Blogpost 2: Impact of Human Trafficking to Victims

For years, human trafficking has been an issue. Because of its silent operation, people and the media seem to overlook it and this crime is barely noticed at all. Nowadays, news is all about drugs, murder, theft, or robbery. We are so concerned about how the victims of these crimes are doing but what about human trafficking? We might have a brief idea of how they feel (e.g being traumatized for life and the like) but are those ideas enough to give them justice about how they feel? Let me discuss how this crime, Human Trafficking, affects its victims in many different ways.

According to Thema Bryant-Davis, there are three primary effects of human trafficking to the victims. They are:

Psychological Effects:

Human Traffickers tend to choose young victims and mostly female because at this age, they are very weak and easy to be forced to do something. Victims develop less self-esteem, emotional disturbance, disorientation, and depression. The memories they had during the period of being slaved will leave that scar in their lives for a long time, and maybe forever, even though they have been rescued already. Victims are more likely withdrawn and suicidal and they might not be able to enjoy life.

Health Effects:

Human Trafficking is known for sexual slavery. Victims have high chances of acquiring HIV/AIDS and they will be passing it to their future partners because sexual contraception aren't really a thing in this crime. Victims also acquire occupational diseases due to the environment they're working at. Victims aren't given medical treatments because they'll be replaced with a new batch of victims anyway.

Societal Effects:

Victims are transported into different places in their country or different country. After arriving to a place, their passports and documents will be taken away from them leaving them helpless and immobile. They are actually deemed crime collaborators instead of victims that's why victims are treated badly. They have substandard food and clothing. They also live in a very unhygienic environment.

 

From the article: Human trafficking has wide-reaching social impact by Erin Weaver, he says that Human Trafficking leaves victim a very bad life disturbance. Their mental and physical health are at risk and they always isolate themselves from other people in the society.

"Human trafficking deprives people of their human rights and freedoms, it is a global health risk, and it fuels the growth of organized crime. But the impact of human trafficking goes beyond individual victims; it undermines the safety and security of all nations it touches.

It has a devastating impact on individual victims, who often suffer physical and emotional abuse, rape, threats against self and family, passport theft, and even death. The impact of Human Trafficking on victims can take many forms, all of which can be devastating to the victims."

Another article is Psychological and Physical Effects Of Sex Trafficking On Its Victims by Tara Grimes. It is a story about certain victims being kidnapped to be enslaved and that changed their lives forever. As I said, we have brief ideas about how would a victim feel but we can't really say it as it is because there's a lot more beyond what we know. That idea we have in mind is just the basics.

"Women in the sex industry sustain the same kinds of injuries as women who are battered, raped, and sexually assaulted.  The difference is that when women are subjected to these same injuries in the context of prostitution, the violence is ignored, or redefined as sex. “Rough sex,” sadism, and rape are often accepted as “job liabilities” or “occupational hazards.”"

To conclude everything, victims of human trafficking acquire a very large mental and physical damage. The damage will unfortunately stay in the victim's mind for a very long time or maybe forever. Meeting victims is not a common thing but if we happen to do so, we should try our best to comfort them and empathize to their situation. The effects of the crime to them is not a joke and not a matter to laugh at so people,
let's encourage them and give them hope for them
 to change and eventually, be able to fit in the society.