Human Trafficking: What Is the Long Term Solution?

Written by Victoria Rivas, Enrou Contributing Writer

What is human trafficking?

It is important to first define human trafficking. The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children defines human trafficking as:

“‘Trafficking in persons’ shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving of receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.” — Article 3(a)

Sudara works with women and employs and trains them to create beautiful clothing.

According to a recent 2011 study, the UN estimates that:

• 53% of victims of human trafficking are sexually exploited,
• 40% are exploited for forced labor,
• .3% for organ removal,
• and 7% for other reasons.

It was also found that 79% of females are sexually exploited and 83% of males are exploited for forced labor.

Creators with our impact partner, the Anchal Project in India.

Who is vulnerable?

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2014, while more than 90% of countries have adopted legislation to combat human trafficking in accordance with the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, a remaining ⅓ of the worlds population- over 2 billion individuals- are unprotected by their governments against human trafficking.

It is important to note that young women are incredibly vulnerable, as they often drop out of school to find employment opportunities to support their families. With an overflowing workforce, young girls become vulnerable and can become trapped in an ongoing struggle to support their families. Trafficking is also more common in areas of conflict, as conflict drives economic crisis, as well as an increased number of displaced people and refugees.

LandMine Design works with women in Cambodia to create beautiful necklaces like the one on this creator here.

What is being done internationally to combat human trafficking?

Founder Jessica of The Brave Collection looking at one of their beautiful necklaces with one of the creators.

How do I fit into this picture?

However, there is so much more that can be done locally to combat human trafficking! It is crucial to recognize that liberating an individual from a situation of human trafficking is not the true solution to combating human trafficking.

We must recognize that making changes to the social, economic, and political forces that draw individuals into human trafficking is the long-term solution we should all be hoping for. In the short-term, it is crucial to provide fair economic opportunities for children and young women so that they can support their families.

We work with five social enterprise small businesses that tackle human trafficking — in both the short-term and long-term. One of our impact partners rHope works to empower impoverished women by employing and training them to create stylish products & to participate in trade. They work to build sustainable livelihoods for artisan families. rHope, like all of our impact partners, also empowers consumers by giving them a choice to buy products that support artisans and Fair Trade Practices. These purchases sustain income, education and healthcare resources for the women rHope works with, and their families & communities.

Gramshee — one of the creators with rHope in India

We each have the power to make decisions in our every day that have lasting effects. Purchasing products from brands pictured in this post that provide individual empowerment is an opportunity for you to directly benefit the lives of people across the globe.

Need help?

The National Human Trafficking Resource Center has a 24-hour hotline where you can post tips and request services. It can be reached at: (888) 373–7888.

Shop the beautiful products that fight human trafficking from these incredible organizations here!