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Europe
In 1904, the International Agreement for the Suppression of "White Slave Traffic" was signed. The reason for this agreement was to protect any women from "white slave traffic." White slave meaning prostitution or forcing women to give up their bodies. Some people say that this act was only put into place in order to control the number of European women who were seeking to find jobs abroad. Still, the agreement stands. -
Leauge of Nations
After WWI League of Nations was founded, its goal was to focus on international issues, like human trafficking. The Suppression of White Slave Traffic was changed to "traffic in women and children" so that everyone was included with no discrimination to race. Factors that were measured included the number of women engaged in prostitution, the demand, and the surrounding environment of the women who were trafficked. This was a huge step on gaining more insight of human trafficking. -
Japan*******
During World War 2 Japan set up a system where women all across Asia were forced into sexual slavery. "Comfort Stations" were where these women were kept and horrifically beaten if they were defiant. Many women ultimately died of disease, malnutrition, exhaustion, suicide, and much more. This "comfort station" grounds were impossible for women to leave, they used barbed wire to close them in. The reason for setting this up was to prevent public rape and spread of STD's. -
India
India initiated the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. These activities included running brothels, living on earnings from sex work, capturing and imprisoning people into prostitution, etc. The act failed. -
United Nations
In 1995 the United Nations held the Fourth World Conference, addressing the issue of trafficking of women. "They were going to set up effective law enforcement and institutions who would work to eliminate trafficking both nationally and internationally, and implementing programs including educational and rehabilitation institutions to provide for the social, medical, and psychological needs to victims of trafficking." -
Polaris Project
Katherine Chon and Derek Ellerman, two seniors from Brown University found out about a prostitution home and imagined a society where modern day slavery was eliminated. Through the Polaris Project it became true. " Their key developments include a national, toll-free hotline where they receive information or reports regarding human trafficking, advocating for more legislation, raising awareness, and training law enforcement to deal with trafficking" -
Thailand
Many people were found to be illegally smuggled into Thailand by traffickers. They were kept in a seafood container and the air conditioning malfunctioned leaving 57 dead. 67 survived, wanting to find jobs in Thailand but could not find any. The traffickers worried police would get suspicious because of how many people died and they fled. Leaving illegal immigrants in Thailand, with no work or homes. Most were women. -
2009
Women in Taipei, Taiwan were given fake passports and trafficked over to the US. They were discovered by the National Immigration Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 76 suspects were brought to investigation. -
Human trafficking awareness month*******
Obama made January 11, 2011 human trafficking awareness day. The Alliance to End Human Trafficking, an anti trafficking coalition, began a campaign to ask the government to take a serious look at trafficking by renewing the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. This was not only set to form more awareness but to start action. -
Sex trafficking hot line********
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a national anti-trafficking hotline serving victims and survivors of human trafficking and the anti-trafficking community in the United States. The toll-free hotline is available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year in more than 200 languages.
