6. Slavery and Trafficking
In this unit, you will study the question of what slavery is and why it has lasted so long. In the first part of the unit we will read Abina and the Important Men to get a sense of what it means to be enslaved. We will analyze how slavery is justified economically, politically and socially.
What does it mean to be enslaved? How is the system perpetuated?
https://www.freetheslaves.net/SSLPage.aspx?pid=622
Then we will study modern day slavery in the form of human trafficking. Some argue that there are more slaves today then there has ever been.
What is human trafficking and why does it continue? How do the factors of violence, the law, psychology, and economics play a role in keeping slavery in place?
Human Trafficking is the fastest growing crime in the world. It is second only to the sale in illegal drugs in its scope. Every state in the US has cases of human trafficking (modern slavery) and every country in the world. In the US anyone can be a victim of human trafficking: men, women, adults, children, US citizens, and non US citizens.
Did you know that…
* 12.3 million people are enslaved today worldwide
* In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation eradicating slavery, yet more than one million people are enslaved in the U.S. today.
* Two million children are bought and sold in the global commercial sex trade
* The average age of entry into commercial sex slavery in the United States is 13 years old
* The global sex slavery market generates $32 billion in profits each year
* Every 10 minutes, a woman or child is trafficked into the United States for forced labor
* Most “johns” are quite ordinary: 70-90% are married, and most are employed with no criminal record
* 76% of transactions for sex with underage girls are conducted via the internet
* The U.S. government spends 300 times more money per year to fight drug trafficking than it does to fight human trafficking
* Approximately 55% of girls living on the streets in the United States engage in commercial sex slavery. Girls from middle and upper class neighborhoods are also at risk
Why does Human trafficking continue ?
Listen to Kevin Bales of Free the Slaves in his TED talk. What does he say it takes to be considered a slave?
CNN has a human trafficking project. Watch this video.
Cnn Freedom project https://www.freetheslaves.net/SSLPage.aspx?pid=622
The Human trafficking protection Act http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2009/June/20090622172250xjsnommis0.8302729.html
http://traffickingproject.blogspot.com/2008/07/slavery-map-identify-slavery-in-us.html – this is the website that has all the different websites on it.
Rebecca Project for Human Rights: justice, dignity and policy reform for vulnerable women and girls in the United States and in Africa http://www.rebeccaproject.org/
Apne Aap Women Worldwide http://www.apneaap.org/
Wednesday night : listen to part 2 Youth Radio Investigation http://www.youthradio.org/trafficked
Demi and Ashton Foundation to end slavery http://www.demiandashton.com/get-informed
Nepal – human trafficking – www.maitinepal.org/
http://traffickingproject.blogspot.com/2008/07/slavery-map-identify-slavery-in-us.html
Human Rights Watch http://www.hrw.org/
End Human Trafficking http://www.endhumantrafficking.org/
State Department 2020 Trafficking Report http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2010/
National Human Trafficking REsource Center http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/
Vital Voices http://www.vitalvoices.org/
Human Trafficking.org: Empowerment through Knowledge: http://www.humantrafficking.org
Not for Sale campaign http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/
http://www.youthforhumanrights.org/
compassionfirst http://www.compassionfirst.org/
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2010/11/08/cnnheroes.koirala.sorvino.cnn cnn show fighting trafficking
Shop to Stop Slavery http://www.shoptostopslavery.com/
Fight Slavery Now http://fightslaverynow.org/
Somaly Mam in Cambodia http://www.somaly.org/
Somaly Mam in Cambodia http://www.afesip.org/
Making the World a Witness: Yes Magazine, May 20, 2004
http://www.yesmagazine.org/peace-justice/slavery-goes-public
http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/a-conspiracy-of-hope/713
slavery Goes Public, Oct 21, 2010
What approaches to NGOs take to the problem? Evaluate the NGOs. Pick 3 NGOs above and read them and rate them.
- Name of website
- Web address
- Geographical location of website
- Audience they most appeal to? Adults? Students? Artists? Activists?
- Information about trafficking – read the stories in the website about trafficking – that is what information are they using to educate you? This should be the main part of your evaluation
- Who runs this NGO and why did they decide to do this?
- Have they given awards and to whom?
- Check Charity Navigator http://www.charitynavigator.org/
- What action do they want you to take?
- What events and programs do they offer?
- How many people have they gotten out of slavery?
- What grade would you give this website and why?
