Health and Human Rights [in Action]

This is a blog run by graduate students who are passionate about human rights and public health. We have created this blog to document our project regarding human trafficking, but will also post about other topics related to health and human rights.

[humanrightsinaction]

The Dilemma: The case of child labor in mining communities in Bonsaaso, Ghana

Under Ghanaian law, work in mining is forbidden for anyone under the age of 18 years. Ghana has also ratified international standards on child labor, including the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. However, It is estimated that over 1/3rd of Ghana’s children between the ages of 5 and 14 are working.[i] Furthermore, a 2006 ILO study found that approximately 10,000 children were working in the country’s artisanal gold mines.[ii] The dangers are numerous for children working in gold mines, from ill health and injuries due to deep falls in the pits, to increased risks of malaria contraction and exposure to dangerous dusts and toxins.

As part of my research into how “galamsey” or small-scale mining is impacting the MVP Bonsaaso communities and the project’s various interventions, I sat down with 2 groups of school children to talk about galamsey. Both of the communities I visited were amongst the most heavily impacted by artisanal mining and this was visible as we drove past patches of bare land, mounds of dirt and the sheer number of heavily soiled men, women and children walking along the road.

The children I spoke with ranged from as young as 12 years old to 16. I conducted focus group interviews at their schools during break. What struck me most, I think, was how knowledgeable these children are about the hazards and perceptions of galamsey. A number of them admitted to working in the mines on weekends or during their breaks from class. When I asked what they thought of galamsey, they repeatedly told me about the land destruction and degradation, the loss of lives to uncovered pits, the contamination of their water bodies and subsequent lack of drinking water; the risks of losing future farmland, the illegal nature of it and the fact that they knew they could be arrested if they were to be caught mining. Knowing all of this, they still choose to mine. When I asked why, the responses were also consistent. They needed the money to pay for school fees. Their parents could not provide for their needs or they had no parents—or they accompany their parents at the mines to help earn money for the family.

The popular perception in research is that children are forced into labor in the mines by their parents or other ill-intentioned adults in their lives. What I found in talking to these children is that many of them feel compelled into going into this dangerous line of work out of necessity. In communities with such extreme levels of poverty and a serious lack of other livelihood options, the need for survival continues to greatly outweigh the risks of galamsey for both adults and children alike. Laws on child labor can only be enforced when there is a system to protect and provide for these children. This is the disturbing dilemma. If the children of Bonsaaso, Ghana don’t fend for themselves, who will?

  [iii]

[iv] 

~Winnette

[i] Human Rights Watch. Ghana: Mine Accident Highlights Risk to Children. June 13, 2013. http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/06/13/ghana-mine-accident-highlights-risk-children

[ii] Id.

[iii] Photocred: Winnette Richards, Keniago, Ghana. 2014

[iv] Photocred: Winnette Richards. Keniago, Ghana. 2014

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Child Labor in Ghana: Small-Scale Mining's effect on a Millennium Village

Wo ho te sen!? For the last month, I have been in a number of villages and cities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, located in West Africa. Recently, I embarked on a research project with the purpose of looking at how small-scale and artisanal mining, known as “galamsey” here, has impacted the development interventions of the Millennium Villages Project in Bonsaaso, Ghana. 

Just a little background on the Millennium Villages Project. A fairly well-known development experiment, the MVP is a creation of the Earth Institute at Columbia University in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and Millennium Promise. The project was intended to help poverty-stricken villages in Sub-Saharan Africa meet the Millennium Development Goals. To this end, MVP works to implement an integrated set of interventions that address the root causes of extreme poverty. The project focuses on improving infrastructure, education, food production, basic health care, and environmental sustainability.

MVP has been in Bonsaaso since 2005/2006. The project has delivered a number of interventions in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, health and education. Now in its mature phase, the project is looking to phase out within approximately the next year and a half. In reviewing their achievements and areas of need, the project is grappling with the various effects of the rapid increase in galamsey activity within the clusters. A major fear is that galamsey activity is negating the efforts and achievements of the project.

A significant area of concern is the involvement of children in small-scale mining. MVP’s Education sector has experienced increases in the number of children who drop out of school to work in mine fields, either on their own as a way to make “quick money” or due to pressures from their peers and/or families. In a very poor village community, the lure of fast monetary gains often outweighs the risks associated with mining work and children are either being forced to, or are willingly joining mining gangs.

Last week, I got the opportunity to observe a community training meeting led by three non-governmental organizations working in Ghana that partnered together to combat modern forms of Slavery in Ghana, including child sex trafficking and problems of hazardous child labor in mining. The three organizations, Free the Slaves, Participatory Development Associates and Social Support Foundation conducted extensive research in Obuasi, Ghana on the involvement of children in galamsey activities. What they found was that children (especially boys) as young as 6 years old, were taking part in mining activity to supplement family incomes or to earn enough to cover their own basic and educational needs. Also, it is very common for girls as young as 10 to be sexually exploited by male mine workers in exchange for money—basically turning these young girls into sex slaves. The migratory nature of mining work also means that those who engage in sexual exploitation of young girls in mining areas may be guilty of sex trafficking under international legal definitions. Furthermore, the engagement of children in informal mining has major health related consequences-especially for children from poor households.

To address this growing problem, the three partnering organizations have designated community leaders to whom they provide children’s rights and advocacy training. Equipped with these skills, it is hoped that these community leaders will serve as local reference points and catalysts for community action against child labor and abuse.

It has only been a full week here but I can tell I will be learning so much and I will be sure to continue sharing this experience with you all so STAY TUNED!

 *To learn more about Free the Slaves’ work in Ghana, visit:

 https://www.freetheslaves.net/ghana/

 *To learn more about the Millennium Villages, visit:

 http://millenniumvillages.org/about/overview/

-Winnette

[humanrightsinaction]

Opening of the Center for Civil and Human Rights in ATLANTA!

Today is the grand opening of the Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta [1].  We are afforded another incredible opportunity to learn and become enriched about human rights here and engage events occurring abroad.

As soon as I am back in Atlanta, I will definitely check it out.  I hope you will spend an afternoon doing the same!

-Christian

Reference: 

1. http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/06/20/us-center-civil-and-human-rights-opens

[climateadaptation-deactivated20]

The entire city of Florence, Italy is the same size as this highway interchange in Atlanta, Georgia. Via

[humanrightsinaction]

Hey, all!

I'm sorry we have not been posting recently -- some of us are abroad and others are working hard stateside on various projects this summer, so it is difficult to find time to post!

Just to give you a quick heads-up on what I'm working on:

I am in Ocotal, Nicaragua this summer working on a qualitative research project with Señora Dochyta Falcón, a passionate and inspiring fighter and advocate for women's rights both in Nicaragua and internationally.

Our project is focused on Ocotal's high rate of unintended pregnancy, as 1 in 5 pregnancies in this small, northern city are mistimed or unwanted [1].  Nationally, data suggests that 65% of pregnancies among women ages 15-29 are unintended [1], which, in my opinion, is a colossal number.

To provide some context, roughly 51% of all pregnancies in the US are unintended -- across all age groups, not just young women [2].

In Nicaragua, young women do not have access to legal abortion as a means to terminate an unintended pregnancy, as the National Assembly passed a law in 2006 to criminalize therapeutic abortions in all circumstances -- including cases of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the woman [3].

According to the 2007 Concluding Comments to Nicaragua from the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), no woman should be forced to seek an unsafe abortion due to the criminalization of therapeutic abortion [4].  The Convention continues to recommend that the National Assembly consider:

removing punitive provisions imposed on women who have abortions and provide them with access to quality services for the management of complications arising from unsafe abortions.

Our project aims to use focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) with young women to examine young women's experiences with unintended pregnancy in a country where abortion is not an option.

Thus far, we have piloted our FGD question guide and have conducted 2 out of 3 official FGDs. We are beginning the transcription process and I am working on the first stages of my coding tree, which is exciting!

I will continue to post tidbits of information that I get from my FGDs and hope that you all find it interesting!

Abrazos,

Sammy

*******

Sources:

1. Nicaraguan Demographic and Health Survey 2006/7: Final Report. 

2. Guttmacher Institute. Unintended Pregnancy in the United States. http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-Unintended-Pregnancy-US.html

3. Walsh, Mollmann, and Heimburger. (2008). Abortion and human rights: Examples from Latin America. Institute of Development Studies Bulletin 39(3): 28-39.

4. United Nations. (2007). CEDAW/C/NIC/CO/6.

[humanrightsinaction]

Today is: the start of the World Cup and World Day Against Child Labour

Today is the start of the most watched event in the world.  It’s estimated that almost HALF of the world’s population will see part of a world cup match [1].  32 teams have gathered in Brazil representing their home countries.  The Olympics of the world’s most popular sport is stretched out over a 1 month span and is hosted in one of the most rabid, frenzied futbol fanbases, Brazil.

  With the world influx of fans and visitors into Rio and other soccer satellite sites, an increase in crime, exploitation, and sex work/trafficking seems likely.  Brazilian sex workers were purportedly learning English in preparation for English-speaking customers [2].  A less visible abuse associated with the World Cup are the construction of stadiums and it’s use of migrant laborers, often bonded and subject to deplorable conditions.  A recent ESPN E-60 investigation profiled the use of Nepali and Indian migrant workers imported into Qatar, the host of the 2022 World Cup.  Interviews held with the Nepali workers reveal living conditions, while the host country, Qatar Supreme Committee for the 2022 World Cup, demonstrates a differing image.  It’s estimated that Qatar will import 500,000 more migrant workers to work on 7+ soccer stadiums [3].  It’s also estimated that more than 4000 workers from Nepal and India will die from these horrid conditions before actual kick off in 2022 [3].

  The beginning of the FIFA World Cup play in Brazil also happens to coincide with World Day Against Child Labour [4].  Today is a day dedicated to acknowledgment, awareness, and advocacy for bonded and exploited child laborers, which naturally extends to adults living in identical pretense.

  The World Cup is an international event that embodies the pinnacle of a truly universal sport, athleticism, sportsmanship, and nationalistic pride.  However, the underbelly of the World Cup are the very stadiums which are being built by inhuman circumstances, unfair wages, unreasonable contracts, while workers are held ransom at the mercy of their employers, forbidden to leave until their “debt” is repaid.  There is no oversight into the living and working conditions in Qatar, or in Brazil by FIFA, the entity in charge.  FIFA must exert influence and enforce proper and non-exploitative practices in building infrastructure to hold the soccer matches.

  “The deaths of most migrant workers are attributed to cardiac arrest. […] It’s not normal… Dying at a young age is not a natural phenomenon” [3].

  References:

Herr, Josh. “World Cup 2014: A Guide for Americans.” The Fiscal Times. 6 June 2014. Web. 10 June 2014.

Goldstein, Sashs. “Sex workers in razil learn English as soccer fans invade for World Cup.” New York Daily News. 2 June 2014. Web. 10 June 2014.

Qatar’s World Cup | ESPN E:60. 11 June 2014. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11019010

World Day Against Child Labour. International Labour Organization. Web. 10 June 2014.

-Christian

[humanrightsinaction]

Argentina rescues girl kept for nine years in garage

"Police in Argentina say they have rescued a 15-year-old girl who had been starved, beaten and kept in a garage for nine years by her foster parents.

Her carers have been arrested and charged with slavery and abuse."

[humanrightsinaction]

How can we address the health needs of trafficked persons?

Based on the figure above, which is found in the Zimmerman et al., 2011 article that I referenced a lot in my last (super sad and heavy) post, it is important to focus on the knowledge that we already have when thinking about and planning for the future of health care for survivors of human trafficking.

Public health organizations tend to "reinvent the wheel" when it comes to performing multiple needs assessments or conducting preliminary surveys to really 'understand the needs of a community'.

In many ways, this mindset of starting anew every time an NGO wants to start a program within a certain community is incredibly wasteful if there is already sufficient data from that community.  Not only is it a waste of resources (that $$, y'all!), but manpower and valuable time that the community might not have to waste!

I therefore really like the above figure and sentiment presented by Zimmerman and her colleagues:

In order to strategize for the development of health care services that are tailored to the needs of trafficked persons, it is important to build upon the knowledge and programs that exist for other vulnerable and 'invisible' populations, such as:

migrant laborers

victims and survivors of torture or abuse (ex: domestic violence)

refugee populations and asylum seekers

Trafficked persons share a few key characteristics with the above populations, in general:

highly mobile -- oftentimes individuals are not kept in just one location, but are moved around in order to avoid detection

socially marginalized -- think of our opinions of sex workers who are not victims of trafficking

unauthorized legal status -- many victims have their legal documents taken from them to make them even more vulnerable and dependent upon the trafficking agents

and the most crucial one for this post:

difficulty accessing health care services

Specialized health interventions that have been developed for other hard-to-reach populations often use survivor-focused, victim-centered, and survivor-to-survivor methods for establishing rapport with individuals who are victims of abuse or whom have experienced trauma [2].

Additionally, holistic programs that focus on the wellbeing of the entire person -- physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, psychological, and economic wellbeing and stability -- are often promoted as the most effective and appropriate types of programs for vulnerable groups [2].

*****************************************************

The idea of building upon existing knowledge, programs, and tools is relevant to other fields besides public health and international development. I'm sure you can come up with many ideas where re-doing the same action over and over is wasteful and doesn't allow for much progress, either forward or backward.

So, this is my little bit of ramble for tonight's post. I really hope that it got the wheels turning in your mind about other ways to think about health care for trafficked persons, as well as other vulnerable groups.

Food for thought is always good :)

-- Sammy

1. Zimmerman, C., Hossain, M., & Watts, C. (2011). Human trafficking and health: a conceptual model to inform policy, intervention and research. Soc Sci Med, 73(2), 327-335.

2. Hom, K. A., & Woods, S. J. (2013). Trauma and its aftermath for commercially sexually exploited women as told by front-line service providers. Issues Ment Health Nurs, 34(2), 75-81.

[humanrightsinaction]

Nepal: A Human Trafficking HotSpot

As part of the Master's in Development Practice program, we are required to spend 10-12 weeks each summer working with an international organization in a field of our interest. I was instantly drawn to a practicum opportunity with MAITI Nepal, a small NGO in Nepal that works tirelessly to combat human trafficking within its region. Through my research on the organization, I learned that the issue of human trafficking in Nepal is a grave and rapidly growing concern. 

The Backdrop

Although the true statistics remain unknown, Nepal’s role as a destination for child sex tourism appears to be growing. The United States Department of State, in it’s Trafficking in Persons Report (2013), rated Nepal as Tier 2, placing the country on a “watch list” due to a high or significantly increasing number of victims and failure to provide sufficient evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons.[1] Within Nepal, young girls and women are trafficked mostly from the rural areas to urban tourist centers where they are sexually exploited. Reports estimate that approximately 7,500 children are trafficked domestically for commercial sexual exploitation.[2] Labor trafficking is also very common and victims are forced to work in sweatshops, and carpet and garment industries.

            Arguably one of the busiest slave trafficking routes in the world, hundreds of thousands of Nepali are trafficked to India. UNICEF estimates that 10,000-15,000 women and girls are trafficked to India annually and the numbers are steadily increasing.[3]  In addition to these startling figures, The Nepalese Youth Opportunity Foundation has estimated that 20,000 to 25,000 girls become involuntary domestic workers within Nepal and cross border.[4] India also acts as a transit center for Nepalese women trafficked to places such as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Russia and the United Arab Emirates for sexual exploitation and/or domestic servitude. The ease of transport between India and Nepal is primarily a result of the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship. This treaty, which was signed in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, allows for the free movement of people and goods between the two nations, as well as military cooperation.[5]    

Poverty is identified as one of the leading causes of trafficking in Nepal, as the country remains one of the poorest in the world. The overall poverty rate for Nepal is estimated at 25%, yet in rural areas, the real figure is closer to 45%. In 2013, Nepal placed 157th out of 187 countries listed on the Human Development Index.[6] Lack of employment opportunities, especially in rural areas, forces people to migrate to more urban centers to find work, ultimately increasing the risk of trafficking. In addition, due to the lack of criminalization of trafficking and its highly lucrative nature, trafficking is seen as an income generating opportunity—so much so that the selling of women and girls into sex trafficking is often done by family members. The lack of education, especially amongst girls; coupled with their illiteracy and shortage of employable skills, allows them to be easily persuaded by predators and by their own families to leave home and seek work. In addition, the rise of Nepal’s carpet industry, and consequently the rise in demand of cheap labor, has also been credited with increasing child and slave labor.

            Various social factors also contribute to the pervasiveness of flesh trafficking in Nepal. The country is largely considered to be a patriarchal society with institutionalized discrimination against women and girls. [7] Thus, attaining education and vocational training becomes even more difficult. Low birth registration in Nepal is also cited as a contributing factor to child trafficking, since traffickers are able to take these unrecorded children with relative ease, making tracking and finding them incredibly difficult. Furthermore, customary beliefs add to this issue. In Nepal, women of the Badi caste were traditionally entertainers who offered sexual services to local kings, religious leaders and landlords. A generational group of “untouchables”, the Badi women are known for the profession of prostitution and although many try to leave the sex trade, they are often forced back into it due to poverty, lack of proper education and access to public services and jobs.[8]

            Despite local and international efforts to combat trafficking in Nepal, failure to enforce legislation remains one of the biggest obstacles. Discrimination and corruption are rampant amongst the police and government officials and Nepal’s courts have no jurisdiction over brothels in India, in which many of the trafficked Nepali girls and women end up. The lack of transparency within this business further exacerbates the victimization of vulnerable women and girls.

MAITI Nepal

            Maiti was formed in 1993 by, “a group of socially committed professionals like teachers, journalists and social workers”.[9] These activists came together to create an organization with a special focus on combating various forms of female exploitation, including trafficking for forced prostitution, domestic violence and child labor. Maiti’s leading cause is the prevention and rehabilitation of trafficked girls.[10] Maiti runs a comprehensive program that goes beyond rescuing trafficked victims. The organization also seeks to ensure the victimizers are punished. To this end, Maiti provides legal support for cases of trafficking, domestic violence and rape. According to the organization’s website, Maiti’s Legal Aid section handles on average, over a thousand domestic violence cases and approximately 50 cases of trafficking and rape annually.[11] Maiti has 11 transit homes throughout Nepal that serve as interception centers where staff and police keep vigil on buses, trucks and other vehicles. These transit homes also serve as dissemination points for information on trafficking. Furthermore, Maiti runs 5 rehabilitation and reintegration centers where rescued victims are provided a safe home in addition to educational, health-related and vocational training services.[12]

           Maiti's efforts have been lauded internationally. In 2010, the founder and director of Maiti, Anuradha Koirala, won the CNN Hero of the Year award. In addition, Maiti has received a number of awards and grants for its courageous work. Maiti is making amazing strides in raising awareness and addressing the various causes and consequences of human trafficking in Nepal - but the scope and pervasiveness of this problem requires concerted effort and action from the Nepali people, the government and the international arena!

To find out more about Maiti and the work it does in Nepal, check out their website here!

http://www.maitinepal.org/

*Best, Winnette

[1] United States Department of State, 2013 Trafficking in Persons Report - Nepal, 19 June 2013, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/51c2f39e58.html [accessed 20 March 2014]

[2] Free For Life, Human Trafficking in Nepal, available at: http://www.freeforlifeintl.org/nepal/human-trafficking-in-nepal/ [accessed 20 March 2014

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] Nayak, Nihar. "India–Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty (1950): Does it Require Revision?." Strategic Analysis 34.4 (2010): 579-593.

[6] International Fund for Agricultural Development, Enabling poor rural people to overcome poverty in Nepal, July 2013, available at: http://www.ifad.org/operations/projects/regions/pi/factsheets/nepal.pdf [accessed 21 March 2014]

[7] Stallard, Roisin, Child Trafficking in Nepal: Causes and Consequences, October 2013, available at: https://www.childreach.org.uk/sites/default/files/imce/Child%20Trafficking%20Nepal-Causes%20and%20Consequences.pdf [accessed 21 March 2014]

[8] Waldman, Amy, Caste System Binds Nepalese Prostitutes, 11 April 2004, available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/11/international/asia/11MUDA.html [accessed 23 March 2014]

[9] Maiti Nepal, Introduction of Maiti Nepal, available at: http://www.maitinepal.org/index.php?content=contentpage&id=9&pagename=Introduction [accessed 20 March 2014]

[10] Id.

[11] Id.

[12] Id.

[humanrightsinaction]

Advocacy from the private sector

Good morning! So this morning between projects and procrastinating, I was scrolling through my Twitter feed (shhh, is that a taboo word on here?) and I came across Virgin Mobile founder, entrepreneur, and billionaire, Richard Branson's tweet and is as follows: 

Naturally I click on it and I was pleasantly surprised and refreshed that he has publicly proclaimed such business practices for his own company.  He cites anti-modern slavery legislation geared specifically towards supply chains that is working its way through Parliament [1].

Branson goes on to mention http://www.walkfree.org/ , another great resource in learning about trafficking, as well as options for advocacy: signing petitions for specific abuses in country and getting involved with local organizations if you scroll down on their home webpage [2].

While I don't know much else of Branson's other dealings or character or whatnot, I can really support him using his influential platform and hope that will inspire others in the private sector to follow suit.

-Christian

References: 

1. http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/let%E2%80%99s-end-modern-slavery

2. http://www.walkfree.org/

[humanrightsinaction]

Prevention.

On a most basic level, public health professionals are working to prevent illness and negative health outcomes BEFORE they happen. Of course, the public health cares about people at all stages of life. In my opinion, prevention is the primary goal of individuals working in public health. In 1992 the Centers for Disease Control officially was renamed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, citing the responsibility of the agency for “addressing illness and disability before they occur.” [1]

Throughout this blog we have discussed numerous different aspects of the complex issue that is human trafficking, and I’d like to highlight a few efforts taking place that are working to prevent trafficking, to prevent the continued trafficking and to prevent the exploitation of the victims of trafficking.

ECPAT-USA (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes)

  ECPAT-USA is the U.S. branch of a global network focused on child exploitation, including trafficking of children. EPCAT-USA has partnered with the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute to trainings to people in the hospitality industry to teach them about trafficking issues and raise awareness. The partnership facilitates “online and in-person trainings to educate hotel staff on the dangers of trafficking and signs it might be happening with their walls.” [2] The training includes information regarding scenarios such as, many of which address the ability of staff to recognize the signs of trafficking that often occur in plain sight:

a security guard spots encounters a young, disoriented person, and what the protocol would be and whom to notify.

a room booked under false pretenses to avoid attention, and is then used as a holding room for trafficking victims

a victim forced to stand in a lobby, dressed to blend in, and coerced by a variety of means to sell themselves for sex [3]

 For more information visit: http://www.ecpatusa.org/home.

Truckers Against Trafficking

Another organization, Truckers Against Trafficking, teaches truckers and those in the travel plaza industry to be the “eyes and ears of the nation’s highways.” They provide wallet cards to truckers and travel plaza staff (pictured below), among many other services and informational documents.

  For more information, visit: http://www.truckersagainsttrafficking.org/.  

Both of these groups are raising awareness among industries that might encounter trafficking during their workday. By providing these groups with the proper education, awareness and resources, anti-trafficking groups can intervene in trafficking rings and prevent further trafficking efforts.

Thank you so much for reading.

A 

References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Announcement of CDC Name Change. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. October 30, 1992 / 41(43);829-830. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00017962.htm.

2. National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth. "Bright Idea: Prevent Trafficking by Reaching out to Transportation and Hospitality Providers." March 3rd, 2014. Retrieved from: http://ncfy.acf.hhs.gov/news/2014/03/bright-idea-prevent-trafficking-reaching-out-transportation-and-hospitality-providers

3. American Hotel and Lodging Institute. Human Trafficking Awareness Training for Hotels and Lodging Facilities. May, 2013. Retrieved from: https://www.ahlei.org/Articles/Human-Trafficking-Awareness-Training-for-Hotels-and-Lodging-Facilities/?terms=trafficking

Photo Sources, in order:

(1) https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTc5Eyyhq2ZXr7h3-jEHi7ulwnlcFTATxe_Vy45e2T89_BJBMXL

(2)http://www.southdakotatrucking.com/Resources/Pictures/TruckersAgainstTraffickinglogo.jpg

(3)http://static.squarespace.com/static/52b07f32e4b007c7c22600c3/t/5314ec0ee4b06c7ef09e9280/1393880082297/TAT%20Wallet%20Card-US-final%20with%20trademark%20%20-%20page1.jpg?format=750w

(4)http://static.squarespace.com/static/52b07f32e4b007c7c22600c3/t/5314ec5ee4b08cb68819e2aa/1393880166479/TAT%20Wallet%20Card-US-final%20with%20trademark%20copy%20-%20page2-1.jpg?format=750w

[humanrightsinaction]

Bill to Fight Human Trafficking Introduced in Delaware

Comprehensive new legislation aimed at fighting the growing crisis of human trafficking has been introduced in the Delaware General Assembly.

Last week a "comprehensive new legislation aimed at fighting the growing crisis of human trafficking has been introduced in the Delaware General Assembly. The bill introduced [on April 10th, 2014] would enhance criminal penalties for those that engage in human trafficking and provide greater protections for victims of human trafficking [1]."

"Human trafficking is now the second fasted growing crime in the United States, behind only drug trafficking [1]" and this bill in Delaware, according to Delaware's Attorney General Beau Biden aims to tackle this issue by further penalizing traffickers and demanders of human trafficking while providing extra protection for victims and means for them to readjust to society [1].

Data from the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) supports the Attorney General's claims that human trafficking crimes are still growing by showing how in the past 5 years there has been a constant increase in the number of reported and suspected human trafficking cases [2]. According to NHTRC's report, between 2008 and 2012, the number of hotline calls received by Polaris Project increased by 259% [2]. The following infographic summarizes some of their findings.

Infographic from Polaris Project [2]

The following map shows how the suspected/reported human trafficking cases in the US is not limited to a certain region, but is occurring all over the country. 

Map Credit: Polaris Project [2]

Data seems discouraging... Is it ever going to be possible to stop human trafficking at all? Experts say that the actual numbers are most likely much higher since the data collected is only based on reported cases, which means that a lot more cases go unreported. 

However, I wanted to point out that it's not all bad! There is ongoing effort to fight against human trafficking in each and every state in the US - the case in Delaware being one of the most recent ones! Check out another infographic by Polaris Project that shows the 2013 state ratings on human trafficking laws. They rated all 50 states based on the number of new human trafficking laws passed. Last year, in 2013, every single state passed at least 2 significant laws to fight against human trafficking [3]. See where your state stands and advocate for human rights! 

Infographic credit: Polaris Project [3]

Photo Credit: State of Delaware Website [1]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reference:

1. State of Delaware. (2014). Bill to Fight Human Trafficking Introduced in Delaware.   Retrieved Apr 13, 2014, from http://news.delaware.gov/2014/04/10/bill-to-fight-human-trafficking-introduced-in-delaware/

2. Polaris Project. (2013). Human Trafficking Trends in the United States.   Retrieved Apr 13, 2014, from http://www.polarisproject.org/resources/hotline-statistics/human-trafficking-trends-in-the-united-states

3. Polaris Project. (2014). 2013 State Ratings on Human Trafficking Laws.   Retrieved Apr 14, 2014, from http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/policy-advocacy/national-policy/state-ratings-on-human-trafficking-laws

Yunmi

[humanrightsinaction]

Greed + Desperation = Exploitation

 When one first thinks of “trafficking” one usually thinks of the sexual exploitation of women or children.  And while that may be the most commonly thought of form of trafficking, it is not the only type.  Trafficking also encompasses child soldiers, as well as bonded labor. 

  During the course of this group research project, I knew about the first two (sex trafficking and child soldiers), but was not so aware of bonded labor and the extent of this problem.

  Oftentimes, entire families are recruited into bonded labor.

  Factoring into the previously cited statistics on trafficking, are multitudes of debt laborers enslaved to contractors or landlords that pay out lucrative sums and offer jobs in order to repay the debt.  Laborers are typically from poor backgrounds and are in dire straits to accept the financial arrangement presented to them.  The boom and development of India’s economy has burgeoned the demand on raw building materials, such as bricks.  The owners of the Indian kilns, or brick factories, capitalize on desperate families.  Work would begin early in the morning, about 5 am.  The men of the family would cart the mud into the proper area, while the women would prep the clay blocks with water.  Once dried, together they would cut and form the clay into the rectangular brick shapes.  Their children are tasked with turning the bricks in the hot sun and act as quality control.  When they were more dried under the stifling Indian sun, they would be stacked to fully dry and loaded onto a truck to be sold.  That is one day’s work.  The family must meet a daily quota set by the kiln owner.  The family is paid roughly $2 per week, not enough to get by to provide for necessities, and certainly not enough to chip away at the interest of the original loan.  The debt gets passed onto the next generation, or close relatives effectively are enslaved to the same contractors [1].  Generational indebtedness is also reinforced by the Indian caste system.  

The hands of an Indian brick kiln worker, wrapped in cloth for protection

Photography by Peter Pattisson/zReportage.com/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press [2]

1000 bricks = 80 cents

Photography by Peter Pattisson/zReportage.com/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press [2]

I wanted to just share the two photos above because pictures personally elicit much more emotion for myself than if I just read about something.  The grit, the rawness, the anguish are all captured much better than my words can ever describe.

Organizations such as International Justice Mission work to uncover situations of abuse, exploitation, and modern slavery.  In conjunction with governmental officials, IJM identified and moved to rescue some individuals trapped within the brick kilns.  The government granted official release from the kiln owners once conditions were discovered to be abusive and exploitative.  IJM has arranged for the rescued families in an aftercare program for two years to learn skills and trades to thrive, instead of being trapped in the kilns [1]. [http://www.ijm.org/]

  References:

Families Enslaved in Indian Brick Factory Were Exhausted, Malnourished When Rescued. Retrieved April 11, 2014 from http://www.ijm.org/news/families-enslaved-indian-brick-factory-were-exhausted-malnourished-when-rescued

Untouchables. Retrieved April 11, 2014 from http://www.zreportage.com/zReportage.html?num=zrep094

  -Christian

[humanrightsinaction]

"the body remembers"

Human trafficking victims and survivors experience a wide range of adverse health outcomes as a result of their trauma -- regardless of the type of trafficking that they were victims of.

This concept is pretty obvious, yeah? I originally thought so, too! But lately I've run into some articles and websites about health impacts that many trafficking victims face and I was so surprised at some of the health consequences that I hadn't before associated with human trafficking.

First, let's start with all human trafficking victims:

Mental health issues stemming from psychological trauma. [1]

Regardless of what type of trafficking a victim or survivor has experienced, psychological trauma is a common aspect of trafficking victims' reality.  Mental health consequences from trauma can manifest themselves in a variety of ways depending on the person and his or her personal experience and temperament, but some common health impacts are: depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Now, let's break this down by type of trafficking:

**Note: These lists of health effects are by no means exhaustive. Due to the "invisibility" of trafficking victims, their health needs often go unmet and it is difficult to conduct research that really figures out what adverse health effects these victims are experiencing.

Labor trafficking -- which usually involves living or working in unsafe, unsanitary, and crowded conditions with poor nutrition:

infectious diseases -- like tuberculosis, scabies, pneumonia, etc.

hearing and vision loss -- usually due to unsafe or unregulated exposure to harsh chemicals

chronic pain -- resulting from long hours and arduous work without the proper training or breaks, sick leave, etc.

untreated chronic conditions -- like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or respiratory illness [2]

Child trafficking -- for any reason:

dental problems -- due to irregular or no check-ups

malnourishment -- because kids need proper vitamins and nutrients to grow big and strong!    (and the most heartbreaking for me...)

social, moral, and developmental delays or issues [2]

Children that are trafficked often present these types of delays as a direct result of the psychological, physical, and/or sexual abuse they experience.

Quick personal response:

People always say "it takes a village to raise a child", but child trafficking victims are literally ripped from society and are placed in this alternate reality where they are not socialized as they should be.  They grow up without the everyday experiences that children should have and need in order to develop into thriving, successful members of society.

They are not given the same opportunities to grow and learn and experience life as I have been so privileged to do. And this thought truly breaks my heart.

...Okay, back to the task at hand...

Sex Trafficking -- in this case, focusing on female victims:

((in addition to the mental health issues mentioned earlier,)) dissociation, low self esteem and self-worth, shame, guilt, and other anxiety or eating disorders -- common among sex trafficking victims

broken bones, stabbings, physical wounds -- caused by beatings and physical abuse both from pimps or johns

substance abuse -- due to coercive or forced drug use by pimps to subdue the victim or induce her to work more hours (if a victim escapes this situation, however, she may continue to use drugs or alcohol to remain "numb" to the memories of her trauma)

sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV -- often go untreated or undiagnosed, which leads to further reproductive health complications

pregnancy and complications from abortion

somatic disorders -- like sleep disorders, nightmares, intrusive memories [3]

In the incredible qualitative study that mentioned all the above health effects of sex trafficking [3], the data went a step further. When discussing the effects of psychological trauma that the survivors experienced, one health care provider that works with survivors of sex trafficking mentioned that no matter what the survivor does to forget her experience, "the body remembers".

Take a second and let that sink in:

"the body remembers"

No matter how a woman might cope with her traumatic past, whether through alcohol or drug use or avoiding situations that might "trigger" memories of her trauma, her body will never be able to forget what she went through.

-----------------------------------------------

One of my favorite parts about our Health & Human Rights class is that, at the end of a lecture when we've talked about something incredibly heavy and upsetting and (to be honest) terrible, our professor always reminds us to "check in" with ourselves before we go about the rest of our day. Her reminder always resonates with me because, as a human being with feelings, I have found that I carry information like this around with me. I'm not always conscious of it's heaviness, but after our class lectures and as I develop this project with my (AWESOME) group members, the weight of this information is palpable.

So I would recommend for you to do the same kind of thing. Check in with yourself after you've read something horrible and heartbreaking (like this post - I promise my next one will be lighter!!) but also really let the information resonate with you.

I think my group members have done a wonderful job providing information about how you can advocate for human trafficking victims and really take it upon yourself to make a difference.

Together, we really can change the world! One signature on a petition or one email to a company at a time!

I truly believe that and I hope you do, too!

Again, my deepest apologies for the heaviness (and length! ah!) of this post. I promise my next one won't be so debbie-downer <3

Buenas noches,

Sammy

1. Zimmerman, C., Hossain, M., & Watts, C. (2011). Human trafficking and health: a conceptual model to inform policy, intervention and research. Soc Sci Med, 73(2), 327-335.

2. American Public Health Association. (2008). Health Care and Human Trafficking. Accessed April 7, 2014 from http://www.apha.org/membergroups/newsletters/sectionnewsletters/comm/spring08/Human+Trafficking.htm

3. Hom, K. A., & Woods, S. J. (2013). Trauma and its aftermath for commercially sexually exploited women as told by front-line service providers. Issues Ment Health Nurs, 34(2), 75-81.

[humanrightsinaction]

Happy Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day!

-The Human Rights in Action crew :)

[humanrightsinaction]

Some Important Numbers...

Some Important Numbers...

34

The estimated number of girls that are sex trafficked in Nepal PER DAY.

15

The average age of girls sex trafficked in Nepal.

40

Average number of clients these girls are forced to see PER DAY.

1

Number of days after initial arrival to brothel within which girls are expected to initiate sex with their first client

$2,000

Amount paid by pimp or madam for one trafficked Nepalese girl.

$2,000

Fee trafficked girl is obligated to repay to pimp or madam for her forced purchase.

If you thought those numbers were shocking, imagine being unknowingly sold by your OWN FAMILY into modern-day slavery. 

The situation in Nepal is dire for young girls and women.  Although reports vary, between 7,000 and 15,000 girls are sold EVERY YEAR into the sex trafficking trade.   An estimated 200,000 Nepalese women and girls are currently “working” in Indian brothels.  The Nepal-Indian border is one of the longest open borders in the world, spanning over 1,000 miles, making it relatively easy for a trafficker to cross countries with their illegal merchandise.  Although sex trafficking has been in the limelight recently, women and girls are being trafficked for various types of labor including domestic servitude, and other forms of forced labor.   These women need help, and mere legislation isn’t enough.  The number of anti-trafficking laws in Nepal is copious. However, it is the actual implementation of those laws that has failed.  There are a number of organizations in Nepal working to aid these girls and young women, but you too can help!

RAISE AWARENESS!  EDUCATE YOURSELVES!

For more information the situation and on how you can help, please visit…

MAITI NEPAL

http://www.maitinepal.org/

TINY HANDS INTERNATIONAL

http://www.tinyhandsinternational.org/

FREE FOR LIFE INTERNATIONAL, with tips on how to start your own chapter

http://www.freeforlifeintl.org/nepal/

…EVEN BUDDHIST NUNS ARE HELPING!!

DHAMMA MOLI

http://www.dhammamoli.org/

And lastly, if you have 12 minutes to spare…

http://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=_Q1MCNTVV4o&u=/watch?v=Fdo6NVqHA0w&feature=share

-Christina

[humanrightsinaction]

53 Slaves Work for Me.

Human trafficking is much more than the trade and force of sex. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and there are more slaves today then ever before in history. The human trafficking of people to work in labor is much more common then we realize, it occurs in the U.S. and around the world.

So how many slaves work for you? Well you can find out. There is a GREAT website called My Footprint that you can take an interactive survey and they will estimate how many slaves are likely used to labor the products and lifestyle you have. Check out this website at http://slaveryfootprint.org/ and take the survey to find out how many slaves are likely used to create your lifestyle. The results are an estimate based on what is known about human trafficking and forced labor; geographic locations that products are made and the prevalence of forced labor workers. Furthermore, this website will send an email to companies that you likely use, based on your responses, advocating about human trafficking. I sent this email to 30 companies.

An example of the email is listed below:

Dear [Company],

As a supporter of your business, I wanted to let you know I've recently become aware of an issue that affects us both: modern-day slavery. There are over 27 million people enslaved today, many of whom make the things we use and buy. This issue is quickly becoming a priority for millions of consumers world wide.

I'd like to know how much your company has investigated and mitigated the potential exposure to forced labor in your supply management systems.

Do you have a robust code of conduct that is current with recent forced labor data and prevention recommendations? Are your suppliers, both direct and indirect, aware of your value for human rights and freedom? How are you making sure your suppliers are living up to your expectations regarding forced labor?

I'm certain we share the same values of freedom and I know it’s challenging to address this complex issue.

My request is simple. Let me know that this is a priority for your business. Go to www.madeinafreeworld.com/business and sign up to learn more.

Sincerely,

[Your name will be here]

Another GREAT website is Free2Work: http://www.free2work.org/. This website gives grade ratings to companies based on the following areas:

Supply Chain

Policies

Transparency & Traceability

Monitoring & Training

Worker Rights

Risk Analysis

This is based on a 61-question survey given to companies. You can look at companies from apparel, to food, to wellness, to toys, and much, much more. The grades are given from A+ to F and they give detailed information on the areas that they were graded.

So what can you do? What can I do? We can be informed about labor trafficking. We can understand that we are apart of the problem. We are, to an extent we purchase the products that forced labor is a part of. BUT we are apart of the SOLUTION. We can sign petitions, we can email companies, we can check company ratings, we can be aware and informed, and we can spread the word.

-Spread the word.

Marissa

Sources:

http://slaveryfootprint.org/

http://www.free2work.org/