Essay Sample on Human Trafficking in India and the Unites States

Human trafficking is a menace that many countries struggle with either as sources or destinations. It is estimated that about eighty percent of individuals trafficked are women and children. Misogyny in the society has contributed largely to human sex trafficking. Patriarchal traditions and gender-based discrimination have led to the increase of human sex trafficking among young girls and women (Hepburn et.al, 2010). The United States and India are two countries that are very different regarding cultural practices and economic status. However, one would be surprised at how similar they are when it comes to the prevalence of human sex trafficking in both countries. Despite the fact that there are high poverty levels in India compared to the United States, three main factors make human trafficking hard to eradicate. First, the business is very profitable. Secondly, there is a limited supply of women and children in the sex industry. Lastly, it is easy to lure unsuspecting victims into the industry (Hodge et.al, 2008).

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Despite the availability of women and children in India and the United States, human traffickers still smuggle women and children into the respective countries. This means that there is a demand for more victims into the market. There are certain differences in the wants and supply in the market. In the United States, the victims available are from distinct countries such as Haiti, Mexico, Guatemala, Thailand, India and the Philippines. The customers demand women from other nations apart from America. Many of the customers are said to seek exotic experience and something different from what they see around. Unlike in the United Stated, many of the victims of human sex trafficking are from Nepal and Northern India (Sarkar et.al, 2008). This implies that most of the trafficking is done internally although the customers prefer subjects from different areas. The Indian customers prefer women from Nepal and Northern India as they say they are prettier than those from Southern India. The lighter complexion of these women is more desirable to the customers. This means that the supply is mainly from rural India and Nepal.

The second reason as to why human sex trafficking is prevalent is the profitability of the business. The sex industry fetches the traders a lot of money which is not taxed. In fact, it is the third biggest earner of income after illegal drugs and arms dealing. In the United States, most customers are employed and married with a stable income. This implies that they pay well for the services they receive. The other reason as to why sex trafficking is profitable in America is that there is a limited risk of detection, arrest, and prosecution. This means that it is easy to run many of the same businesses without detection (Hepburn et.al, 2010). On the other hand, human trafficking in India also profitable. Relatives sell many girls to local recruiters who in turn sell them to the human traffickers. Unlike in America where law enforcement agencies are strict on people trafficking, the Indian system consists of many corrupt individuals. Little is done by the government to stop human sex trafficking. Little is done do prosecute the traders this make them carry out their business freely. Moreover, the traders have access to many girls and women since they do not incur massive costs in transportation. The girls are also sold at a relatively lower price than in the United States which makes the business profitable.

Lastly, the victims of human sex trafficking are vulnerable to the promises of a better life made by traffickers. Globalization is also seen as a contributor to trafficking. The collapse of economies provides sex industry with the supply of individuals who are poor. Many victims are mainly from low-income families and easy to recruit. In the America, many victims are lured by promises of education and good paying jobs in the country. Traffickers take advantage of sporting activities such as the super bowl to smuggle victims. It is estimated that about 18,000 50,000 individuals are trafficked into the country annually. The population of India is estimated at one billion individual with a per-capita income of about $ 3,500 per year. This means that there are many poor people in the country. The poverty makes it easy for recruiters to lure girls into prostitution. Many citizens in India depend on agriculture and with climate change and change of agricultural practices to cash crop farming, many women move to urban areas in search of employment and end up in brothels. There is also an aspect of child sex tourism in India where customers in religious pilgrims and other tourists prefer young girls. About 10,000 women and girls are trafficked into India and other 700,000 within the country to satisfy the demand in the sex industry (Sarkar et.al, 2008).

In conclusion, it is almost impossible to stop human sex trafficking due to the demand for sexual services. Despite the belief that prostitution is an act of free will, many women in the sex industry are victims of oppression and gender discrimination. Law enforcement agencies need to make more effort to protect the victims and reduce the popularity of the business. If the demand for the sexual services is reduced, then the sex trafficking will become less profitable (Hodge et.al, 2008). Before arresting sexual workers on the streets, law enforcers should consider that some them are not acting of their free will. Human sex trafficking can be stopped both in India and the United States with the proper awareness and prosecution of perpetrators.

References

Hepburn, Stephanie, and Rita J. Simon. "Hidden in plain sight: Human trafficking in the United States." Gender Issues 27.1-2 (2010): 1-26.

Hodge, David R. "Sexual trafficking in the United States: A domestic problem with transnational dimensions." Social Work 53.2 (2008): 143-152.

Sarkar, Kamalesh, et al. "Sex-trafficking, violence, negotiating skill, and HIV infection in brothel-based sex workers of eastern India, adjoining Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh." Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition (2008): 223-231.