In the States we read about the slavery of the 19th century. And then we think to ourselves, "Wow, what monsters people used to be! Glad that's over."
Yet human trafficking, aka modern day slavery, still exists.
The U.S. Embassy compiled a list (that stretches far too long) of countries across the globe that are in some way involved in human trafficking. From Argentina to Burma to Uzbekistan, approximately 800,000 people annually are trafficked across national borders for labor and sexual exploitation. And this does not include the thousands trafficked within their own country. 80% are female. 50% are children.
Guatemala falls within the list of countries where the government does not fully comply with the rules for the elimination of trafficking. Guatemalan children and women are exploited to Mexico, and - don't think the problem is exclusive to "those countries down there" - the U.S. of A. for forced domestic labor and prostitution. All genders and ages are trafficked for cheap agricultural labor - especially on coffee plantations. Along the Mexican border, Guatemalan youth are exploited for forced begging as well as labor in municipal dumps. Child sex tourism is high in Antigua, Lake Atitlan, and Guatemala City, with the main "tourists" arriving from Canada, U.S., Germany, and Spain, according to the 2010 Human Trafficking report released by the U.S. Embassy.
And this is just one of the many countries that is both experiencing such horrible activity by human traffickers and such inactivity by the nation's government.
Sorry, I really can't think of a way to spin a good conclusion. Perhaps send a little prayer or chant a good omen for the world to change . . .
Very sad. Google "restavek" or "child slavery haiti"....sadly, they'll need a worldview shift to change it. Google "how to buy a child in 10 hours"
ReplyDeleteScary T, very scary...
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