In 2003, The UN estimated that human trafficking is an 8 to 10 billion dollar industry. Businesses can range from small productions to huge, international, competitive companies that can quickly change structures to fit new legislation and immigration policies. The people involved in these enterprises include investors that supervise the operation, recruiters, transporters, corrupt public officials, debt collectors, money launderers and more. They often remain anonymous to one another so that the operation cannot be traced back to many people.
“Dying to Leave.” PBS. 25 September 2003. 22 July 2010. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/dying-to-leave/business-of-human-trafficking/business-structures/1420/
Human Trafficking: Everybody’s Business
The UN Global Compact includes the definition of human trafficking and a few key statistics on this crime to preface an article on the overlap between businesses and trafficking. It claims businesses should be aware of violating human rights because they could disobey international labor standards and human trafficking is morally corrupt. Studies found that businesses are aware of human trafficking, but do not know how it connects to their production.
UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking. “Human Trafficking: Everybody’s Business.” United Nations. 22 July 2010. http://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/news_events/9.1_news_archives/2009_03_27/Story_Survey_Final.pdf
Modern Slavery Generates More Money than Top Fortune 500 Companies
This article is effective because it compares the human trafficking industry to well known companies such as Wal-Mart and Chevron. The only way to decrease the supply of human trafficking, the people, is to decrease the demand. This means avoiding things that trafficked people produce such as commercial sex and some clothing.
Amanda Kloer. “Modern Slavery Generates More Money than Top Fortune 500 Companies.” Change.org. 14 July 2010. 22 July 2010. http://humantrafficking.change.org/blog/view/modern_slavery_generates_more_money_than_top_fortune_500_companies