Child and Human Trafficking

Posted: December 21st, 2022

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Child and Human Trafficking

Child and human trafficking is a key concern that requires quick and effective mitigation to avert further complications that could derail the attempts to safeguard children who are the primary victims of this unlawful and immoral act. The paper shows the effects of child trafficking by exploring a case study involving Jeffrey Edward Epstein (1953-2019), who was involved in a series of child and human trafficking before his case was determined in two instances (Raymond 2). It reveals that failure to take suitable remedies could expose minors to the threat that adversely affects victims and their families. Consequently, the paper emphasizes the need to introduce tougher laws and sensitization on the possible dangers of uninformed migration as some of the techniques that could help avert child trafficking. 

Overview of Child and Human Trafficking 

For this task, the description of human trafficking in most local and state statutes applies. The action refers to the practice of consciously subjecting people to involuntary nonconsensual sexual or labor servitude (Dalley and Erickson 153). Since the beginning of the 21st century, the Counter-Trafficking Data Collaborative has recorded at least 25,000 incidences of human trafficking in the U.S. (Dalley and Erickson 154). However, Dalley and Erickson confirm that the figure is not a true representation of the scope of this criminal act. On the other hand, the National Human Trafficking Hotline registered more than 10,000 incidences of human trafficking (154). Globally, Dalley and Erickson estimate that nearly forty million people are trafficked across international borders, with only 91,400 cases having been identified and looked into since 2000 (154). Nationally, the victims of child and human trafficking surpass homicide victims. For example, more than 23,000 incidences were recorded in 2018 alone compared to the 16,200 homicide cases reported in the U.S. within the same period (Dalley and Erickson 155). The overview of child and human trafficking suggests that the issue requires appropriate intervention to salvage the situation that may get out of hand. 

Describing the Case 

Epstein was an American who worked in the financial sector and was a convicted sex offender. The man who hailed from Brooklyn, New York, started his profession as a teacher at the Dalton School in Manhattan, New York, despite not having graduated from college. He shifted to the banking sector after being terminated from teaching. He ultimately got a chance to establish his financial firm. He used his monetary competence to generate a social group where he lured many youngsters and women into sensual acts, including sexually mistreating them (Dalley and Erickson 151). At the beginning of 2005, the police force commenced investigations against Epstein after a mother raised alarms with the security forces that he had violated her underage daughter. The respondent accepted that he procured children for promiscuous acts and was sent behind bars in 2008 by a Florida-based court (Dalley and Erickson 152). He spent nearly thirteen months in custody and had the chance to attend to his workstations. The police rearrested Epstein in July 2019 on charges of sex trafficking of underage children in New York and Florida. It is believed that he committed suicide inside his jail cell a couple of months after his recapture and detainment. However, the convict’s lawyer countered the claims surrounding his death, which raised much debate from varying sides. According to Dalley and Erickson, child trafficking, as exhibited by Epstein, is a social and legal problem that requires effective mitigation to prevent further cases (165). Otherwise, failing to enact effective remedies to avert similar incidences could put more children at risk of falling into such traps.  

Connecting the Case with Effects 

Child trafficking has several adverse complications, which creates the urge to address the matter as effectively as possible. There is a need to address the issue of child trafficking because evidence suggests that a connection exists between mental health and child trafficking (6319). In addition, Kourou and Tchable inform that the victims of child trafficking sometimes develop the symptoms of affective disorders, traumatic stress, and anxiety-related complications. Nonetheless, more need to happen in terms of research to assess the connections between child trafficking and their mental well-being. In a National cross-sectional study by Kounou and Tchable, the researchers find that trafficking has harmful and destructive implications for affected children and their families (6328). Child trafficking, according to Wood, exposes the child to sexual exploitation whereby victims may be exploited by groups of offenders or individuals and may be frequently shifted for abuse.

In other instances, preys may be unprotected against sexual content or behavior and could be forced to perform such acts for commercial purposes. Epstein’s case is a practical example of how trafficking may expose children and older people to sexual acts without their liking. Such practices affect the mental state of the targeted children and deter them from focusing on achieving their long-term goals as it would happen without such interferences. Incidences of organ removal have been reported due to child trafficking. Besides, a key concern is the removal of kidneys, although other organs and blood may be sourced for sale (Wood). Such concerns reiterate the need to address the issue as an urgent one and one that requires considerable attention.

Possible Remedies 

Even though some regulations exist to bar child trafficking, it is necessary to refine them to improve their effectiveness and create awareness about child and human trafficking. Based on Epstein’s case, it is evident that looking at existing laws and making considerable changes would help to avoid an increase in such malpractices. Current regulations demand that a convicted person serves a maximum of 27 years in jail and a minimum of 3 years (Dalley and Erickson 156). However, considering that some thinkers perceive human traffickers to be among the most aggressive criminal offenders in the U.S., depriving others of their liberty and lives, it is necessary to create tougher minimum sentences and equip the jury with relevant resources to sentence violators legally. Heightening the punishment would scare away those who may consider indulging in such malpractices. On the same note, the victims of Epstein could avoid the trap if they were aware of how traffickers conduct their operations. Thus, enlightening people, especially vulnerable populations, would significantly minimize such incidences (Zimmerman and Kiss). The devastating consequences of child and human trafficking should drive the urge to enact these reforms to achieve a society where people do not live in fear of being trafficked.

Conclusion

The analysis reveals that child and human trafficking is an issue that requires close assessment and monitoring to prevent unfortunate incidences that could result in fatal outcomes. Referring to the trafficking cases by Epstein reveals that victims of such acts indulge in acts that contravene their wishes and desires. Some enter into sexual acts despite being minors, contrary to existing legislation. The paper reaffirms that the most effective way to deal with the social and legal problems is to refine existing laws to improve their effectiveness and enlighten people to be cautious every time they contemplate migrating to other places, especially after being convinced by others under unclear circumstances.

Works Cited

Dalley, Lynette and Katherine Erickson. “Prosecuting Human Trafficking in the Wake of Epstein: A Proposal for the Implementation of Aggravated Human Trafficking Statutes.” Brigham Young University Prelaw Review, vol. 34, no. 14, 2020, pp. 151-166.

Kounou, Kossi and Boussalegue Tchable. “Psychological Impact of Child Trafficking on Trafficked Children and their Families in Togo.” The International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Invention, vol. 7, no. 12, 2020, pp. 6319-6329.

Raymond, Janice. “Immunity Incorporated: All the Injustice that Jeffrey Epstein Can Buy.” Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence, vol. 4, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1-9.

Wood, Laura. “Child Modern Slavery, Trafficking and Health: A Practical Review of Factors Contributing to Children’s Vulnerability and the Potential Impacts of Severe Exploitation on Health.” BMJ Pediatrics Open, vol. 4, no. 1, 2020, doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2018-000327

Zimmerman, Cathy and Ligia Kiss. “Human Trafficking and Exploitation: A Global Health Concern.” PLoS Medicine, vol. 14, no. 11, doi. org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002437