This week I decided I would try to link my blog topic a bit more to Harya’s (The Rape of Women as a Tool of War). Although they might not seem obviously related, there is definitely a connection. Social upheaval (which of course includes war) is a major contributing factors to sex trafficking because they increase the vulnerability of women. Many socioeconomic factors, especially poverty, put women at risk for becoming victims of sex trafficking.
In Western Europe, women have historically been trafficked from eastern European countries, but now more and more women are trafficked from Africa. Nigeria, in particular, has been a major source of victims. Looking at these countries’ histories provides explanation as to why their women are so likely to be forced into prostitution in Western Europe.
A 2001 article published in the National Institute of Justice Journal listed Belarus, Latvia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine as “major suppliers of women” to the sex industry. These former Soviet countries faced many difficulties after the fall of communism in the early 1990s. They found themselves riddled with crime, corruption, poverty, homelessness, and unemployment. These factors contributed to worsen the status of many women, along with the decreased participation of women in the post-communism labor force. Ultimately, there was a surge of eastern European women trafficked to Western Europe.
Though never a communist country, Nigeria has faced problems similar to those of eastern Europe. It has also had its share of corruption, especially during its three decades of military rule. It is now once again a democracy, but has been only since 1999. Poverty is a major problem, and girls are often sold by their families. Some madams will allow girls to send home a small amount of money, which often exceeds the average income of roughly $1/day, according to one article I read.
During transitions of government, as seen in the examples of former communist countries or in Nigeria, or situations of conflict women become particularly vulnerable to sex trafficking. Aid organizations that work with countries during such times should be particularly aware of the added danger to women and strive to minimize the risk.
Sources:
http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:kXxDo3_iXP4J:www.econ.yale.edu/growth_pdf/cdp768.pdf+effects+communism+on+women&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:lHqlOayqGSYJ:www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/natasha_nij.pdf+eastern+europe+sex+trafficking+western+europe&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3283530,00.html
http://www.globalizacija.com/doc_en/e0058sim.htm
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1005
I think the link between socioeconomic factors and sex work and sex trafficking is a good argument for the decriminalization of sex work. There is still a link between socioeconomic background and sex work in the United States (if less dramatic) and often punishing prostitutes for their work seems like trying to eradicate symptoms without curing the disease. Sex trafficking is a slightly different scenario, and I am still unsure where I stand on the decriminalization of sex work, but it is stories like this which underline that many women to not have a choice whether to go into sex work that make it a somewhat compelling option.
It is hard to hear statements like “major suppliers of women,” making it seem like women are cattle to be traded across nations. And for the most part this is true, where their is a demand, a supply must be found. I think it is difficult to concentrate on sex-trafficking in conflict areas where women are most vulnerable. It is frustrating because their are so many problems in these areas that its is hard to focus on them all. I am not sure it there are, but in addition to providing basic care in conflict ridden areas, I hope there are particular organizations that focus on particular problems.
It is hard to hear statements like “major suppliers of women,” making it seem like women are cattle to be traded across nations. And for the most part this is true, where their is a demand, a supply must be found. I think it is difficult to concentrate on sex-trafficking in conflict areas where women are most vulnerable. It is frustrating because their are so many problems in these areas that its is hard to focus on them all. I am not sure it there are, but in addition to providing basic care in conflict ridden areas, I hope there are particular organizations that focus on particular problems.
I think your blog is very interesting, I think when looking at the connection between conflict and sex trafficking. It is important to notice the trends between the two. Whenever there is an onset of violence or more importantly after violence, the whole country is let in shambles increasing poverty and thus usually increasing the vulnerability and exploitation of women.