Introduction
Sex trafficking is a modern problem that affects vulnerable populations on multiple levels. In this particular paper, the specific characteristics of sex trafficking in the US states bordering Mexico will be discussed. Thus, the demographic that is most affected by the phenomenon will be identified based on individual, community, family, culture, and environmental characteristics. It is also important to highlight that the inhumane practice is linked to multiple adverse health outcomes, both in regard to physical and mental well-being. The aim is to illustrate the challenge and highlight potential solutions formulated in a comprehensive plan that can assist Doctors Without Borders in minimizing the harmful effects of sex trafficking. The current examination is individualized and comprises data and recommendations for US states bordering Mexico, as it is essential to consider certain aspects (cultural, economic, political, and personal) that may put the vulnerable demographic at risk.
Location
In order for the challenge to be comprehended, it is important to illustrate the specific characteristic of the location selected for the analysis. Based on a 2018 report, the states in which human trafficking and sex trafficking specifically are more prevalent are those bordering Mexico. Namely, the largest number of victims have been reported in California and Texas (Polaris, 2018). The proximity to Mexico is the most important factor influencing geographical centredness. As most of the victims are Central and South American women and girls, the closest states for traffickers to transport them are those on the border with Mexico. Needless to say, addressing these locations in the Doctors Without Borders initiative would have the most extensive positive impact, as a well-located intervention can potentially benefit multiple victims. Moreover, over-the-border trafficking allows perpetrators to estate legal repercussions and benefit from inequalities by luring victims under the pretense of giving them a better life.
Sex trafficking
Sexual trafficking in US states bordering Mexico is characterized as the victimization of vulnerable populations. Namely, researchers mention women and girls from Mexico and South American countries from rural areas being the main victims. A lack of financial opportunities allows traffickers to lure the victims under the pretense of finding jobs and supporting their families in the more prosperous United States (Acharya & Bryson Clark, 2021). However, the victims find themselves in situations in which they are forced to perform sexual acts for the monetary gain of the trafficker. Moreover, a lack of legal status in the US, potential substance abuse problems, inability to seek help from the outside world, and physical threats stop victims from being able to escape. Hence, sexual trafficking is a form of slavery in which an individual is directly or indirectly imprisoned and exploited sexually and physically for the purpose of generating income for the perpetrator.
Impact on Population
There are several negative implications related to sex trafficking in US states bordering Mexico, both in regards to victims and demographics living in the cities most affected by the phenomenon. According to researchers, the daily victimization that individuals who are trafficked experience has a long-term effect on psychological well-being (Marti Castaner, Fowler, Landers, Cohen, & Orjuela, 2021). Moreover, studies show that victims often have substance abuse problems that act as a mechanism traffickers use to keep the victims dependent and unable to leave the situation (Graham, Macy, Eckhardt, Rizo, & Jordan, 2019). Furthermore, human trafficking also correlates with an overall increase in drug-related crime in affected areas. Other impacts include physical injuries experienced by victims, sexually transmitted diseases due to the sexual acts they are forced to perform, and reproductive issues.
Health Risks
As mentioned prior, sex trafficking is not merely a social, economic, and legal challenge. It also correlates with various health risks that Doctors Without Borders can address through certain measures. It is vital to consider the psychological abuse victims go through. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideations are several of the multiple mental health issues experienced by the victims. Trauma and frequent abuse lead to such problems that are to be addressed through phycological help (Graham et al., 2019). The physical risks, which have been addressed previously, include injuries inflicted by abusers, STIs, and reproductive problems. It is also vital to highlight the health issues related to drug and alcohol use as they are common escape mechanisms among sex trafficking victims.
Vulnerable Populations
Several characteristics have been observed as patterns that highlight vulnerability toward becoming a sex trafficking victim. Namely, traffickers target women with low income or minors from poor families in rural areas in Mexico and all over South America (Acharya & Bryson Clark, 2021). As the abusers usually lure victims by highlighting professional prospects in the US, it is certain the victims are either impoverished or unemployed. Researchers also mention that studies show trafficked minor girls have often been sexually abused prior to being forced into prostitution (Boyce et al., 2018). The same pattern is observed in minors who were married or became pregnant at an early age. Furthermore, women and minor females with a history of substance abuse as also often victims of sex trafficking in US states bordering Mexico (Rocha Jiménez et al., 2018). Similar evidence links human trafficking to childhood abuse and related traumatic experiences.
Causes
The causes that have caused the issue of sex trafficking in US states bordering Mexico to occur are extensive, from individual to community and family circumstances. As mentioned prior, people who are often victimized have a history of abuse, trauma, and violence in their childhood (Boyce et al., 2018). However, besides these individual factors, the community is also a causality. Mexico is a country in which individuals in rural areas cannot access resources such as economic progress, jobs, high-quality education, and effective healthcare. Thus, women leave for the prospect of having a better life yet become sex trafficking victims. Family circumstances also play a role as single-parent households represent lower income demographics, which on one factor that leads to women being forced into prostitution.
Besides individual, community, and family causes facilitating sex trafficking in US-Mexico border states, cultural aspects are also to be considered. According to researchers, certain regions in Mexico and South America correlate with the normalization of violent relationships and crime (Rocha Jiménez et al., 2018). Thus, perpetrators are willing to traffic individuals and force them into prostitution as criminal actions and violence become a pattern correlating with individual culture. Another aspect, the environment, also may present itself as a cause. For example, an environment with high-crime rates, extensive poverty, cartels, and prostitution generate sex trafficking. As a result, criminals involved in certain illegal activities may resort to slavery for sexual purposes.
Exacerbation of the Issue
The exacerbation of the challenge correlates with the exacerbation of the same factors that have generated the presence of sex trafficking in US states bordering Mexico in the first place. Thus, governments do not allocate enough resources to rural areas, which leads to a continuation of individuals seeking jobs in other countries and being forced into sexual labor. Moreover, single-parent households are becoming more common, implying that more families have low incomes. A lack of cultural change in high-crime rural areas creates circumstances in which victims are being trafficked to the US. Furthermore, the inequality among various areas of Mexico and South America based on differences in income between cities and villages facilitates poverty and, as a result, sex trafficking instances.
Intervention Plan
First and foremost, it is essential to conduct educational meetings or interventions in US states bordering Mexico. This will bring awareness to the issue and facilitate crime prevention. Meetings can be held in relation to strategies on how to spot a sex trafficking victim, where to seek help, and how to communicate with individuals in need. Moreover, children can be informed on strategies to avoid becoming victimized since, according to researchers, young girls are especially at risk (Boyce et al., 2018). Doctors Without Borders can also assist in existing shelters for victims, which will give them an opportunity to receive the needed medical support. Moreover, therapists are to work with the victims as sex trafficking correlates with long-term mental health issues related to the trauma.
Doctors Without Borders can become volunteers for a sex trafficking hotline. The National Human Trafficking Line receives frequent calls in which individuals forced into prostitution seek help (United States Department of State, 2021). The volunteers can provide assistance, refer callers to in-person institutions, and facilitate a safer environment for them. Another step is conducting research, as it can help identify patterns, hence, determine ways in which future incidences can be prevented. Last but not least, the volunteers can assist with medical care since victims of such crimes often suffer from STIs, injuries, reproductive system problems, and substance abuse. The plan tackles the challenge on multiple levels and creates an environment in which sex trafficking is not only directly addressed but also prevented through education, awareness, and collaboration.
Conclusion
Sex trafficking in US states bordering Mexico is still a major problem affecting vulnerable populations. Namely, poverty and a lack of resources in local communities drive individuals to seek opportunities across the board but become forced into prostitution by traffickers. Inequalities faced by high-crime rural areas directly correlate with the level of forced sexual labor. The issue can be tackled through a complex approach involving education, practical assistance with healthcare needs, research, and mental support. The plan can potentially lead to a decrease in negative implications faced by the victims as well as minimize the occurrence of such crimes through prevention measures. As a result, Doctors Without Borders have an opportunity to directly impact the problem by targeting US states close to Mexico for a more extensive intervention.
References
Acharya, A. K., & Bryson Clark, J. (2021). Narco-violence, forced displacement, and sex trafficking: A qualitative study in Mexico. Global Crime, 22(3), 205-221.
Boyce, S. C., Brouwer, K. C., Triplett, D., Servin, A. E., Magis-Rodriguez, C., & Silverman, J. G. (2018). Childhood experiences of sexual violence, pregnancy, and marriage associated with child sex trafficking among female sex workers in two US–mexico border cities. American Journal of Public Health, 108(8), 1049-1054.
Graham, L. M., Macy, R. J., Eckhardt, A., Rizo, C. F., & Jordan, B. L. (2019). Measures for evaluating sex trafficking aftercare and support services: A systematic review and resource compilation. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 47, 117-136.
Marti Castaner, M., Fowler, R., Landers, C., Cohen, L., & Orjuela, M. (2021). How trauma related to sex trafficking challenges parenting: Insights from Mexican and Central American survivors in the US. PLOS ONE, 16(6).
Polaris. (2018). Fighting Human Trafficking Across the U.S. – Mexico Border. Web.
Rocha Jiménez, T., Salazar, M., Boyce, S. C., Brouwer, K. C., Staines Orozco, H., & Silverman, J. G. (2018). “We were isolated and we had to do whatever they said”: Violence and coercion to keep adolescents girls from leaving the sex trade in two U.S–Mexico border cities. Journal of Human Trafficking, 5(4), 312-324.
United States Department of State. (2021). 20 ways you can help fight human trafficking. Web.