Human trafficking is a known issue that has become more worse and prominent over the years. To help hold or constitute an opinion in the funding and laws, one must understand what human trafficking is. To do that, one must know that it is more than sexual exploitation, more than a prostitute being who they are because they are forced. It is also someone whose organs were taken from them, someone who was forced into marriage, or someone who is doing manual labor in unfair and unpaid conditions. Understanding that leads to changes which begin with a global perspective. From that, moving to a national perspective is key. The new changes should be able to provide a funding solution, law solution, and provide a system to help victims. Changes in funding, however, must be done by knowing what solution is best. To achieve this it is important to understand how current solutions are not helping nor are they bringing much change. Deciding which solution is best is where the difficulty lies. In order for the correct solution to be chosen or the best plan to be put into place people must be educated. That means everyone, because human trafficking is an issue that can, could, has, and will affect most. 

To comprehend which changes need to be brought about and who has the correct ideas to stop trafficking, knowing what each of the changes means is important.  Before that, explaining the meaning of human trafficking is important. As the adopted definition used globally even by the United Nation is “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipts of persons by improper means (such as force, abduction, fraud, or coercing) for an improper purpose including forced labor or sexual exploitation” (Abzalova, UN).  That means that forced marriage, forced manual labor, and organ trafficking are a part of human trafficking. Each of those are things that happen all around.  Forced marriage is different from arranged marriage however. It must be understood they are not considered the same thing because in forced marriage no consent is given and arranged marriage requires consent. Forced manual labor is working for no payment, such as sweatshops. Organ trafficking is when organs are taken from a person without their consent or even knowledge and sold to others in markets, including the black market. In each of the parts of human trafficking many persons are involved. However, when caught, not all of them are punished. Most get away with it because laws are not strict or regulated correctly to punish the violators. 

To provide example of times where the law has not punished a trafficker harshly enough one can look at some cases from the United States. In the United States, there are about more than 4,000 cases reported and many that go unreported. From the ones that are, the criminals get prison sentences that are not considered punishment enough by many human trafficking advocates. An article published by ABC News, titled “Why did these sex traffickers only get a slap on the wrist”, provides three examples of when trafficker’s prison time is not punishment enough. One man, named Angel Campos Tellez received a sentence of three years and six months after admitting to being the leader of a prostitution ring. Another man named, Freddy Soriano Leguisamos received three years after being charged with fifty-four counts of general prostitution. To give essence of why these convictions are not considered harsh by human trafficker advocates, one can compare the sentencing of a person who was involved in the selling or distribution of weed. A California man received ten years of prison time for distribution of weed. A man from Iowa received instead fifteen years for distribution of weed. Now, the issue with the sentences lies in the laws. For example, in New York and other states prostitution is considered a misdemeanor to legislation. Which makes the sexual exploitation seem as a less crime than it is and leads to traffickers receiving short prison time (Costantini). Using the United States as an example is done because the United States is who does a lot of the data about human trafficking that one sees, is part of the human trafficking fight, and is involved with the United Nations. 

Another issue with laws in the United States is that a lot of the laws and law enforcements treat prostitutes as if they are criminals. That is an issue because it can lead them to keeping quiet because they are scared. The Texas Department of criminal justice reported that there were 3,575 prostitution cases in 2016. From those case, thirty-four people were released on probation terms and helped, while 249 received some jail time and received no help or counselling to be able to escape the sex trafficking they were victims of (Haynes). That stems from the idea that many believe those involved in prostitution decided to be prostitutes. However, human trafficking advocates and others want it to be clear that many of those involved in prostitution are threated or coerced into being a part of prostitution. 

With laws and help from the government in ending human trafficking, especially sex trafficking the issue of how much help the government provide rises as an issue. When people hear the name Ashton Kutcher, they believe he is just an actor but that is not the case entirely. He is a co-founder of a company named Thorn. Thorn helps in aiding the government with human trafficking issues, especially in cases of sex trafficking. They use technology to help stop and aid in the ending of trafficking. However, the issue comes in when Kutcher spoke at a senate hearing. He spoke about how the government once came to them as a resource because they had no way to fight against trafficking. The government had no other way to stop a situation because the funding, and the FBI and other agencies could not provide the help they needed. As he said, “An actor and his company had to help,” he said those words because people question how an actor could help. That is the issue they do because the government does not provide enough help. In his speech, Kutcher is trying to provide a basis so that the committee can help bring more funding to help the government. There is a part of his speech in which he speaks about how there was a time when he was a part of a raid in which children were involved. This same story is connected to how the officers and people asked Kutcher for help because they were their only resort for help. The children involved were babies less than four and he stated that it was not the only time he has seen things no person should see. To prevent children and others from becoming victims, funding needs to be constituted towards a trafficking agency or an agency that helps. Kutcher mentions that this happened in the United States and that he knows of victims who have suffered at the hands of citizens from the United states. Also, that the victims were people transported to the states just to be used by people in the states

As stated, human trafficking within the United States does occur. Around 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked into the United States (Hagen).  Forced labor is one of the types of trafficking the United States suffers most about.  Labor in restaurants in the United states are told to know conditions and regulations; it is believed that restaurant policies and works bring a “ripe’ for trafficking in places, including the United States. Policies changers want to bring a change to the work for tip because they believe this also helps bring a “ripe” for trafficking because it constitutes a way for people to be able to bring unfair conditions to workers which can bring forced labor.

Pertaining to forced labor, which happens in the United States and other countries, one can look at an example that is currently affecting many people. The World Cup is a known world-wide event and many know that the World Cup 2018 will take place in Russia. To be able to host the cup, the stadiums need to be built to certain regulations and to seem a certain way. To be able to do that many workers are needed. Of course, cheap labor is needed. The issue occurs when workers are promised money and instead they are given nothing. The issue also occurs when the worker’s documentation is taken which prevents people from leaving. The point of the example is to provide an insight at how events as big as world cups bring forced labor to light. However, it remains a blind spot to people because they do not understand (Hepburn, Huffington Post). The article published by the Huffington post provides places where forced manual labor is occurring because they know the information. Somehow and for some reason, the government struggles to bring an end to the matter because of regulations. That may be because there are no regulations globally that completely prohibit in this case how to take care of the issue. Meaning, because the World Cup is a world-wide event that takes years to prepare for and hard work to make sure everything is as sharp as can be, there should be global regulations about how a country takes care of making those demands come true. Labor regulations are usually a national issue, but in this instance because the preparation if for a global event there should be global regulations that help set labor laws. There is where the United Nations comes into play because they are known to be global regulation setters and many countries attempt to follow regulations set by United Nations. To further explain forced labor one can see how the perpetrators make sure the victims do as they say.  Many times, with forced labor it involved people who are terrified of being caught without documentation. The traffickers take a worker’s documentation, and they give the victims the idea that they have no choice. However, that is not the case if a solution is given that would allow the global government to give regulations that each nation must follow. Therefore, they need to change their laws to provide better labor and stop that type of trafficking.

The United Nations has been mentioned quite some but there are issues that arise with them. That is that they are considered to always join “last in the game” when it comes to human trafficking and the cases in court. With this it continues that once the United Nations has intervened, they bring a fake “peace” that means that if the trafficker is sentenced the victim is left to reinstate into society without help. The issue is that many believe the government should help by bringing help and funding to places so that they can help the victim reinstate (Smith & Smith).  There are many stories by victims where they speak about the hardships they face and how they do not receive any aid. That comes from the idea sometimes that the traffickers are considered the ones who are not entirely at fault. Alma, a woman from the Philippines, speaks about how in her country many believe the buyer is the victim and the prostitute is the criminal (Equality now: “Alma”). This idea is thought by many of different countries and as shown in the United States it is something that occurs. The laws that criminalize prostitutes and send them to jail are an example of how prostitutes are seen as the criminals. The truth is that the buyers are the criminals and the prostitutes are not because they do not always decide the lifestyle of prostitution. In many cases, they are coerced or forced to work in the streets. 

The United Nations has a solution that involves many different aspects. The catch is that this plan was adopted in 2010 but since then events have occurred, trafficking has risen, and different laws adopted do not help bring change. The plan, at this time, is seven years old which means that a new one needs to be adapted. Such things that need to be considered are that some countries that had a high rate of trafficking has changed because new national laws change the global plan. Also, many countries suffer different types of human trafficking. Which means a plan needs to include each aspect of human trafficking, an idea of how to fight that, and what to do as a nation.

The Global initiative of 2010 will be replaced soon with new plans. That is in the year 2017 meeting will be held to continue with the Global Action plan of 2010 or even make changes. Currently, some of the changes wanted include what should have been done since the 2010 plan and that is for countries to fully accept trafficking occurs and to accept that they need to address it to the public. The new ideas are a part of the Sustainable Development which also includes hoeing with poverty and ending it because poverty plays a role in trafficking. Poverty plays role because many victims that are exploited are sometimes coerced using money or the need for money. The issue with the plan is that it is said to be in effect in 2030 and that is it is accepted and passed. Before anything is passed, the main way to provide a solution must be taken. That is people need to me educated on human trafficking and they need to understand the different aspects of human trafficking. Also, there must be the separation of a global initiative and a national initiative. People must also that they need to learn of the Global Plan that is currently in place because it affects the national initiative of a person.

Currently a plan named, “Global actions against trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrant” has been in effect since 2015 and will continue to be through 2019. The plan is a part of the European Union and United Nations that targets fifteen countries. It may seem and sound as if that is an effective plan, targeting countries specifically. However, the countries targeted are in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe (UNODC). The issue with this is that it has been in effect since 2015 but in the countries from the continents the data shows trafficking has not lowered not has it stopped. The other issue lies in that these nations are also not accepting that trafficking happens in their countries as well and that before they want to stop trafficking in other nations they should stop it in their own nation. 

Advocating about human trafficking means also advocating for the victims. That means bringing help for victims to be able to readjust to society and life. Which includes making the government understand they need to provide funding to an agency or a type of victim help group that is provided by the government. Many times, victims have a hard time readjusting into society and that leads to an even more difficult life. Currently governments have a type of visa that is used to help bring victims to safety. One would think that is all a victim needs, safety but that is not the case. As stated adjusting into society and the life they had before it not simple. Providing help means giving them a shelter in which they start to feel safe, providing financial aid to them, and psychological help. Tonya, a victim of human trafficking, specifically sexual exploitation told her story to many. Once she was rescued she felt safer but it was not easy because going bac to living a life that does not involve exploitation and safety was in a way new to her (Human Trafficking victim shares story). The issue came with how during the trial of her perpetrator she had to tell her side of the story and hear her perpetrator’s story as well. Yes, the trail is essential so that a criminal can pay for their crimes but the part where she had to testify and how it was done should had been different. She should have had help form an agency or shelter so she could cope and be able to not think about her nightmare the way she did. Advocating for human trafficking must always include advocating for the victim, help for the victim, and making sure the true criminal pays for their activity without hurting the victim even more. 

In bringing the best solution to light knowing the current plans in effect and the changes they have brought is important. Understanding that each plan will bring change that will affect countries to a global and national level is important. That as stated means nations truly accepting trafficking does occur in their countries. That include people not saying they do not want to know about trafficking because it will not affect them, which is not true. From then on, each national state must decide what is best to enforce the global laws. People who advocate, who want to bring change, who want to make human trafficking even more known must remembering they also have to fight for the victim. The victim suffering must end when they are rescued. Even though the idea is to stop human trafficking and most would not think about victims because they would think that if trafficking ended there are no victims. Though if one thinks clearly, they understand that because that is not the case yet, that because trafficking is not close to ending, the victim must be looked out for and focus must be on them as well. Funding and law changes cannot just be about ending trafficking or just thinking about ways that they think are best. To bring a true end, slowly, even, the best plan must be put in place. That all begins with understanding human trafficking and every detail that comes with it. That begins with knowing the facts and understanding them. 
