and Trafficking

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Childhood invokes the image of a carefree period marked by innocence and vulnerability, and one that must be protected against corruption. Child labour and trafficking are issues that threaten the childhoods of millions of children. The charity World’s Children has found that the majority of children are trafficked for labour purposes such as performing domestic household services, factory or agriculture work. A shocking statistic estimated that there are 168 million child labourers in the world who are engaged in “hazardous work” that can potentially harm these children’s physical, emotional, or social well-being. 

The interactions between gender and poverty are potent, with girls from the Global South being at high risk of trafficking and working in dangerous, exploitative jobs. Girls make up 66% of child trafficking victims and 99% of victims trafficked for sexual exploitation. This is closely tied to social and economic exclusion when girls are pressured to drop out of school early, which limits their future ability to generate income. Underage girls are often viewed as an economic burden and poor investment compared to their male siblings, thus are forced to marry early after leaving school. The combination of low education levels and domination by male relatives means women and girls are more likely to be trapped in cyclical poverty, and are more vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation. Common tactics used by traffickers include coercion, lies, violence, and debt bondage to force female victims into jobs without their consent. Most girls trafficked for child labour go into the service industry, most prominently domestic work and the sex trade. Regulation is especially difficult for domestic work given the private setting of employment, which makes girls susceptible to violence, exploitation and abuse. 

Male victims of trafficking should not be forgotten. Boys are more likely to join the agriculture and industry sectors, and often perform gruelling, hazardous work. Moreover, the number and incidence of boys in hazardous work has decreased at a much slower rate than girls, which indicates that more needs to be done for male victims of trafficking and child labour. 

Central to child labour and trafficking is the issue of global economic polarisation and inequalities. Child labour and trafficking are most prominent in economically developing regions like Sub-Saharan Africa where the majority of child labour takes place. The agriculture and manufacturing industry are labour-intensive and employ cheap child labour, with the children working long hours in dangerous work conditions. Poorer regions highly dependent on the economic wealth generated by these industries may have less stringent work and labour regulations. Seen in this light, the affluence and luxuries enjoyed by the developed Global North are at the expense of children in the developing Global South. 

Child labour and trafficking should be tackled in two main ways: awareness and accountability. Immediate awareness campaigns may focus on ways to spot trafficked victims, and companies that use child labour. The Bureau of International Labour Affairs (ILAB) has curated a list of goods and products suspected of involving child or forced labour. This list may bring the invisible issue of child labour to the spotlight and encourage individuals to engage in responsible consumption. More long-term awareness campaigns should tackle the problem of gender inequality in education and emphasise the value of girls’ education in breaking out of cyclical poverty that makes children vulnerable. Equally important is making traffickers, corporations and governments accountable for their exploitation and oversights. ILAB’s 2020 list included 155 goods produced in 77 countries around the world. Domestic and global supply chains are structured in ways that systematically exploit the most vulnerable. Hence, there must be greater transparency and accountability for businesses and industries, harsher penalties for traffickers, and more pressure put on governments and law enforcement agencies to uphold justice and defend human rights at risk. 

Ultimately, stakeholder cooperation between activists, states, law enforcement and businesses should be encouraged to manage the root causes of child labour and trafficking. Protecting children is a moral responsibility that all societies should be concerned about, and each of us can play a part in ending child labour and trafficking. If you would like to know more about One Bread and our mission, please subscribe to our website and share this cause with your friends and family. You may also consider donating to One Bread Foundation if you are interested in playing a crucial part in the rehabilitation of sex trafficking victims. 

References and further reading:

World’s Children: Child trafficking statistics

The Invisible Work of Girls: Inside the Life of Female Child Labour in Ghana

Gender and child labour in agriculture

Everywhere But Invisible: Girl Child Labourers in Agriculture

Bride Trafficking in Asia

By Constance Thum, Senior Contributing Writer

Human trafficking is a broad category that encompasses child and forced labour, child soldiers, sex trafficking, child marriages and bride buying, among other forms of trafficking. Bride trafficking has been reported across the world. In Asia, China, Pakistan, India, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam have recorded a growing number of bride trafficking cases. For China, the “one-child policy” that created a preference for male babies has resulted in a severe gender imbalance, thus generating high demand among bachelors for female brides. Many heart wrenching personal stories of child brides and trafficked victims remind us of the importance of addressing this issue that has only been exacerbated by COVID-19.

Bride trafficking is a complicated issue involving multiple overlapping factors. Focusing on growing economic polarisation, the consequences of the COVID-19 lockdown, and gender inequality, we may gain a clearer picture on how these root causes contribute to bride trafficking. 

In Asia, rapid economic growth and development has also presented worsening income inequality. The significant wealth divide has created a perfect storm of vulnerable populations ripe for exploitation at the hands of privileged families with the means to afford trafficking services. Many trafficked victims highlighted that poverty was a significant factor motivating their desperation for employment, which in turn made them more susceptible to deceit by traffickers who lured them with promises of high paying jobs. Many of these women and girls who are trafficked are from ethnic or religious minorities, which are among the most impoverished communities. Thus, bride trafficking is not only a gender crisis, but also a racial minority problem. The pandemic has only worsened income inequality as low-skilled jobs have been the hardest hit by the economic disruptions.

Additionally, the extended COVID-19 lockdown has resulted in a record number of children dropping out of school permanently. Job loss and reduced earnings have compelled many parents to enlist the help of their children in businesses during this stay-at-home period, and these temporary strategies to improve livelihood conditions may become permanent decisions. While some poor children may eventually return to school, the damage done to their learning may be so severe that it sets them back for years compared to their wealthier counterparts who have supplementary resources to ensure their learning is on track. For girls, the lockdown has pushed many parents to get them married off early in hopes of lessening the financial burden, despite many of them still being underaged. While child marriages and bride trafficking are illegal in many Asian countries, less funding for law enforcement agencies due to slower economic growth has adversely impacted their operations and made investigations or rescue missions more difficult in times when they are more needed. 

Finally, gender inequality and patriarchal attitudes are major factors underlying greater vulnerability of women and girls. Poverty has meant many parents are forced to allocate more resources to one child, usually boys, at the expense of the other, usually girls. Such actions are out of pragmatism in light of the persistent gender wage gap, which means sons are more likely to earn more than daughters to financially support their parents. Gendered social expectations for males to be breadwinners and for females to undertake unpaid domestic and care work also play a part in these trends. With females being economically dependent on males, they have less autonomy and say in decision making. Hence, many girls and women have to obey the wishes of their male relatives. Such a power imbalance between the genders has contributed to vulnerability of women and girls to domination and exploitation.

Against this backdrop, immediate solutions for addressing child marriages and bride trafficking in Asia would be material aid to impoverished communities, calling for greater funding to relevant law enforcement departments, and donations to non-profit organisations providing rehabilitative care to victims of trafficking. In the long run, greater collaboration between various stakeholders like the state, law enforcement, grassroots organisations, and vulnerable communities would be essential to developing multi-faceted solutions that address the root causes of the issue. Awareness campaigns should also be rolled out to help the public spot warning signs of trafficking and to advocate for the rights of trafficked victims. Ultimately, child marriages and bride trafficking present a serious threat to human rights and must receive due attention to attain justice for its victims. 

References and further reading:

Demystifying Rising Inequality in Asia

China’s Bride Trafficking Problem

Bride trafficking, a problem on China’s belt and road

Bride Trafficking to China Spreads Across Asia

Trapped

By Pooja Walia, Contributing Writer

There’s no escape

it’s an infinite loop

chained with addiction, hopelessness

lack of opportunity

lack of a chance

hunted by wolves

eager to drag me 

down into the deep dark forest

I tried to escape, yes, I did

they dangled false hopes in my face

lured me through the candies of addiction and money

I wanted out … of that life, the prison

of the roads they want me to take

out of the trap …

with a bruised body

showing scars of the times I stood up

soulless, numb

making me feel worthless

just want it all to be over

either this torture or my life

so, I can be finally free

no going back

be what I can be.

Prisons have become hunting grounds for prostitution. This piece is inspired by research from The Guardian’s video “The Trap: the deadly sex-trafficking cycle in American prisons” which underscores chilling testimonies of ex-inmates who were dragged back into a life of addiction and prostitution over and over again. The unfortunate fact: it was done so easily. The documentary highlights the infinite loop of incarceration, recruitment, release, trafficking, and then incarceration all over again.

According to the video, Richard Rawls was the first sex trafficker convicted in the United States for trafficking women from prisons. He recruited women released from prisons to prostitute for him and had over 25 women in his house at one point.

Kate, molested and raped when she was 16, was one of the many women Rawls pimped by giving hope that “everything would be okay.” She narrates how the pimps sift through the inmates to target their ‘commodity’ and start making conversations. “They see whom they wanna write, how much is this face gonna make me?” “Anybody can write to anybody in the prison.” It is through these incessant unwanted letters that the pimps are able to create that relationship to dupe the women into trusting them and falling bait to their false promises.

The whole business is possible because of a vital flaw in the prison system. “When someone is arrested, their personal data is immediately put online - mugshots, criminal records, release dates, and home addresses.” This becomes crucial in enabling the perpetrators to cherry pick their victims and initiate the process of intruding on the inmates’ already difficult lives.

Jill has been in and out of jail 22 times and explains the reason for falling back into the same misery. “Without them [the pimps], you have nobody. It’s lonely.”

“Women released from Worchester, MA have no recovery or support facilities.” This makes it even easier for the inmates to fall prey to the vultures waiting patiently on the other end.

The documentary reveals some of the sickening details of what goes on in the minds of these pimps, currently in prison, and of their business model.

Anthony Harris explains “Once you start doing it [sending money and letters to inmates] with a person, over a period of time they become loyal to you, so you just got you a new girl.” He defines pimps by categorizing them as “Boyfriend pimp, gorilla pimp - beats the victim, finesse pimp - doesn’t care, do the work or get out the door, and druggy pimp - keeps them addicted to the drugs.”

He goes on to justify and take pride in his actions, “All I was doing was showing them a better way to do it. I didn’t force them, I just finessed them.” On the other hand, he took advantage of factors in our society that prevent the women from leading normal lives. “You have nobody, nowhere to go to, hard to get a job, can’t get an apartment ‘cause you’re a felon, don’t have any money to get an apartment. We are creatures of habit.” 

Jasmine Johnson, another imprisoned pimp, very casually, shares her violent management style. “A few times I had to put my hands on them. Just like, rough them up, choke them out or slap them. If you disobey, you get punished.” 

Anthony Harris mentioned that all they need to do is “approach released women and ask “You alright?” and it goes from there.” This suggests further ignorance on the part of the prison officers and staff.

Former Correctional Officers John Meekins and Theresa Davidson share stories of their attempts to put an end to this ignorance, or at least do their part in ensuring the safety of the released prisoners. John was met with disrespect when he raised his concerns with people saying, “Who the hell are you and why should we care?” According to his experience, 99% of the department didn’t even know what human trafficking is, let alone do anything about it. When prisoners are released, they are given a mere sum of $50 to start a ‘new life’.

Theresa says that all that the officers say at the time of release is “Here’s your money, your civilian clothes, and the property you can take with you, and we need to see you get in a car with somebody.” They don’t care who that somebody is or what disgusting road they will drive you to or if that somebody will become the reason for the released prisoner to return to the prison, stuck in an infinite loop. Theresa reported to her supervisors when she heard a prisoner on the phone. The superiors didn’t care, didn’t want anything more added to their plates and just wanted “to have a pleasant day and move on.”

Marian Hatcher, a former inmate living in Chicago, was a victim of domestic violence, which triggered her downfall into drug use, prostitution, trafficking and into a prison cell. Thanks to the services and support she received in jail, she now works for the Sheriff of Cook county, just a few hundred yards away from where she was jailed. 

The support that the inmates receive is extremely important in helping them understand the monstrosity that has been clouding their judgment. It aims to prevent them from becoming victims of human trafficking in the hopes of giving them a near-normal life. Prisoners devoid of these services, like Jill, often find themselves wondering “what options do we really have, we feel TRAPPED in it.”

Nikki Bell, having experienced these emotions first-hand, explains them in her own words, “feeling soulless, waiting to die and your body to catch up.” Such victims lack self-esteem and fail to recognize their true identities. They feel that they have “taken the identity that this was my only worth in the world.”

Nikki’s ordeal started when she was just 14 years old. Seeking love in a 24-year-old boyfriend, she complied when he asked her to sleep with his friends in the false hope that he would love her in return. 

Overcoming past struggles and trying to give the help she may not have received, Nikki runs a drop-in shelter where she and her team provide the necessary clothes and accessories the women need. “You don’t turn down people because they’ve been arrested 20 times, maybe the 21st time works. You keep helping.”

While journeying through the area where Kate used to work, she spotted a former co-worker, Jessica, and exclaimed, “Can’t believe she’s still out there, still alive.” Kate reflects on where she is now in life and says, “This is past history, isn’t what I have to do, isn’t a necessity anymore, just something that I used to do.”

On the one hand, human trafficking is flourishing because of the inhumane pimps, uncaring correctional officers and countless cracks in the system. On the other hand, the high-spirited people who were determined and were fortunate to escape the trap, are now making an effort to help others build their lives as they themselves try to build their own.

References and further reading/viewing:

The Guardian: The Trap: the deadly sex-trafficking cycle in American prisons