Majority of University of Maryland Students are Unaware of Human Trafficking in Maryland.

The United States alone accounts for approximately 17,500 victims of trafficking (Gozdziak & Collet, 2005). Not only is it vital to understand that anyone could become a victim of Human Trafficking, but also the fact that it is prevalent in the United States, specifically Maryland. Many believe that human trafficking only occurs in places such as Europe because of Hollywood films like Taken. 

I conducted a survey with participants from the University of Maryland and the survey reveals that students believe human trafficking in Maryland isn't prevalent but that it is prevalent in countries like Italy, France, and Russia. 

Prevalence of Human Trafficking in Maryland Increases Greatly.

It is happening in our own backyards, yet too many people are unaware. The law is being broken, yet no one seems to realize. Human Trafficking is an extremely serious crime, yet there are too many people who do not even know what it is. Human trafficking can be defined as the recruitment or transfer of people by force, abduction or deception.

These individuals are used for the purpose of exploitation (Belser, 2005). It involves the sale of someone to go work in a factory without pay (Belser, 2005). It also includes other forms of forced labor, sexual slavery, and the removal of organs for other uses (Laczko, 2002)

Every one should be concerned with human trafficking because women and children aren't the only ones affected.

While it is true that most victims of human trafficking are young women and children, there are many other groups of people still currently suffering.  It was found that approximately thirty-five percent of those currently being trafficked are male (Feingold, 2005). The reason for this is thought to be that young men are most useful to complete physical labor tasks. As a result, women are sold for sexual uses while men are sold to help in factories (Feingold, 2005). It is clear that women should not be the only people educated about Human Trafficking and its detrimental consequences.

(Flickr Creative Commons)

Short-term consequences for victims of human trafficking include suicidal thoughts and behaviors, drug and alcohol abuse. 

There are a multitude of short-term consequences that occur due to the existence of human trafficking in the United States. A majority of those involved report broken bones, gastrointestinal problems such as digestion issues, and dermatological issues such as severe skin rashes (Zimmerman et al., 2003). It was found that most women who are sex workers reported having between ten to twenty-five clients per night, unprotected. 

As a result, many have experienced complications due to having abortions (Zimmerman et al., 2003).  Mentally, six out of nine of those interviewed had suicidal thoughts and behaviors (Zimmerman et al., 2003).

Not only is mental and physical health severely damaged due to human trafficking, but social wellbeing is negatively impacted as well. A majority of trafficking victims who have been reintegrated into normal daily life have reported having little to no contact with anyone but their kidnapper. Most are confined to small spaces where they only eat, sleep and work (Zimmerman et al., 2003).

It was also found that drastic changes in behavior were seen due to being trafficked. Women especially reported drug and alcohol use to cope with their living and work situations as trafficked individuals (Zimmerman et al., 2003). They stated they never used drugs or abused alcohol before being kidnapped and sold for work (Zimmerman et al., 2003).

A University of Maryland Research Assistant and PHD Student in the Criminal Justice Department says his research on human trafficking reveals that countries could eliminate human trafficking entirely.

Boe Jeing, Human Trafficking Expert

Long-term Consequences for victims of human trafficking include sickness and the inability to return back into normal life.

Unfortunately, not everyone can be recovered from human trafficking. As a result, not all individuals are fortunate enough to be rescued and reintegrated back into normal life. For the most part, those that kidnap individuals for the purpose of exploitation are doing so to make a profit. 

As a result, a majority of these people will not allow their victims to return back to daily life (Zimmerman et al., 2003). If they become useless in the factories, they are sold to other jobs such as maids in homes or sex slaves to pimps (Zimmerman et al., 2003).

Sometimes the health complications that would be considered short-term in every day life becomes more detrimental due the environment that the victims are living in. For example, the living conditions are so terrible for the victims of human trafficking, that small sicknesses such as a high fever have a much larger effect on their immune system as opposed to someone who is not being trafficked (Zimmerman et al., 2003).

Increased awareness and new government legislation programs are being established in order to stop human trafficking.

The United States Government is currently taking steps to demolish Human Trafficking in America. More research is being compiled to understand the true severity of the situation. Some initiatives that have been taken include the enactment and amendment of legislation, police training programs, the intensification of legal proceedings against those found guilty of trafficking, and the establishment of investigation units to find and help victims of this vicious crime (Brukert & Colette, 2002). 

Continued awareness is essential to ensure that the citizens of Maryland are aware of these crimes and can stay safe. The government also needs to continue their research to further improve the obtained statistics about human trafficking, where it occurs, and its severity (Aronowitz, 2009).

Works Referenced (APA)

Aronowitz, A. A. (2009). Human trafficking, human misery: The global trade in human beings. Greenwood Publishing Group.

Belser, P. (2005). Forced labour and human trafficking: Estimating the profits. Available at SSRN 1838403.

Bruckert, C., & Parent, C. (2002). Trafficking in human beings and organized crime: A literature review. Research and Evaluation Branch, Community, Contract and Aboriginal Policing Services Directorate, Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Feingold, D. A. (2005). Human trafficking. Foreign Policy, 26-32.

Gozdziak, E. M., & Collett, E. A. (2005). Research on human trafficking in North America: A review of literature. International Migration, 43(1-2), 99-128.

Zimmerman, C., Yun, K., Shvab, I., Watts, C., & Trappolin, L. (2003). The health risks and consequences of trafficking in women and adolescents: findings from a European study. Including: human rights analysis of health and trafficking and principles for promoting the health rights of trafficked women.