Chinese Police Save Hundreds of Babies from Online Trading Racket
Summary:
Chinese police shut down four child-trafficking rings and and arrested thousands in connection with people using websites and instant messages to buy and sell babies. The operation took placed over a six-month period in Beijing and Jiangsu in Eastern China. After investigating the police uncovered a virtual black market that holds forums that connects traffickers and potential buyers. Child trafficking has become a major concern in China because of a growing demand for healthy babies from potential adoptive parents in China and foreign places. A Chinese doctor received a suspended death sentence after trafficking babies into an online ring. The obstetrician convinced the babies parent's that the newborns were sick and should be given up so that they could be taken care of.
Analysis:
The article highlights another example of modern day slavery. A new sector of organized crime has emerged, the trafficking of babies online. This incident comes about as a result of globalization. Due to the connectivity of our modern would you no longer have to meet someone face to face to traffic, the criminals can solicit and sell their product (a healthy human baby) to someone on the other side of the world. Potential buyers can purchase a baby from other parts of the world using one click of a mouse. An complication that comes along with the trade being on online forums it makes it more difficult to track down the trafficker. The demand for healthy babies fuels this lucrative business and with these new forums for trafficking I believe the organization of the crime is evolving faster than what the police can keep up and will continue to be a social problem.
Article:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/28/world/asia/china-online-baby-trafficking-crackdown/
Showing posts with label Human Rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Human Rights. Show all posts
Friday, April 18, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
Blog 9: Indonesian Woman Falls Victim to Human Trafficking in US
Indonesian Woman Falls Victim to Human Trafficking in US
Summary:
Shandra Woworuntu, a former bank analysts immigrated to the United States from Indonesia in 2001. When she arrived in the U.S. her passport and identification cards were taking and she was transported to a brothel in Connecticut that was isolated from any neighbors. Shandra was forced to perform sexual favors for strangers 24 hours a day and was moved between brothels in New York City and Connecticut. Shandra finally escaped by jumping from a second story bathroom window while in Brooklyn but then was forced to survive without any money or a place to live. She finally met someone who introduced her to the law enforcement and then she was referred to the Safe Horizon, which is a assistance agency that aid those who are victims of human trafficking.According to The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking agency there's approximately 14,000 to 17,000 women and children being trafficked into the United States each year to work in brothels, as prostitutes, and in bars as sex slaves.
Analysis:
This article reflects a new form of organized crime that is very profitable for those who run the brothel's and sex trafficking rings. Human trafficking has become a new form of slavery that in this case brings in slaves from other countries in promises of a better life and opportunity, but once the immigrants arrive they are receive the exact opposite and revokes their human rights. This modern day slavery mainly involves minority women and children, a marginalized group, as the victims and men, the dominant group as the captors. Although there are agency who are working to end human trafficking there are still thousands of people being trafficked into the United States in the new area of organized crime only leaving me to think that a end to human trafficking is no where in the near future.
Article:
http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2014/02/01/074550170/Indonesian-Woman-Falls-Victim-to-Human-Trafficking-in-US
Summary:
Shandra Woworuntu, a former bank analysts immigrated to the United States from Indonesia in 2001. When she arrived in the U.S. her passport and identification cards were taking and she was transported to a brothel in Connecticut that was isolated from any neighbors. Shandra was forced to perform sexual favors for strangers 24 hours a day and was moved between brothels in New York City and Connecticut. Shandra finally escaped by jumping from a second story bathroom window while in Brooklyn but then was forced to survive without any money or a place to live. She finally met someone who introduced her to the law enforcement and then she was referred to the Safe Horizon, which is a assistance agency that aid those who are victims of human trafficking.According to The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking agency there's approximately 14,000 to 17,000 women and children being trafficked into the United States each year to work in brothels, as prostitutes, and in bars as sex slaves.
Analysis:
This article reflects a new form of organized crime that is very profitable for those who run the brothel's and sex trafficking rings. Human trafficking has become a new form of slavery that in this case brings in slaves from other countries in promises of a better life and opportunity, but once the immigrants arrive they are receive the exact opposite and revokes their human rights. This modern day slavery mainly involves minority women and children, a marginalized group, as the victims and men, the dominant group as the captors. Although there are agency who are working to end human trafficking there are still thousands of people being trafficked into the United States in the new area of organized crime only leaving me to think that a end to human trafficking is no where in the near future.
Article:
http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2014/02/01/074550170/Indonesian-Woman-Falls-Victim-to-Human-Trafficking-in-US
Friday, April 4, 2014
Blog 8: Kendell Hill, Rally planned at Miami Dade College to campaign against human trafficking,
Rally planned at Miami Dade College to campaign against human trafficking
Summary:
This article talks about Katrina Rosenblatt who was a victim of human trafficking and was sold and raped multiple times for four years as a minor. In her story she escapes human trafficking and returns home and upon returning her mother took her to the police to report the crime. Instead of recieving justice, Katrina was told that she was a juvenile delinquent, a drug addict and they could not help her. She is now an activist who works with victims of human trafficking. Roseblatt has started the H.O.P.E foundations which is a non-profit organization that aids victims of human trafficking and sex slavery. Katrina talked about her story at One Billion For Justice event at Miami Dade College. Activist like Rosenblatt say even though progress has been made there still needs to be a lot more changes to bring a end to this modern day slavery.
Analysis:
This article reflects the legal reality theory pertaining to human trafficking. Although Rosenblatt came to law enforcement for justice after being brought and sold into human trafficking, she received no justice. This made me think sociologically and I referred to the labeling theory, Katrina being labeled a delinquent had to have a negative affect on her for the rest of her life along with being trafficked. Katrina and every other women who has been trafficked has been treated like property and marginalized, which shows a social problem that women face in today's society and throughout history. Human trafficking is a new form of slavery and the amount of attention that has been brought about to end it is not enough. It's treated like a unspoken crime and has far less conviction than it should globally.
Article:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/12/3931217/rally-planned-at-miami-dade-college.html
Summary:
This article talks about Katrina Rosenblatt who was a victim of human trafficking and was sold and raped multiple times for four years as a minor. In her story she escapes human trafficking and returns home and upon returning her mother took her to the police to report the crime. Instead of recieving justice, Katrina was told that she was a juvenile delinquent, a drug addict and they could not help her. She is now an activist who works with victims of human trafficking. Roseblatt has started the H.O.P.E foundations which is a non-profit organization that aids victims of human trafficking and sex slavery. Katrina talked about her story at One Billion For Justice event at Miami Dade College. Activist like Rosenblatt say even though progress has been made there still needs to be a lot more changes to bring a end to this modern day slavery.
Analysis:
This article reflects the legal reality theory pertaining to human trafficking. Although Rosenblatt came to law enforcement for justice after being brought and sold into human trafficking, she received no justice. This made me think sociologically and I referred to the labeling theory, Katrina being labeled a delinquent had to have a negative affect on her for the rest of her life along with being trafficked. Katrina and every other women who has been trafficked has been treated like property and marginalized, which shows a social problem that women face in today's society and throughout history. Human trafficking is a new form of slavery and the amount of attention that has been brought about to end it is not enough. It's treated like a unspoken crime and has far less conviction than it should globally.
Article:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/12/3931217/rally-planned-at-miami-dade-college.html
Friday, March 28, 2014
Blog 7, Kendell Hill, 3/28/2014, 3:03pm, Human Trafficking Going Unpunished In Canada, Expects Say
Human Trafficking Going Unpunished In Canada, Expects Say
Summary:
This article was about the number of human traffickers that have gone unpunished in Canada after reforms of laws to convict offenders. New laws came into effect in 2005 and since then there's only been 35 human trafficking convictions, two of the thirty-five were forced labor. Many denote the fact that too many people are getting away with human trafficking to the fact that Canadian law enforcement not being trained to deal with human trafficking. The article also stated that human trafficking was under-reported, because victims do not typically go the the police and recount their ordeals. Majority of the women who are trafficked in Canada are aboriginal and are marginalized because they are refugees, immigrants or brought in from another country for human trafficking purposes.
Analyzes:
This article highlights a dark figure of crime that exists in Canada. The victims of human trafficking usually don't report the crime if they ever do get free of their traffickers because of fear or shame. Because it goes under-reported so society doesn't see it as a problem therefore there's not a big push to solve this social and moral problem. Another thing that is highlighted in the article is that women are being marginalized and forced into labor which is a social problem that is happening all over the world. Women who have no other means of surviving are forced into human trafficking in order to stay alive, a direct result of poverty and a lack of education.
Article:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/human-traffickers-going-unpunished-in-canada-experts-say-1.2584944
Summary:
This article was about the number of human traffickers that have gone unpunished in Canada after reforms of laws to convict offenders. New laws came into effect in 2005 and since then there's only been 35 human trafficking convictions, two of the thirty-five were forced labor. Many denote the fact that too many people are getting away with human trafficking to the fact that Canadian law enforcement not being trained to deal with human trafficking. The article also stated that human trafficking was under-reported, because victims do not typically go the the police and recount their ordeals. Majority of the women who are trafficked in Canada are aboriginal and are marginalized because they are refugees, immigrants or brought in from another country for human trafficking purposes.
Analyzes:
This article highlights a dark figure of crime that exists in Canada. The victims of human trafficking usually don't report the crime if they ever do get free of their traffickers because of fear or shame. Because it goes under-reported so society doesn't see it as a problem therefore there's not a big push to solve this social and moral problem. Another thing that is highlighted in the article is that women are being marginalized and forced into labor which is a social problem that is happening all over the world. Women who have no other means of surviving are forced into human trafficking in order to stay alive, a direct result of poverty and a lack of education.
Article:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/human-traffickers-going-unpunished-in-canada-experts-say-1.2584944
Friday, March 21, 2014
Blog 6: KendellHill, 3/21/201, 2:51pm, Human Trafficking
Forced Labor, Prostitution continues at U.S. Mexico Border
Summary:
The report is about the illegal transport of young women along the San Diego-Tijuana and highlights how the are brought, sold, and forced into sex labor in Mexico and the United States. The report talks about the experience of a 19 year old girl who is kidnapped and forced into to sex slavery by one of her friends, then is rescued and placed in a group home in Tijuana with other girls who also lived through similar ordeals. La Casa del Jardin is a shelter that takes in young girls of Mexican nationality, who are victims of sex labor and lets them live there until their adult age to deter them become victimizers as an adult as a result of the mistreatment in their youth. La Casa del Jardin is one of only two shelter of its kind in Mexico. The report also talks about Coyotes who illegally help immigrants make the journey from Mexico into the United States for sums of money. The Coyotes most often time face difficult obstacles while trying to reach and cross the borders so in order to make a more lucrative business they sometimes result in human trafficking, exploiting the immigrants, killing them or ask for more money to return them to their families. Mexico is looked at as a "Tier 2" country meaning that although they have taken steps to stop human trafficking they lack sufficient federal and state co-coordination to improve the situation.
Analyses:
This report highlights the unfortunate consequences that immigrants have endured while trying to make a better life for themselves and also highlights a prevailing fact about crime. The Coyotes who these immigrants trust have began to sell them into sex slavery to make a better profit which has led to a increase in human trafficking between the borders. Although places like La Casa del Jardin exist it's only one of two places in Mexico for rescued trafficked women. There no way that these two places could house all of the women who have been a victim of sex labor in Mexico so although it helps it cannot help enough people. Due to the state of Mexico's federal and state government there can't be a real strive in eliminating the problem of human trafficking in Mexico which means more people will continue to suffer. The fact of crime that I noticed this report illustrated was that you are more likely to be victimized by someone you know, than a stranger. In most cases presented in this article the victim says they were trafficked by a friend or family member or someone they had some kind of trust in.
Article:
http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/forced-labor-prostitution-continues-us-mexico-border
Summary:
The report is about the illegal transport of young women along the San Diego-Tijuana and highlights how the are brought, sold, and forced into sex labor in Mexico and the United States. The report talks about the experience of a 19 year old girl who is kidnapped and forced into to sex slavery by one of her friends, then is rescued and placed in a group home in Tijuana with other girls who also lived through similar ordeals. La Casa del Jardin is a shelter that takes in young girls of Mexican nationality, who are victims of sex labor and lets them live there until their adult age to deter them become victimizers as an adult as a result of the mistreatment in their youth. La Casa del Jardin is one of only two shelter of its kind in Mexico. The report also talks about Coyotes who illegally help immigrants make the journey from Mexico into the United States for sums of money. The Coyotes most often time face difficult obstacles while trying to reach and cross the borders so in order to make a more lucrative business they sometimes result in human trafficking, exploiting the immigrants, killing them or ask for more money to return them to their families. Mexico is looked at as a "Tier 2" country meaning that although they have taken steps to stop human trafficking they lack sufficient federal and state co-coordination to improve the situation.
Analyses:
This report highlights the unfortunate consequences that immigrants have endured while trying to make a better life for themselves and also highlights a prevailing fact about crime. The Coyotes who these immigrants trust have began to sell them into sex slavery to make a better profit which has led to a increase in human trafficking between the borders. Although places like La Casa del Jardin exist it's only one of two places in Mexico for rescued trafficked women. There no way that these two places could house all of the women who have been a victim of sex labor in Mexico so although it helps it cannot help enough people. Due to the state of Mexico's federal and state government there can't be a real strive in eliminating the problem of human trafficking in Mexico which means more people will continue to suffer. The fact of crime that I noticed this report illustrated was that you are more likely to be victimized by someone you know, than a stranger. In most cases presented in this article the victim says they were trafficked by a friend or family member or someone they had some kind of trust in.
Article:
http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/forced-labor-prostitution-continues-us-mexico-border
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Blog 5: Kendell Hill, 3/9/2014/, 7:26pm, Cambodia fears rise in child sexual exploitation with influx of tourism
Cambodia fears rise in child sexual exploitation with influx of tourism
Summary
Cambodia is fearful of an influx of regional tourism after the ASEAN Economic Community is put into action. The integration of the ASEAN Economic Community is suppose to promote connectivity with Southeast Asia which will mean their people, goods, and services could move more freely. This new found freedom may come with negative side effects. A big portion of the people of Cambodia already make their living by selling things to tourists and children may become a new product. Combodia's government has made efforts to protect children by preforming raids and making arrest but there's corruption within their government which is evident, along with a lack of law enforcement. There has been a increase in commercial sex centres in Cambodia has also led to a increase in child sex exploitation.
Analysis
This report highlights the dark side of advancement in developing countries. The ASEAN Economic Community should have been a positive thing but it also brings a new opportunity for crime and profit. Due to the poverty in Cambodia many people sell whatever they can to survive and children seem to be a new product that can ensure survival. Although I can not imagine selling a child when I think objectively I can see why these people would. Although it is illegal there is no strict law enforcement to prevent this from occurring. I strive to think of this crime situation with the positivist theory in mind and determine the causes of this situation. There's extreme poverty, misplaced children, a lack of law enforcement, and an increase of predator tourists, these four conditions led to a situation that would result in a increase of human trafficking crime.
Article
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/cambodia-fears-rise-in/1018720.html
Summary
Cambodia is fearful of an influx of regional tourism after the ASEAN Economic Community is put into action. The integration of the ASEAN Economic Community is suppose to promote connectivity with Southeast Asia which will mean their people, goods, and services could move more freely. This new found freedom may come with negative side effects. A big portion of the people of Cambodia already make their living by selling things to tourists and children may become a new product. Combodia's government has made efforts to protect children by preforming raids and making arrest but there's corruption within their government which is evident, along with a lack of law enforcement. There has been a increase in commercial sex centres in Cambodia has also led to a increase in child sex exploitation.
Analysis
This report highlights the dark side of advancement in developing countries. The ASEAN Economic Community should have been a positive thing but it also brings a new opportunity for crime and profit. Due to the poverty in Cambodia many people sell whatever they can to survive and children seem to be a new product that can ensure survival. Although I can not imagine selling a child when I think objectively I can see why these people would. Although it is illegal there is no strict law enforcement to prevent this from occurring. I strive to think of this crime situation with the positivist theory in mind and determine the causes of this situation. There's extreme poverty, misplaced children, a lack of law enforcement, and an increase of predator tourists, these four conditions led to a situation that would result in a increase of human trafficking crime.
Article
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/cambodia-fears-rise-in/1018720.html
Friday, February 28, 2014
Blog 4: Kendell Hill, 2/28/2014, 2:36 Human Trafficking
Mothers as Traffickers
Summary
CNN met with mothers in Svay Pak about why they traffic their daughters. Many mothers stated that they have no other choice for a source of income for their family. The mothers believed that their daughters felt like trafficking for their families was normal and their contribution to their household.The families are usually large and in order for them to survive, sacrifices have to be made. Many mothers take their young daughters to the hospital to be examined and receive a certificate of virginity and then sell their daughter's virginity for a large amounts of money.
Analysis
The article highlights that in regions were there is extreme poverty these mothers traffic their daughter to unsure their families survival. This exemplifies the social construction of a opposing country. In the United States we wouldn't imagine selling our children in order to provide for our families, we would look towards the government for help, but in places where they don't have these options mothers feel forced to sell their child's innocence. It also shows how what might be deviant to us is normal to someone else or necessary. Using the positivist theory I objectively look at the situation examine the causes of the deviance and determine that it is poverty. Although I do not agree with the act of trafficking, I objectively comprehend why these mothers would make such a inhumane sacrifice. This article makes me question their level of moral aptitude, as it must be difficult to make such a conscience choice to hand over your own offspring.
Article
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/12/world/cambodia-child-sex-trade/
Summary
CNN met with mothers in Svay Pak about why they traffic their daughters. Many mothers stated that they have no other choice for a source of income for their family. The mothers believed that their daughters felt like trafficking for their families was normal and their contribution to their household.The families are usually large and in order for them to survive, sacrifices have to be made. Many mothers take their young daughters to the hospital to be examined and receive a certificate of virginity and then sell their daughter's virginity for a large amounts of money.
Analysis
The article highlights that in regions were there is extreme poverty these mothers traffic their daughter to unsure their families survival. This exemplifies the social construction of a opposing country. In the United States we wouldn't imagine selling our children in order to provide for our families, we would look towards the government for help, but in places where they don't have these options mothers feel forced to sell their child's innocence. It also shows how what might be deviant to us is normal to someone else or necessary. Using the positivist theory I objectively look at the situation examine the causes of the deviance and determine that it is poverty. Although I do not agree with the act of trafficking, I objectively comprehend why these mothers would make such a inhumane sacrifice. This article makes me question their level of moral aptitude, as it must be difficult to make such a conscience choice to hand over your own offspring.
Article
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/12/world/cambodia-child-sex-trade/
Blog 4: Society Ready for same-sex marriage: activists
Summary
Taiwan government has experienced pressure from its
society and gender rights advocates to go ahead and make same-sex marriages legal.
According to the Taiwan alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights there
should be no issue in going forward with this procedure because Government
officials say that it should be based on society consensus and the majority of
the society is ready. There was an issue
brought up by a lady and her same sex partner that used ectogenesis abroad as a
way to have a child but according to Taiwan laws their child was not theirs and
would not be given the same legal rights as other children if the worst took
place with her and her partner. The
partners exclaim there was family support from both sides and wanted to know “was
the government ready?” for same –sex marriage. Further steps are being taken in
order to meet with Taiwan’s premier Jiang Yi-huah in order to discuss
this issue in more detail.
Analysis
Same-sex marriages has been an on-going social issue as it
has affected many individuals human rights and has involved an overwhelming
amount of attention from both the church systems and government systems.
Although the church was not brought up in this particular news story, other
factors are still contributing to whether Taiwan’s government allows such act
to be legalized. The issue with family
is how children’s lives are effected in addition to those that are considered
the caregivers, as we seen in this news story that children aren’t granted same
legal rights which is out of their control to begin with and creates a much
larger social issue among many other families that are fighting for this right. Taiwan as well as many other countries across
the globe is being faced with this difficult decision as they have to take into
consideration human rights, religious beliefs, the direction in which they want
their country to go and other political issues.
Families are being directed effected by either decision as some may have
to face sacrifices for the best interest of their child and relationships such
as moving to where this is illegal which causes financial burdens.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/02/27/2003584466
published February 27th, 2014
published February 27th, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
Blog 3: Kendell Hill, Human Trafficking, 2/21/14, 4:20pm
Summary
Joaquin Mendez-Hernandez, a national of Savannah was was sentenced to life in a federal prison for his role in a sex-trafficking ring that operated in southeast United States. The ring involved a large amount of immigrant women who were trafficked, shipped to shacks in Georgia and the Carolinas where they were met by 20 or 30 immigrant men waiting to have sex with them. The women were trying to buy their freedom by being in the sex trade but their debt is never ending and they are basically in indentured servitude. The article states that even though they rescued these women, for every 10 women saved there are 50 or 100 more women being brought by traffickers.
Analysis
This report highlights how human trafficking is a growing industry and the lengths people will go to make money and be free. In the United States we are all feed this idea of the American dream. The people who are involved in sex trafficking whether its operating the ring or becoming a victim of it, have to engage in unspeakable acts to reach the goal of freedom or riches. When thinking about Mertons's Means Goal Gap theory, those who are operating the ring are somewhat innovators, because they are going after the American dream of rags to riches but not going through legit means to achieve that. These trafficking rings are a new form of slavery. Slavery has been prevalent through out human existence but in most cases in history the enslaving was based on race or ethnicity but now its based on gender. These vulnerable women are enslaved by these powerful men because they are so desperate for their freedom they are willing to sell their bodies based on a hope that one day they will be able to be free in America. These incidents are happening in and around our own state and are not individual problems, they are social problems.
Article
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/19/justice/southeast-sex-trafficking-ring/
Joaquin Mendez-Hernandez, a national of Savannah was was sentenced to life in a federal prison for his role in a sex-trafficking ring that operated in southeast United States. The ring involved a large amount of immigrant women who were trafficked, shipped to shacks in Georgia and the Carolinas where they were met by 20 or 30 immigrant men waiting to have sex with them. The women were trying to buy their freedom by being in the sex trade but their debt is never ending and they are basically in indentured servitude. The article states that even though they rescued these women, for every 10 women saved there are 50 or 100 more women being brought by traffickers.
Analysis
This report highlights how human trafficking is a growing industry and the lengths people will go to make money and be free. In the United States we are all feed this idea of the American dream. The people who are involved in sex trafficking whether its operating the ring or becoming a victim of it, have to engage in unspeakable acts to reach the goal of freedom or riches. When thinking about Mertons's Means Goal Gap theory, those who are operating the ring are somewhat innovators, because they are going after the American dream of rags to riches but not going through legit means to achieve that. These trafficking rings are a new form of slavery. Slavery has been prevalent through out human existence but in most cases in history the enslaving was based on race or ethnicity but now its based on gender. These vulnerable women are enslaved by these powerful men because they are so desperate for their freedom they are willing to sell their bodies based on a hope that one day they will be able to be free in America. These incidents are happening in and around our own state and are not individual problems, they are social problems.
Article
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/19/justice/southeast-sex-trafficking-ring/
Friday, February 14, 2014
Blog 2: Kendell Hill 2/14/2014 3:39pm- Human Trafficking
Sex Workers Protest Against Sexual Violence on V-day
Summary
Approximately 70 women set off around the red-light district of Sonagachi and Mushiganj in a two kilometer stretch to protest against sexual violence. Most of the women were either daughters of women who work in the district or victims of the sexual abuse in the district themselves. After the rally was over young children who mothers have been abused took part in a poignant street play about how girls were being trafficked and left with no other options for except prostitution. Women at the rally stated that "Police should ensure the safety of the women or girls with greater priority".
Analysis
This report highlights the inequality of women in this developing country. The women are trafficked in at young age depriving them of education and safety and then left with no other job opportunities except prostitution. This event also reflects what we read about in chapter 3 about women being tired, stressed and angry because of the conditions they have to live under because they are treated unequally. Even law enforcement does nothing to rectify these women's situations as they are treated like second class citizens.
Article Link
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/sex-workers-protest-against-sexual-violence-on-v-day-114021401527_1.html
Summary
Approximately 70 women set off around the red-light district of Sonagachi and Mushiganj in a two kilometer stretch to protest against sexual violence. Most of the women were either daughters of women who work in the district or victims of the sexual abuse in the district themselves. After the rally was over young children who mothers have been abused took part in a poignant street play about how girls were being trafficked and left with no other options for except prostitution. Women at the rally stated that "Police should ensure the safety of the women or girls with greater priority".
Analysis
This report highlights the inequality of women in this developing country. The women are trafficked in at young age depriving them of education and safety and then left with no other job opportunities except prostitution. This event also reflects what we read about in chapter 3 about women being tired, stressed and angry because of the conditions they have to live under because they are treated unequally. Even law enforcement does nothing to rectify these women's situations as they are treated like second class citizens.
Article Link
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/sex-workers-protest-against-sexual-violence-on-v-day-114021401527_1.html
Blog 2: Ignoring equality, rights and women’s health risks derailing development – UN officials
Summary
The United Nations officials stress about this issue
over inequalities and rights for all, especially for women and children as they
aim to abolish extreme poverty in hopes to create a world of better sustainable
development. There was a international
conference on population and growth development held back in 1994 that launched
a historical landmark for women’s rights. This conference had started Programme
of Action that aimed to “provide universal access to family planning and sexual
and reproductive health services and reproductive rights, and deliver gender
equality, empowerment of women and equal access to education for girls.” Although there has been progress made over
the past two decades, there still remains issues that haven’t received the much
needed attention. According to UNFPA executive director Dr. Osotimehin, he says
that the benefits are basically reaped by the wealthy and that over whelming
population have been left out from the process and benefits of development. His
stance is over the issue that the richest are excelling but the poorest
communities including women and children relating to death, status, and child marriage
rates are being ignored. Other issues he brings up are related to inequalities between
men and women in political and economic power, poor countries not receiving
access to sexual and reproductive health services more specifically to family
planning.
Analysis
This article highlights the gap between class
statuses and how the lower economic class still are being excluded to greater
benefits and left behind while their wealthier competition reap the better
life. Not only does this article address the social class gap damages but
specifically addresses how women and
children are being directly impacted by such ignorance as to ignore the simple
fact that even though progress has been made, there is a larger demand yet to
be fulfilled due to not creating equal access to these programs. If this issue
can be resolved it could be the breaking point to opening up solutions to
development, family and individual well-being, decrease the population growth for
countries, and excel overall in a positive direction. Families are being directly impacted because their
human rights are being disregarded either by their social class or sex and don’t
deserve such discrimination. The increasing numbers in statistics as well as
the fact that this is not just affecting one region as well as could be
prevented by social measures makes even more of a social issue.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47129&Cr=reproductive+health&Cr1=#.Uv5t1Pm8Dm4
Thursday, February 13, 2014
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/11/time-for-egypt-and-sudan-to-rein-in-traffickers/
While stoners and conspiracy theorists of America prophesize
about their country’s growing resemblance to a corrupt police state, Sudanese
police forces are selling Eritrean asylum seekers to North African human
traffickers. Egyptian police have also been known to conspire with the human
traffickers in spite of Egypt’s 2010 Law on Combating Human Trafficking, which requires
Egyptian Authorities to aid victims of human trafficking with medical
assistance and protection. After being sold, the refugees are taken to hideouts
where they are forced to call their relatives and ask for ransom money. Refugees
are then tortured while they are on the phone with their relatives and even
after the traffickers receive the money, the refugees are often sold again and
the process starts all over. The American government has been accused of
turning a blind eye to these crimes against humanity. More pressure needs to be
put on Egyptian and Sudanese authorities to investigate the corruption within
them. The article on CNN.com chronicles the journey of an Eritean man named
Mesfin. Seeking refuge from the repressive regime of Eritea, Mesfin fled to
Sudan where he was captured by police and sold to human traffickers. Mesfin was
tortured and sold twice before being released. He ended up in the hands of
Egyptian authorities. In these circumstances, more often then not, refugees
intercepted by Egyptian police are detained until they raise enough money to
buy a ticket to Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, where they are placed in
refugee camps that are notoriously unsuitable for living. I am beginning to
regret choosing human rights as the focus of my blog posts. These articles are
incredibly unsettling. I feel guilty and helpless about things that are
completely out of my control. If nothing else, these articles will continue to
raise my awareness of injustices in the world at large, while making me
thankful to live in America as a straight middle class white male.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Blog 1: Kendell Hill 2/7/2014 12:17am Human Trafficking- Missing children rescued from Super Bowl sex trade in FBI sting
Missing Children Rescued from Super Bowl Sex Trade in FBI Sting: Posted February 4, 2014
Summary
The FBI rescued sixteen children ranging ages thirteen to seventeen involved in a sex trade in New Jersey during the Super Bowl weekend. There were more than forty five pimps arrested in connection to the operation and some of the children rescued had been reported missing by their families. Some of the pimps and the kidnapped children had traveled to New Jersey for the Super Bowl weekend for the sole purpose of trafficking to tourist for money. The FBI reports that high-profile special events like the super bowl have become "lucrative opportunities for child prostitution criminal enterprises" as stated by Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division.
Analysis
This report highlights a new trend in human trafficking that is alarming and emphasizes a need to take more action to help stop human trafficking and it's victimization. The report points out that high profile events have made new opportunities for human trafficking due to the amount of attention and tourists who come to participate in these events. In chapter 5, our text talks about the link between the growth in the free market with less governmental influence and greater opportunities for crime cartels like the ones being operated behind closed doors of high profile events.
Article link:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/02/04/fbi-sting-rescues-missing-children-from-super-bowl-sex-trade/
Summary
The FBI rescued sixteen children ranging ages thirteen to seventeen involved in a sex trade in New Jersey during the Super Bowl weekend. There were more than forty five pimps arrested in connection to the operation and some of the children rescued had been reported missing by their families. Some of the pimps and the kidnapped children had traveled to New Jersey for the Super Bowl weekend for the sole purpose of trafficking to tourist for money. The FBI reports that high-profile special events like the super bowl have become "lucrative opportunities for child prostitution criminal enterprises" as stated by Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division.
Analysis
This report highlights a new trend in human trafficking that is alarming and emphasizes a need to take more action to help stop human trafficking and it's victimization. The report points out that high profile events have made new opportunities for human trafficking due to the amount of attention and tourists who come to participate in these events. In chapter 5, our text talks about the link between the growth in the free market with less governmental influence and greater opportunities for crime cartels like the ones being operated behind closed doors of high profile events.
Article link:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/02/04/fbi-sting-rescues-missing-children-from-super-bowl-sex-trade/
Today marks the one year anniversary of the killing of a
woman in Papua New Guinea. Twenty year old Kepari Leniata was accused of
sorcery and burned alive. Leniata was blamed for the death of a small boy in
the city of Mount Hagen. The boy was terminally ill, but his brothers decided
that his death was the result of a spell placed on him by Leniata. The boys
that murdered her have yet to be brought to justice. According to the article,
posted by Amnesty International, sorcery is often used as a pretext for violence
against women in Papua New Guinea. Until recently, those accused of assault or
murder were granted reduced sentences under the 1971 Sorcery Act. It took over
40 years for Papua New Guinea’s parliament to repeal an Act that has absolutely
no place in the modern world. This is a despicable trend in Papua New Guinea. Obviously
more must be done to educate the people of Papua New Guinea about the nature of
the physical world we live in. Not only that, but measures must also be taken
to bring practitioners of these crimes to justice. I believe it is completely
unethical under any circumstances to tolerate crimes against women. I believe
that tradition plays an important role in forming our cultural identities.
However I also believe that any tradition or cultural belief that justifies the
harming of women, physical and otherwise, should be eradicated. People often
defend harmful traditions under the umbrella argument of cultural relativism,
that is to say, “what’s right for us may not be right for them and vice
versa”. I believe in uncompromised
freedom for every person as long as he or she does not harm anyone else, this
is not consistent with the view of cultural relativism. There isn’t much to
analyze about this article seeing as how it was posted by Amnesty
International, whose motives are clear – to protect human rights of people
worldwide.
“Amnesty
International calls on Papua New Guinea’s government to develop urgent measures
to protect women at risk of violence including establishing shelters and
providing emergency funds to help women escape violence.”
Friday, January 31, 2014
Human Trafficking
My name is Kendell Hill and the topic I will be covering is human trafficking. The topic of human trafficking has always interested me and I would like to see what is happen around the world relating to it and what has been done to help bring human trafficking to an end.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Forced Labor in the Persian Gulf
Forced Labor in the Persian Gulf
Theresa M. Dantes is a 29 year old woman from the Philippines. She signed a contract, last year, with an employment agency in the Philippines. This would allow her come here in order to work as a maid in house earning $400 a month, in addition to room and board. When she got here her employer stated that he would only pay her $250. She consented to the lower wages because she had family back in Queon City that were reliant on the money she earned. Once she arrived she found that she was only given one meal per day which were leftovers from the families lunch. She stated, "if no leftovers, I didn't eat." She worked everyday of the week and after she cleaned her employer's house she was made to clean his mother-in-law and sister's house. When Ms. Dantes attempted to leave her employer laughed at her and told her that she couldn't quit. Kafala ("system that governs the working lives of every foreigner employed in Qatar"). She was unable to quit her job without the permission of her boss. She ran away and joined 56 women that had attempted to find shelter at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office. 94 percent of the Qatar labor force is made up by some 1.2 million foreign workers. It was developed in the late 1950s in low populated Persian Gulf states which were in need of people to work in their industries (oil and gas). The Qatar has grown so much that there are almost five foreign workers for each Qatari citizen. In the next few years it is conceivable that a million more foreign workers will come to help with construction on nine new stadiums. They will also be needed to help build $20 billion in roads which will be needed by 2022 (when Qatar hosts the World Cup). The Human Rights Watch has called this type of work they are undertaking as "forced labor." They employers take on legal responsibilities for their workers as well as giving them payment for their work, a work visa, and board and food. The worker must then agree to work for their boss for a fixed amount of time. However, these workers are not allowed to: switch jobs, leave the country, obtain a driver's license, rent a home, open a checking account without consent for his/her employer-sponsor, or kafeel (which can be withdrawn at anytime causing the worker to be sent home). In addition, one Arab-American businessman named Nasser Beydoun, stated that he was an "economic hostage" for 685 days in Doha before he was freed in October of 2011. Mr. Beydoun then stated, "Foreign workers in Qatar are modern-day slaves to their local employers. The local Qatari owns you." It was revealed by a poll, issued by the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute at Qatar University, that only half of blue-collar workers (foreign) have signed work contracts before they come to Qatar. The rest come with a verbal understanding or agreement. The formal work contracts, however, do not give enough protection to these workers. A quarter of the blue-collar employees, that signed contracts, stated that their employers did not follow all the specifications of their contract. Another poll revealed that it increased to 42 percent with the third who were making less than $275 a month. The Human Rights and some labor advocates pressed the government into promising to offer new protections. Hussein al-Mulla (under secretary of the Labor Ministry) said, "Seven, eight years ago we didn’t have labor laws. It is better now than before. It will be better in the future." A phone line has been made so that employees can report abuses anonymously as well a system of arbitrating labor disputes. Those who are employing these workers have to report paycheck details to the Labor ministry. Laws are being finalized that set standards on occupational health, safety, and a charter of the rights of workers'. Andrew Gardner (anthropologist at the University of Puget Sounds) studies gulf labors and she reported, "The challenge is enforcement of these laws and establishing a new work culture. The scope of the problem is so large and the number of foreigners is growing so quickly.” Even though progress has been made more still needs to be done.
The obvious violation of rights is forcing people to do work that is outside of the parameters of their contracts and under such poor circumstances (low pay, leftovers, etc). Their personal health and freedoms are very restricted which is undoubtedly something every human being deserves. Progress has been made though because of people becoming aware of the problem and they are attempting, and in some ways, have made laws to allow these people to earn a living in a safe and healthy environment.
Molly Winfree
04/19/2013
3:27 pm
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/14/sunday-review/indentured-servitude-in-the-persian-gulf.html?hpw
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Blog #10 Afghan interpreters at risk
My blog this week talks about Afghan interpreters for the
United States military. The Taliban is trying to kill all eight thousand or so
Afghan interpreters simply because they worked for the United States military.
The Taliban sees any Afghan that tries to aid the United States an “enemy” of
the country. The eight thousand interpreters for the United States military has
risked their lives over and over again to facilitate communication between the
locals and the Afghan military and United States military flow better. The
Taliban has killed off some of the eight thousand interpreters for the United
States.
When the United States pulled the military out of Afghan’s homeland
without taking the interpreters somewhere safe from the Taliban, it stranded
the interpreters and the interpreters fear for their safety and their families’
safety. Sulaiman is an interpreter that has worked for the United States military
since he was 16. Now that the United States military has been pulled out he is
at even more risk than before. He fears for his family. The State department of the United States
only compounds matters worse by not issuing enough visas. The State department
has a backlog of these visas. Sulaiman thinks that one visa application got
lost in the computer ethers. If the State department doesn’t get itself busy
with reviewing and granting visas to those Afghan interpreters then the
department will be in trouble in the near future. The State department should
act fast because these people have nowhere to go in peace.http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/15/world/asia/american-visa-delays-put-safety-out-of-afghan-interpreters-reach.html?pagewanted=all
Friday, April 12, 2013
Blog #9 Mali two men tortured and died in Bamako
My subject this week is on Mali torture victims that died
recently in Africa. Two men detained and
tortured by Mali soldiers in the city of Lere in the Timbuktu region died at
Central Prison in Bamako. Human Rights Watch has previously interviewed and documented
the tortures of seven men including the two that died on March 26th
of this year. They were transferred to Bamako to receive some medical
attention. The government has not taken any action to look into these cases.
People who knew the men that died said they died in the night April 6th
and 7th. Then the others in the group got moved to a room with
better ventilation.
Before that change happened the seven men were in a small
room with little ventilation. That is awful as the Mali months of March to May
in Bamako tend to be the warmest of the year and temperatures almost daily is
100 degrees Fo. The army there arrested the seven men due to
suspicion of their support of armed Islamic groups. They were severely beaten
and bruised. This is outrageous. A person
deserves a fair arrest and trial not a beating or poorly ventilated rooms. The
person is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. In Mali, it’s the
opposite and it is very sad and heart wrenching. The Mali government must step
up to solve this issue because it could have been very well prevented if the
Mali government did their job like they are supposed to be doing. Sadly not
every country has the same rules that govern the US..
https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/11/mali-two-torture-victims-die-detention
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