Introduction
The challenge of preventing human trafficking in Texas and meeting the needs of its victims is complicated by the multifaceted nature of the problem. It is determined by the involvement of numerous individuals and organizations, a variety of purposes for committing the crime, and the absence of measures for distinguishing offenders from their victims (“More Than 300,000 Estimated Victims of Human Trafficking in Texas”).
All these obstacles to effective prevention and resolution of the cases are typical for Texas, and the state’s current work on eliminating the risks and helping individuals does not make a change (“Human Trafficking in Texas” 36). Therefore, it is critical to understand the essence of the issue by examining the circumstances of these events based on the data gathered in Texas and suggest solutions to address the revealed gaps in policies.
Analysis of the Issue
Definition and Statistics from Texas
The definition of human trafficking, despite its complex nature, implies exercising illegal methods of controlling people for receiving profits. It means that any type of the described behavior can be attributed to the problem, while sex and poor working conditions are generally emphasized as the most critical (Sanborn et al. 7). The former is frequently committed towards the persons in a difficult life situation by developing victims’ trust by promises of help that they do not receive from the government and society (Davies; Smith et al.). In this case, any individual, regardless of age and other circumstances, can be affected by it.
In turn, the latter is attributed mainly to adults, and this type of human trafficking is critical for migrant workers and those in the agriculture industry in particular (“Tied Visas and Human Trafficking Texas” 9). According to the recent statistics, the number of victims of the two types of crime in Texas amounts to over 300,000 individuals, among which 79,000 are minors and 234,000 are adults (“More Than 300,000 Estimated Victims of Human Trafficking in Texas”). Thus, the scope of the problem implies the inefficiency of current measures and the need to modify them promptly.
Erroneous Perceptions of the Problem
One of the main reasons why the situation with human trafficking in Texas is critical is the lack of awareness of people regarding its existence and, consequently, the neglect of the requirement to address it. The erroneous perceptions of the population are connected to their belief in the presence of such challenges in other countries, including Thailand (“Human Trafficking”). Also, people tend to confuse issues linked to immigration policies with the exploitation of adults from other regions of the world (“Human Trafficking”). These two conditions explain why there is no sufficient support for the victims of human trafficking and why the authorities do not elaborate effective solutions to it. As a result, the affected persons might not even view themselves as those in need of help (“Human Trafficking”).
From this perspective, the programs intended for the rehabilitation of these groups of citizens should be underpinned by the general understanding of the existence of the problem. In addition, in this case, not the victims but criminals should be blamed for it in order to form appropriate opinions of the population towards the challenge of eliminating human trafficking risks.
The Link between Human Trafficking and the Child Welfare System
Another aspect of the matter is the reasons for involving minors in human trafficking, and they are directly connected to the work of the child welfare system in Texas. According to Smith et al., the facilities aimed for assisting underage individuals in vulnerable circumstances do not have any means to support them. Moreover, the living conditions ensured by them do not provide for one’s safety, and this fact explains the desire of the affected persons to seek outside help (Smith et al.). This tendency puts them at risk of becoming victims of human traffickers in the state. These people appear to be more understanding than the authorities and representatives of institutions responsible for the improvements of their life situations, and this factor exacerbates the problem.
The Legal Aspect of the Matter
The final aspect of the matter is the dubious effectiveness of the adopted measures for resolving the issue and, more specifically, the lack of legal means for this purpose. Thus, for example, the authorities in Texas still struggle with prohibiting websites advertising sexual services, such as Backpage, despite the corresponding legislation (“Human Trafficking in Texas” 21). This failure to control social media means the impossibility of preventing communication between offenders and their clients. Also, the adoption of The Trafficking Victim Protection Act Reauthorizations and numerous revisions did not contribute to the task of eliminating the problem of commercial sex for minors (“Tied Visas and Human Trafficking Texas” 5; Satija et al. a). Hence, the implementation of the changes suggested by these decisions in Texas does not seem possible without referring to the practices of other states.
Solutions to the Problem
The described challenges related to finding solutions to human trafficking in Texas imply the development of preventive measures. This task should be performed with regard to the identified aspects of the problem in order to ensure the effectiveness of new suggestions. Considering the analysis conducted above, these areas include the need for increasing individuals’ awareness of the situation in terms of this crime, using other states’ experience and improving the mechanisms of recognizing the offenses. In addition, allocating funds for these objectives, establishing facilities for assisting victims, and reconsidering the provision of psychological assistance are required.
Increasing The Awareness of Children
The elaboration of a new approach to human trafficking and eliminating its risks should begin with the attention to children’s awareness of this crime. This necessity is conditional upon their vulnerable position compared to other population groups as well as the ongoing process of personality formation. The latter means that they might struggle with learning one’s value and their own worth and, consequently, suffer from the lack of respect towards themselves and their bodies, which makes them victims of human traffickers (“Talking With Kids About Human Trafficking”). In order to avoid the adverse consequences of this factor, education programs for them should incorporate information concerning financial literacy and the appropriateness of working conditions.
Legal Means: Guidance from Different Organizations and Other States
The legal aspect of human trafficking in Texas is insufficiently addressed; hence, these risks can be eliminated when relying on the experience of other states and, more specifically, international organizations. For instance, the United Nations Protocol to Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons can serve as the basis for further programs as it clarifies the patterns of this offense for their prevention (“Tied Visas and Human Trafficking Texas” 3). Subsequently, various solutions, such as national enforcement operations in San Francisco, California, or a public education campaign in Atlanta, Georgia, should be introduced in Texas (Sanborn et al. 67; 72). These measures were reported to be effective for finding criminals and informing citizens and, therefore, correspond to the state’s needs.
Reallocating Funds for Combatting the Problem
Another vital requirement for the authorities in Texas is related to the improper use of funds for addressing the risks of human trafficking and assisting its victims. According to the information provided by the University of Texas in Austin, $6.5 billion is intended for this purpose; however, there are no reports about how they help the affected persons (“More Than 300,000 Estimated Victims of Human Trafficking in Texas;” Satija et al. b).
Meanwhile, many girls with a history of sexual abuse end up in jails instead of the institutions intended for helping them in rehabilitation in society (Satija et al. a). In this situation, they simply have no means for protection, and this fact means that the funds available to the authorities are not used for their benefit. As a result, the individuals in this population group cannot return to normal life and see no other option but to return to the human traffickers. This outcome leads to the necessity to reassess the use of funds and make the required changes in this respect.
Establishing Facilities Helping the Victims
The previous section is complemented by another crucial factor, which is the absence of facilities in Texas responsible for the assistance to the victims of human trafficking. According to Satija et al. a, the only institution in the state available to them is called Freedom Place, and it cannot meet the needs of these individuals. The failure to do so determines why the girls do not have access to any medical services and the providers of psychological help (Satija et al. a). This circumstance means that establishing institutions for these purposes should be a priority for Texas. It is clear that this measure will require funds; nevertheless, considering their availability and the suggested reconsideration, this project is possible to implement and thereby allow these persons to become full-fledged society members.
Helping Vulnerable Children
The final measure related to the prevention of human trafficking in Texas is the particular attention of the state’s representatives to the needs of vulnerable children. As follows from the evidence provided by researchers, the majority of victims are those from low-income families and with a previous history of domestic abuse (“Human Trafficking” 31; Satija et al. a). Therefore, the assistance to these individuals in terms of finances and other aspects essential for their wellbeing will be effective in ensuring their lack of trust in strangers, who can potentially be human traffickers. In other words, the earlier the problems of some citizens are revealed, the more suitable the implemented measures are in the case of possible control exercised by others.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the problem of human trafficking in Texas is critical because of several reasons. First, the people in this state have erroneous perceptions regarding the prevalence of this crime and its causes, which makes them vulnerable to offenders. Second, the child welfare system does not have effective means for supporting new generations. Third, the legal methods of controlling this offense are ineffective when applied to websites and other social media.
In order to eliminate the accompanying risks stemming from these challenges, the solutions should address the identified issues. Thus, it is important to increase the awareness of children by introducing education programs, use the experience of international organizations and other states as guidance, and reallocate funds. The last measure will be the most significant in this case since it will allow establishing facilities for assisting victims and prevent minors’ involvement in human trafficking by timely helping them.
Works Cited
Davies, David Martin. “Human Trafficking In Texas: Sex Slavery In Our Own Backyard.” Texas Public Radio. 2018. Web.
“Human Trafficking.” Ken Paxton Attorney General of Texas, n.d. Web.
“Human Trafficking in Texas.” n.d. [PDF Document].
“More Than 300,000 Estimated Victims of Human Trafficking in Texas.” The University of Texas in Austin. 2017. Web.
Sanborn, Robert, et al. Children at risk: The State of Human Trafficking in Texas. The Texas Bar Association, 2009.
Satija, Neena, et al. “Texas Couldn’t Help This Sex-Trafficked Teen, So Authorities Sent Her to Jail.” The Texas Tribune. 2017. Web.
Satija, Neena, et al. “Solutions: What Texas Can do to Help Child Sex-Trafficking Victims.” The Texas Tribune. 2017. Web.
Smith, Morgan, et al. “How Hollow Rhetoric and a Broken Child Welfare System Feed Texas’ Sex-Trafficking Underworld.” The Texas Tribune. 2017. Web.
“Tied Visas and Human Trafficking Texas.” n.d.
“Talking With Kids About Human Trafficking.” The Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking, n.d. Web.