Introduction
One of the most crucial concerns of modern society today is the problem of human trafficking. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, it has become the most acute and serious social threat to the United States. Slavery, by virtue of its high profitability, is quite widespread in the criminal business. The United Nations estimates that slave trafficking generates $600 million in profits worldwide each year (Hodal, 2019, para. 4). Therefore, it is essential to establish the scale of the current situation of the slave trade.
Statement of the Problem
It is significant to emphasize that slavery in the modern era is different in scale and is officially prohibited. Instead, in the first half of the nineteenth century, the plantation slave economy of the South was also developing vigorously. Accordingly, enslaved people were engaged to work on sugar cane, tobacco, and cotton plantations. According to Wood (2021), “27 million people were sold and bought in the 19th century” (00:17:14). Thus, people were utilized as a commodity for the use of their labor and often in poor conditions that put their lives at risk. Thus, the question of the abolition of slavery and respect for human rights and freedoms arose later (Wood, 2021). However, even though the slave trade has been officially banned at the international and national levels, this problem is still relevant.
Evidence and Arguments
Human trafficking is a current condition of slavery, a human rights violation that is a crime against both the individual and the state. More than 40 million individuals in the world are victims of contemporary slavery, and 70% of them are women (Hodal, 2019, para. 3). In fact, humanity had progressed little since the days when humans were transported from Africa to the Americas in the holds of ships to work on plantations. However, fortunately, states and the international community have now criminalized the slave trade. However, it successfully thrives underground, and in terms of revenues, this market is second only to the arms and drug trade (Hodal, 2019). In general, there are several powerful areas of the slave trade in the world. This is labor exploitation when the owner of enslaved people makes enormous profits from free physical labor. Sexual exploitation is the sale of women and girls to brothels, from which procurers profit (Hodal, 2019). Furthermore, child slavery is manifested in the physical and sexual exploitation of children and in their use in begging.
Moreover, human trafficking is gradually becoming more extensive. Hodal (2019) states that globally, more than half of the 40.3 million victims are in forced labor, and another 15 million people live in forced marriages. Generally, currently, the illegal labor of individuals is limited to cleaning houses, building infrastructure, or mining valuable metals. The author also mentions that the reasons for prostitution are different, such as the desire to get more money, but as a result, many women are engaged in unpaid prostitution without the possibility of escaping (Hodal, 2019). It is estimated that another 4.8 million people working in forced labor are sexually exploited (Hodal, 2019, para. 7). Thus, as in the past, people, usually from poor regions or countries, are trafficked into slavery. At present, this occurs through the slave trade, which, as several centuries ago, violates the honor and dignity of individuals.
Counterargument
It is essential to note that the United States is devoting a considerable amount of effort not only to end slavery eventually but also to prove that the official policy of the government is to express sincere remorse. For example, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited the house where tens of millions of Africans were held at various times (Hussein, 2023). Additionally, the U.S. government is working hard to establish fair and equitable trade and economic relations with Africa. Hence, the policies and intentions of today’s Americans are distinct from those of the 18th and 19th centuries (Hussein, 2023). Furthermore, in order to highlight human trafficking, the U.S. government is investigating schemes for obtaining illegal funds from it and is constantly increasing the level of punishment for human trafficking.
Nevertheless, despite the fact that human trafficking is considered a significant crime not only in the United States but also around the world, it still exists. Even the struggle conducted by the U.S. Treasury Committee suggests that inspections of the banking sector in attempts to launder money through the slave trade are indicators of the existence of the problem (Hussein, 2023). Therefore, slavery is a primary problem that the United States and the international community must address together.
Conclusion
In summary, the problem of slave trafficking has a long history, but due to the cruel treatment of slaves and the illegal use of their labor, it has gradually decreased. Moreover, this phenomenon has not completely disappeared but has transformed and adapted to new conditions in the modern world. Hence, a large number of people in poor living conditions are still subject to trade agreements and end up in slavery. It is also worth noting that the international community is actively working to reduce such cases and overcome the problem of human trafficking as a whole.
References
Hodal, K. (2019). One in 200 people is a slave. Why? The Guardian. Web.
Hussein, F. (2023). Door of no return: Yellen visits onetime slave-trading post. The Washington Post. Web.
Wood, A. T. (Executive Producer). (2021). Rise of the slave trade. [Audio podcast]. SoundCloud. Web.