Final Questions

Final Project Paper Student’s Name Institution Course Code: Course Name Professor’s Name Submission Date 7. What is the relationship between poverty and human smuggling/trafficking? Can states and NGOs (or the UN and other IGOs) fix the former to eliminate the latter? Why or why not? Define terms and provide examples. Poverty can be conceptualized as when individuals lack sufficient financial resources for basic needs such as shelter, food, and healthcare (Wolff, 2020). Every country has a certain percentage of its citizens who cannot access basic needs, and such a percentage is higher in third-world countries. Human smuggling is the illegal transportation of people across borders without their consent or via deceptive ways in exchange for payment. According to Dahlstrom (2020), human trafficking refers to the recruitment, translocation, or harboring of individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for purposes of exploitation. The most common forms of exploitation, in this case, are forced labor and sexual slavery. Poverty creates a context of desperation and limited opportunities, hence making individuals vulnerable to these criminal activities. The individuals who are benefitting from smuggling and trafficking activities are often indirectly involved in the process and may have access to state protection. These illegal activities occur even in the presence of law enforcement policies that are against human trafficking. This paper will discuss the relationship between poverty and human trafficking and the efforts that can be taken by authorities to eliminate the issue. Relationship between Poverty and Human Smuggling/Trafficking Poverty acts as a push factor in human smuggling and trafficking. People in many impoverished regions face extreme economic hardship, unemployment, and lack of access to healthcare and education. When parents feel the pain of having kids but are unable to provide for them, they may be forced to take risks that will put food on the table. For example, many illegal immigrants in the United States originate from African nations (Gerber, 2021). These individuals crossed dangerous terrains and border points to access the United States. Their aim of looking for smugglers was to search for better opportunities in developed nations. When smugglers guide people into other nations, they face the risks of death and falling into the hands of traffickers (Rebetz, 2021). In their new foreign destinations, they have limited access to lucrative opportunities because they lack legal documents for residence. These illegal immigrants are often enslaved by smugglers and provide cheap labor. Human traffickers often exploit the vulnerabilities created by poverty to prey on innocent individuals. Every adult wishes to achieve independence and an adequate supply of their basic needs. When people live under the poverty line, they will be willing to take risks to get out of poverty. Human traffickers are aware of this desire, and they are using newer tricks to lure people with low incomes into their traps. Promises of education, employment, or a better life capture the attention of a family’s breadwinner and make it easier to convince them to depart to foreign lands (U.S. Department of Justice, 2023a). Human traffickers are also aware that most poor people have an attachment to religion, and they will be willing to take a journey that is parallel to their religious beliefs of a good future that is awaiting them. Many victims of trafficking are lured by the prospect of working abroad, only to find themselves trapped in situations of forced labor or sexual exploitation. For example, many women and girls from Africa and Southeast Asia have been trafficked to wealthier nations with the promise of legitimate employment. The traffickers capitalize on the lack of options available to these individuals, knowing that their poverty-stricken circumstances leave them with little choice but to trust those who offer a way out. The lack of effective legal and social protections in many impoverished regions is a catalyst for human smuggling and trafficking. Areas with tight security and quick response to national threats will have zero or minimum trafficking cases. Individuals living in extreme poverty have weak national security systems that do not help in curbing this social vice. Weak governance, corruption, and inadequate law enforcement often allow traffickers and smugglers to operate with impunity (International Organization of Migration, 2023). Law enforcement officials may be bribed to assume or support these illegal operations in some areas. The absence of robust legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms means that victims of trafficking have little recourse to justice. Human smugglers and traffickers often walk and intermingle freely with their victims because there are no adequate legal systems that can hold them accountable for their actions. Fixing Poverty to Eliminate Human Smuggling/Trafficking States and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), alongside international governmental organizations (IGOs) like the United Nations (UN), can effectively address poverty to eliminate human trafficking and smuggling. According to the United Nations, one in three victims of human trafficking is a child (United Nations, n.d.). In this context, the easiest and most effective way of combating this social vice is by addressing its root causes (Gerber, 2021). States and NGOs are critical in addressing poverty through economic development programs, education initiatives, and social safety nets. Governments should provide favorable and enabling environments that encourage citizens to venture into business (U.S. Department of Justice, 2023b). Microfinance programs should also provide loans to impoverished individuals, enabling them to start businesses and achieve economic independence. Similarly, education programs focusing on skill development can equip individuals with the tools they need to secure stable employment (International Organization for Migration, 2023). National governments and NGOs' should be to reduce the vulnerability of their citizens to the lure of human traffickers. Governments and regional authorities should implement policies that will hold human traffickers accountable for their activities. Poverty alleviation is essential but is not a standalone solution to human trafficking and smuggling predicaments. Individuals from wealthy residential areas are also not left out as they also are victims of the human smuggling problem; hence, the solution to this vice should not solely focus on poverty. Weak governance, corruption, and inadequate legal frameworks in many countries create an environment where traffickers can operate with impunity. Law enforcement officers who are guilty of accepting bribes from human traffickers should face the full wrath of the law. Moreover, NGOs should carry out awareness campaigns that address cultural and social factors that facilitate human trafficking. There are gender inequalities and harmful cultural practices that contribute to the exploitation of women and children. For example, in regions where poverty is widespread, families may resort to child marriage or bonded labor as a survival strategy (U.S. Department of Justice, ...