Social Studies Note for Grade X (HUMAN TRAFFICKING: A SOCIAL PROBLEM- Unit- 4)

Social Studies Note for Grade X

UNIT-4

LESSON-1

HUMAN TRAFFICKING: A SOCIAL PROBLEM

Introduction
We live in the society in an organized way. Various activities are performed in the society on the basis of established norms, values, tradition, beliefs and modernization. In the course of development, the society faces many hindrances and difficulties like superstition, malpractices etc. Such hindrances and difficulties are called social problems. Due to suffering from social problems, some people involve in some anti-social activities as well. The anti-social activities are called social evils. Social problems and evils cause negative impact not only on the society but also on whole human civilization and act as obstacle in development. The social problems differ according to the time and place.
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is the trade of humans, most commonly for the purpose of sexual slavery, forced labour, or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others. It is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. Every year, thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers, in their own countries and abroad. Almost every country in the world is affected by trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims.

According to Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act-2064, the acts considered as human trafficking, punishment to the offender and compensation to the victim, are as given in the table below:

The traffickers use various means for human trafficking such as threat or use of force
coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or giving payments or benefits. Innocent, poor, women, children, illiterate, living in rural areas, suffering from domestic and social violence, etc. become the victim of human traffckers. They are fraffcked for the purpose of forced labour, child labour, adoption, sexual and labour exploitation. In the past, only women used to be sold for sexual and labour exploitation but the children are also being trafficked nowadays. Women and children are being used as domestic workers with low wage, workers in circus, sexual activities and for begging work. Among various forms of human trafficking, some of them are discussed below:

1.    Girl Trafficking:

Girl trafficking is literally defined as the buying and selling of young girls for sex and labour exploitation. The smugglers allure innocent girls in different ways such as providing a good job, delicious food, nice clothes, & traveling to beautiful cities or sending them for foreign employment etc. Because of lack of awareness, being parentless, domestic violence and extreme poverty, the girls and women are easily trapped in trafficking. In the past, girl trafficking was limited only to India but it has extended its network even to gulf countries, Kore China and south-east Asian countries. Similarly, women are being sold by the brokers in Africa, Europe and America in the name of foreign employment.

Various government and non-government organizations are fighting against this evil practice in our country. Girl trafficking is not only an illegal act but a vile crime. So, it must be controlled.

a.      Girl trafficking can be controlled in the following ways:

b.      The girls/women herself should be conscious to be safe from it.

c.      Parents/guardians should take care of their daughters.

d.      The security body should be alert.

e.      The offenders should be given legal punishment.

f.       Community, government and non-government organization should work jointly against it with good coordination and cooperation.

g.      The access to education and public awareness should be increased.

2.    Child Trafficking:

Buying and selling of children for different purposes is called child trafficking. It is done with or without consent of family. Due to poverty, family tension, carelessness of guardians, etc. the children are distracted and lost especially from Terai region and urban areas.

When, the children fall into the trap of smugglers, they are taken far away from their family and sold. Then, they are made to work in risky jobs, home, circus and in any other disgusting work. The smugglers also use them for extracting organs and begging work. This is a criminal act.

Child Trafficking should be controlled. It can be controlled by the following measures:

a.    Community, guardian, family members and children themselves should be alert.

b.    The access to education and awareness should be increased.

c.    There should be regular surveillance in hotels and industries.

d.    Government and non-government organizations should work actively against it.

e.    The suffering children should be rescued and rehabilitated.

3.    Human Organ Trafficking:

This is the trade of human organs for the purpose of transplantation. Nowadays, several parts of human body can be transplanted if they do not work or are damaged. In such case, the family members or other persons are made donor and their organs are transplanted in the patient's body. If there is no family member or they are not ready to give their organs, such organs are bought from others. This kind of work is done through brokers. About 42% of the total transplanted human organs are trafficked illegally.

Due to the modern living style and environmental pollution, the problem of kidney failure is rapidly increasing all over the world. There is a global need or demand for healthy body parts for transplantation. Organs which are commonly traded are liver, lung, cornea and kidney. The human organ traffickers easily trap the poor and illiterate people. It is our duty to protect the people suffering from this problem and reduce the trade of human organs.

The human organ trafficking can be controlled by the following measures:

a.    Increasing health consciousness

b.    Making poverty alleviation program effective

c.    Being aware of the bad intention of extracting organ in the name of treatment,

d.    Making the provision of care taker for patient and

e.    Watching over those who are the victims and those who are the culprits