Combat Sex Trafficking Research Articles

Current Trends in Human Trafficking and the Effectiveness of Law Enforcement Strategies in Combating Sex Trafficking in Thailand

This paper examines the current state of sex trafficking in Thailand, focusing on recent trends, law enforcement strategies, and challenges faced in combating this pervasive issue. Thailand has established a comprehensive legal framework to address human trafficking, including significant legislation and international commitments. Law enforcement employs a range of strategies, including surveillance, undercover operations, and inter-agency collaboration, to dismantle trafficking networks and support victims. However, challenges such as corruption, resource limitations, and the complexity of trafficking networks hinder these efforts. The paper also provides recommendations for improving law enforcement capabilities, victim support, legal frameworks, international cooperation, and the use of technology to enhance anti-trafficking measures. By addressing these areas, Thailand can strengthen its fight against sex trafficking and provide better protection for vulnerable individuals.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: The Legal Response to Sex Trafficking

ABSTRACT In 2012, voters in California overwhelmingly supported the Californians Against Sexual Exploitation Act (CASE Act) which was designed to both fight human trafficking and protect the victims. Part of the protection for victims included the adoption of a safe harbor provision which prohibits evidence that victims committed a crime while being trafficked from being used against them in court. This study conducted a systematic survey of California appellate court decisions discussing the safe harbor provision. Relevant themes were identified and analyzed, including issues that victims face when seeking safe harbor protection and legal challenges raised by traffickers facing prosecution. Based on the results of this survey, safe harbor provisions continue to be a promising approach for protecting victims of sex trafficking that policymakers should continue to explore. Safe harbor provisions, however, have noteworthy limitations and highlight the importance of not relying so heavily on criminal prosecution to combat sex trafficking. Instead, jurisdictions are recommended to adopt comprehensive strategies that place more emphasis on prevention and protection.

The Use of EMOJIS in Online Human Sex Trafficking Ads

Technology has dramatically changed the way criminals conduct their illicit activities. Specifically, the Internet has become a major facilitator of online human sex trafficking. Traffickers are using these technologies to market their victims which presents new challenges for efforts to combat sex trafficking. This study used knowledge management principles and natural language processing methods to develop an improved ontology of online sex trafficking ads. The language of these ads is constantly evolving; therefore, this study explored the role of a new type of indicator, emojis, to the ontology of human trafficking indicators.

Examining Feminist Perspective In Abolishing Sex Trafficking Case Study: Sex Trafficking In Thailand

Debate between feminist perspectives has become contested both in academic sphere and policy implementation in addressing sex trafficking. Human rights aspects remain critical either to liberate or to abolish sex trafficking. Radical feminist perspective defends the argument to eliminate sex trafficking due to the existence of physical abuses and sexual harassment within the sex industry and the cycle of sex trafficking. Contrastingly, liberal feminist also making efforts in liberating the rights of women to seek a job to be sex workers due to women’s autonomy and rational choice as well as the influence of global capitalist system. Such debates, furthermore, cannot be distinguished from the influence of the rooted theories, for instance, postcolonial feminism which argue that sex trafficking is inevitable notably for the colonised countries since the women are triggered to seek for decent income through migrating to another country. In addition, poststructuralist feminism highlighted the crucial point of women’s autonomy and rights. This study argues that the attempts to abolish sex trafficking and prostitution remain relevant to date since women who work as sex workers should be acknowledged as the victims of sex trafficking. Taking sex trafficking and prostitution in Thailand as the case study has eventually found that social norms and corrupted officials have become major barriers in combating sex trafficking and prostitution until recently. The government strategies together with the regional efforts hereby the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) in combating the crime of sex trafficking have shown that challenges ahead remain exist.

Sex Trafficking and Technology: A Systematic Review of Recruitment and Exploitation

ABSTRACT With passage of Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Traffickers Act and Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (FOSTA-SESTA) in 2018, technology became inextricably linked to sex trafficking in the United States (U.S.) public policy arena. FOSTA-SESTA aimed to combat sex trafficking by legislating digital spaces; however, largely missing from legislative debate was the inclusion of prevalence data to inform this policy making. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize the existing empirical evidence on online-facilitated sex trafficking. Twenty-one articles were included in this systematic review, of which the vast majority focused on the U.S. and domestically trafficked youth. Findings indicate very few empirically documented cases of online-facilitated recruitment of victims for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Greater empirical evidence exists for trafficked persons advertised online for sexual exploitation; however, the person posting these advertisements (e.g., self, friend, trafficker) varies. Overall, the actual prevalence of online-facilitated trafficking remains unknown, suggesting the need for rigorous and large-scale representative studies. Opportunities for leveraging technology to support survivors and service organizations are discussed. In contrast to sweeping legislation that targets web platform providers, policy is needed that reduces structural risk factors to prevent exploitation and trafficking.

Combating Sex Trafficking: The Role of the Hotel—Moral and Ethical Questions

Legitimate companies are key facilitators of human trafficking. These corporate facilitators include not only websites providing advertisements for commercial sex services but also hotels and motels. Analysis of all active federal criminal sex trafficking cases in 2018 and 2019 reveals that in approximately 80% of these cases, victims were exploited at either hotels or motels. This paper studies the prevalence of the hospitality industry in the crime of sex trafficking and the failure of this industry to address this problem until recent civil suits were filed by victims against individual hotels and chains. Drawing on the civil cases filed in federal courts by victims of human trafficking between 2015 and 2021 along the East Coast of the United States, this paper assesses the characteristics of these hotels and the conditions in the hotels that facilitated sex trafficking. The paper then explores the moral and ethical problems posed by the facilitating role of hotel owners/operators in sex trafficking either through collusion or failure to act on and/or report evidence of individual abuse. Suggestions on how to address the problem are provided.

Where is the justice in EU anti-trafficking policy? Feminist reflections on European Union policy-making processes

In this article, we reflect on our personal experience of acting as ‘independent academic experts’ in an European Union (EU) policy forum, to reflect on how the EU utilises gender to legitimise certain policy discourses in combating sex trafficking. Starting from our personal experience, we draw on wider feminist research on gender expertise and on Fraser’s new reflexive theory of political injustice, to consider how the EU structures debates in this area to determine ‘who’ is entitled to speak and be heard on this issue. In a context in which sex trafficking policy intersects with a variety of competing agendas on – among other things – law and order, organised crime, immigration, asylum and border security policy, our argument will suggest that the exclusion of critical feminist voices and lack of alternative perspectives permits much scope for continuing inequality and injustice.

Global and Local Law Enforcement Challenges in Combating Sex Trafficking

The relationship between the legal status of prostitution and the degree of human trafficking that involves sexual exploitation is a significant debate, but little research accounts for variations in cultural beliefs and traditions, gender inequality, or the impact of the formation of a global society. A global criminal justice framework is examined at both global and local levels by examining the written law and the challenges for local law enforcement in their efforts to combat the global crime of sex trafficking. The analysis reveals how existing laws are often the result of overgenerali-zations and faulty assumptions, which led to ineffective or shortsighted laws. Furthermore, it highlights how the debate on the legality of exploitation overshadows the greater issues of poverty, substance abuse, gender inequalities, and des-peration, which arguably are the driving forces behind prostitution. At the local level of analysis, challenges for law enforcement include addressing the underlying factors that have led people to involvement in trafficking, the application of laws, enforcement of laws, corruption, the use of discretion, and public support. The findings reveal that at the global level, law enforcement officers encounter barriers to the investigation of trafficking and the associated offenses.

A Risk Analysis and Data Driven Approach to Combating Sex Trafficking

A Risk Analysis and Data Driven Approach to Combating Sex Trafficking

The Impact of Drug and Alcohol Consumption and Socio-demographic Variables on the Age of First Selling Sex among Iranian Female Sex Workers.

BackgroundA significant proportion of Female Sex Workers (FSWs) as a vulnerable population begin selling sex at an early age, which may lead the person to develop sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Thus, this study seeks to identify the factors which influence the age of first sex for sale among the Iranian FSWs.MethodsIn 2010, 872 FSWs from 21 centers in 12 Iranian provinces were selected through multistage sampling and were interviewed individually by a standard questionnaire. Survival analysis of interval censored data was used to investigate factors which influence the age of first selling sex. The collected data were analyzed using Weibull parametric model and the hazard ratio (HR) index was reported. The software employed in this study was R version 3.4.2 and icenReg package was used.FindingsThe mean age of first selling sex was 24.94 ± 7.34 years. About 22% of the participants started to sell sex before the age of 18. The risk of experiencing the first selling sex was 23% higher in those individuals who had experienced alcohol consumption (HR = 1.23) and 51% higher in those who had drug injections (HR = 1.51). Also, age, education, and marital status were significant variables.ConclusionIn order to cope with the issue of first selling sex at an early age, the following strategies are suggested: providing necessary trainings and building culture about the dangers of alcohol consumption and drug injections, poverty reduction, facilitating education and marriage for young females, and combating sex trafficking.

Failing victims? Challenges of the police response to human trafficking

Research SummaryThe police have a duty to provide assistance to crime victims. Despite the importance of this role, scholars examining police effectiveness have historically been less attentive to the needs of victims. As the police are increasingly called on to combat sex and labor trafficking crimes, it is timely to explore how this new population of victims is served by the police. Information from a review of human trafficking investigations and in‐depth interviews with police and service providers in three U.S. communities indicates that human trafficking victims often do not trust the police and rarely seek their assistance. When the police do respond, human trafficking victims seek affirmation of their experiences and safety from future harm.Policy ImplicationsRecommendations are offered to improve police responses to human trafficking victims including efforts to build trust, promote victim safety, and meet the needs of victims outside of the justice system.

In a State of Limbo: Women, Sex Industry and Anti-trafficking Interventions in Assam

This article attempts to understand anti-trafficking interventions in Assam with special reference to sex trafficking. It critically analyses ideologies determining the functioning of anti-trafficking networks and its impact on combating sex trafficking. Of specific concern is to understand the ways in which policies of rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration are implemented and whether such implementation places at its centre the standpoint of the marginalised, that is, women in commercial sex—trafficked or otherwise. This article is based on data collected from rescued trafficked women, current sex workers, state and non-state anti-trafficking personnel, observation at shelter homes and case studies. It argues that anti-trafficking networks in Assam work within the neo-abolitionist approach resulting in the patronisation and infantilisation of women in commercial sex. Despite its effectiveness in certain aspects, it more often than not leaves these women in a state of limbo.

The hunt for an elusive crime – an analysis of Swedish measures to combat sex trafficking

ABSTRACTSex trafficking has been described as an enormous, serious and growing problem that must be combatted, but also as a moral panic based on a very small number of cases. This article explores the measures that have been proposed to combat sex trafficking by politicians, the national police and the National Council for Crime Prevention in Sweden between 2007 and 2017. The analysis shows that sex trafficking is partly used by the actors to justify their own work. The measures that all three actors describe as central are crime victim support, co-operation, information, education and expanded legislation. The underlying problems associated with sex trafficking, according to the three actors, appear to be prostitution, drug use and foreign women crossing Swedish borders. Much of the responsibility for the provision of information and education is delegated from government agencies to a wide range of actors. This desire for comprehensive societal engagement stands in stark contrast to the small number of sex trafficking cases in Sweden. The measures to combat sex trafficking are thus largely characterized by the hunt for an elusive crime.

Local Look at Human Trafficking

We use expert opinion to determine linear equations that aid in determining how well a local area in the state of Nebraska, USA, is doing in combating sex trafficking. The mathematical model used here can be expanded to larger regions such as states or countries. Our results are in agreement with those of Shared Hope International. We also use outranking relations to determine experts’ preferences.

Human Trafficking: Source, Transit, Destination Designations

Although governments, international organizations, and civil society are devoting efforts to combat sex trafficking, there still exists a lack of accurate information. Consequently, we use linguistic terms to consider the amount of flow between regions. We use the terms such as very low, low, medium, high, and very high to describe the source, transit and destination designations of countries. We then determine source, transit and destination designations for regions by using a weighted average based on population of the countries in their respective region. Finally, we determine upper bounds in linguistic terms for the flow from and into a region.

Sex Trafficking Exceptions to Section 230

Congress has provided Internet companies with a powerful immunity from liability for third party content, codified at 47 USC 230 (Section 230). Congress is considering bills that would amend Section 230 to create additional exceptions for sex trafficking. While Congress should be commended for its efforts to combat sex trafficking, the bills are not the right solution. This essay, based on my testimony at a hearing of Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, explains why.

Is buying sex morally wrong? Comparing attitudes toward prostitution using individual-level data across eight Western European countries

States try to combat sex trafficking through both the criminalization of buying sex and by entirely legalizing or regulating the market for prostitution. Proponents of criminalization argue that this approach leads to less acceptance of prostitution, creating a smaller sex market, and reducing the inflow of trafficked victims. Few studies examine if prostitution laws are associated with attitudes toward prostitution. We assess attitudes in eight European countries, using newly collected survey data. This is one of few studies comparing attitudes across different prostitution regimes. Citizens in countries where the purchase of sex is criminalized are less tolerant toward the buying of sex compared to citizens living in countries where the purchase of sex is legalized. Also, people viewing gender equality as important are less accepting of the purchase in countries where buying sex is prohibited, but more accepting in countries where buying sex and running a brothel are legal.

Ethical perspectives on combating sex trafficking in Nepal

Ethical perspectives on combating sex trafficking in Nepal

Global Efforts against Human Trafficking: The Misguided Conflation of Sex, Labor, and Organ Trafficking

Human trafficking has been the subject of growing attention from both scholars and policymakers. The internationally accepted definition of human trafficking, used by governments and international organizations, identifies three purposes of trading in persons: sexual exploitation, labor exploitation, and the removal of organs. I argue that conflating sex, labor, and organ trafficking in policy initiatives and in the scholarly literature is to overlook major differences between these practices – differences that greatly affect governments' willingness and ability to curb them. This article identifies three such differences: the social status and political influence of the perpetrators; the precision of norms and their resonance with audiences; and the costs of enforcement. Through these distinctions, I explain why Israel has been vigorous in combating sex trafficking, yet hesitant to tackle labor and organ trafficking. The Israeli experience highlights the different challenges posed by sex, labor, and organ trafficking and offers important lessons for the study of these phenomena.

A Microsimulation Model to Assess the Impact of Prevention Efforts to Combat Sex Trafficking out of Five Eastern European States

Former Eastern bloc countries are major sources for sex trafficking. Estimates of the extent of trafficking out of these countries vary widely, and little knowledge exists on the effectiveness of anti-trafficking efforts. The objective of this work was to adapt microsimulation modeling to assess the impact of intervention efforts to combat sex trafficking out of Eastern Europe. We estimated trends of sex trafficking and compared interventions in terms of their reduction in sex trafficking. The overall incidence of sex trafficking out of Eastern Europe is projected to decrease, from about 140,000 women and children in 2007 to about 50,000 in 2017. However, the incidence rate increased in 2009 and 2012, consistent with the global recession. The most effective interventions are economic growth, followed closely by increased access to secondary education and restrictions on migration. Minimal reduction is achieved by raising awareness of the phenomenon and increasing TV usage. Yet, the primary mechanism currently being used to prevent sex trafficking out of Eastern Europe is public awareness campaigns. Efforts should focus more on boosting the economy, increasing access to secondary education, and facilitating dialogue about how to promote legal immigration avenues.