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Human Trafficking - The Problem - Coggle Diagram
Human Trafficking - The Problem
What is Human Trafficking?
It is the recruitment, transportation or transfer of people
It is known as 'human trafficking' because it is done through threat, use force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power, or giving payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim
Why is it done? It usually includes exploiting the prostitution of others, sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery or similar practices and the removal of organs - making it a $150 billion business.
The Breakdown of the Industry
The following is a breakdown of the $150 billion earn in profits, by sector:
$99 billion from commercial sexual exploitation
$34 billion in construction, manufacturing, mining and utilities
$9 billion in agriculture, including forestry and fishing
$8 billion dollars is saved annually by private households that employ domestic workers under conditions of forced labor
This is done through the over 25 million victims of human trafficking around the world.
The Businesses Involved
According to Polaris (the nonprofit organization that runs the national human trafficking hotline in the United States), examples for private sector involvement in human trafficking are abundant:
traffickers use banks to deposit and launder their earnings; they use planes, buses and taxi services to transport their victims;
they book hotel rooms integral also to sex trafficking; and, they are active users of social media platforms to recruit and advertise the services of their victims.
How does it happen and what is being done?
The Banking Sector
Traffickers often help trafficked individuals open bank accounts and/or apply for credit cards. They use banks and money remittance services to funnel money—often large amounts of cash.
To limit their interactions with traditional financial institutions, traffickers often revert to a growing use of virtual currencies like bitcoin.
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Financial institutions such as U.S. Bank are taking action. For example, they had learned that traffickers often move victims into localities of mega sport events to take advantage of the influx of partying visitors (including the American football Super Bowl). So when the 2018 Super Bowl took place at the U.S. Bank Stadium, the bank put their financial intelligence and anti-money laundering capabilities to work to “help law enforcement tackle the sex trafficking surge” according to the ABA Banking Journal.
Hotels
They choose locations based on convenience, buyer comfort, price and hotel policies.
An important decision making point for traffickers often is whether the establishment is likely to be collaborating with potential law enforcement. Hence, hotel chain franchises often are traffickers’ preferred choice as they offer a sense of anonymity and safety.
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Marriott International, which globally rolled out human trafficking awareness training for more than 500,000 employees since 2017. Efforts by the hotel chain are also underway to educate hotel customers to help identify and report suspicious human trafficking activities.
Helping the Trafficked People
The trafficked individuals experience high levels of trauma, often lacking self-confidence and having very limited access to resources, survivors can easily end up back in situations of exploitation if they cannot turn to a strong support system.
United Nations Hope for Justice Initiative in partnership with leading banks from Austria, Canada, Great Britain and the United States, offers survivors of human trafficking accounts and debit cards—financial service products that can provide survivors with a life line.
Delta Air Lines’ SkyWish Program is an example of how a company leverages its resources to help break cycles of abuse and ensure survivors have access to flight tickets and a way out.