Photo credit: Greystorm
Human rights. The protections afforded to all based on the fact of being born. These rights are inalienable and cannot be taken away in any circumstance. All human rights are intertwined, one dependent on others in order to be enforced as written out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the founding document of the United Nations. Unfortunately, many of these rights are not enforced in countries around the world, neither in the spirit of the law nor the letter of the law. One particularly atrocious violation of such rights is present in human trafficking.
The United Nations defines human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit. This horrific practice occurs at a domestic level as well as at an international level, traffickers in the United States luring migrants and other vulnerable populations with supposed job opportunities that turn out to be a front for servitude and demeaning labor. For purposes of this post, I specifically focus on the trafficking of children, the luring of innocent young ones for purposes of exploitation, forced labor, or to be sold. Mahatma Gandhi once said “a nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” Though children are not the weakest members of any country, they are largely vulnerable. Indeed, if not cared for by immediate family and loved ones, they may be easily taken advantage of. Children should be actively protected, this to act as a protective factor against potential harm.
Photo credit: Atul Loke
Generally, child labor feeds into “domestic servitude” such as nannying or housekeeping or forced labor in agriculture, restaurants, and the like. Children may also be sex trafficked, this occurring when a child under 18 is solicited, advertised, or exploited through commercial sex acts. Generally, boys are forcibly recruited to work and girls are exploited for sex. Such measures are carried out through pimps, gangs, families, or individual “buyers.” The United States is among the top destinations for child trafficking and these practices do not discriminate by state or city. Chicago is no stranger to this plight. Annually, there are an estimated 16,000-25,000 women and girls who become victims.
Child trafficking, particularly child sex trafficking, is on the rise since the start of COVID-19. As children have been online much more since the start of the pandemic, so have offenders. In a story on the rise of child sex trafficking in the past year, an official says “any online site, game, or app with a chat feature puts children at risk.”
Photo credit: Kate Oseen
There are measures parents can take to protect their children from traffickers. Some options open to parents:
— Create a home environment that encourages open discussion and fosters a sense of trust and love
— Be frank. Have ongoing discussions with your children about sex trafficking, always emphasizing they have autonomy over their own body
— Instill in children the importance of never accepting social media friend requests from strangers
— Cover up laptop or desktop cameras when not actively in use
— Ensure a trusted parent is present at after school and extra-curricular activities. To facilitate this, form a group of “safe parents” and switch off who attends different activities. Those entrusted to protect our children may, at points, abuse their position. Recent instances of this include Larry Nasar and Jerry Sandusky.
— Pay attention to your children. Take a true and invested interest in their lives and be attuned to signs of trafficking.
Potential indicators of trafficking in children include:
— Clothing that doesn’t fit and/or is inappropriate for the weather
— Clothing that the child would not be able to afford
— Signs of physical abuse
— Child avoids eye contact
— Apprehension of fear of other adults or children
It is important to be aware of certain phone numbers to call if you suspect a child may be being trafficked. On an Illinois state level, call (800) 25 ABUSE. The National Human Trafficking hotline is 1-888-373-7888. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
Following, various organizations in and around Chicago that can provide further guidance and information around child trafficking:
— Reclaim 13
It is essential all are aware of the dangers and risks of child trafficking. With knowledge comes wisdom and only with wisdom of the horrific practice of child trafficking may this scourge be controlled and, one day, brought to an end.
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