Slavery in the 21st Century Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Slavery in the 21st Century - Research Paper Example In 1999, approximately 50,000 children and women were trafficked in the United States each year for the purpose of slavery (O’Neill-Richard, 1999). The International Labour Organization further identifies that approximately 12.3 million men, women and children are forced into slavery, taken captive by individuals with affiliations among organized crime groups (Ramonet, 2011). The Human Rights Watch makes estimates that approximately 120,000 children have been enslaved in Africa for the pursuit of militant action in countries such as Rwanda, the Republic of Congo, and Liberia (Fitzgibbon, 2003). The scope of the problem of human slavery in modern society is significant and difficult to control and evidence suggests that there should be more governmental intervention and global legislation created to combat this lingering problem. Examination of Slavery Variety The method by which individuals are forced into slavery vary depending on the desired outcome by those who abduct or tr affic the victims. Many who are forced into slavery conditions are misled by clever traffickers who promise victims legalization in a foreign country or the guarantee of a high-paying job if they are willing to migrate to another country. Donna Hughes, an educator in the study of women at the University of Rhode Island, identifies that many who are forced into slavery are recruited in nations where job skill training is low and economic conditions poor. Informed that they will receive a quality job by travelling to another nation, they are willing to comply with conscious acknowledgement of their poor job skills aptitudes (Univ. of Rhode Island, 2002). Upon arrival, usually in a different nation than where they were informed the job awaited, factions confiscate their travel visas and inform them that they will be engaging in prostitution with the threat of beatings or complete revocation of their various immigrant papers (Univ. of Rhode Island, 2002). Many of these individuals are p hysically locked in a brothel and refused exit, thus being forced to comply with the demands of their aggressors. In developing nations, individuals are sold by their parents for moderate cash reimbursement or are abducted to serve as laborers for factions that condone human slavery. Common activities include intensive and harsh labor in diamond mines or agricultural systems that fuel local civil war efforts in certain African countries or being forced to work as domestic servants for various crime ring Lords (Bales, 2004; Fitzgibbon, 2003). Some of these abducted or sold individuals are forced to work in prostitution rings or as street beggars to fund certain war activities. However, these developing nations have much more lenient and tolerating political actors that do not intervene in favor of the youths since they are segregated from adherence to international laws provided by the United Nations. In some nations, the political leadership is corrupt and maintains strong connectio ns with these trafficking rings, which complicates the process of securing human rights and ensuring an end to slavery in these nations. Some African youths are sold for meager totals of below