- Sex trafficking, sex slavery is an issue in New Zealand.
According to the U.S. State Department, New Zealand had title of a “source country” for sex trafficking of underage girls and a destination country for modern slavery. Also New Zealand classified as a “tier one” country, which mean that New Zealand only have minimum standards and have one of the worst system for protecting trafficking victims in the world (Donnell . 2012).
There are many reason to become victims of sex trafficking. One of reason is the gang trafficking rings. A recent example is Malaysian sex worker who need help from police to retrieve her passport back from her brothel owner. She said she were lure by $5600 to come to Auckland, New Zealand to be prostitute. However, was later told that it was a loan she had to repay (Tan. 2010).
Furthermore, hundreds of young women in New Zealand are selling themselves for sex on a classified ad website. Advertisement offering a “very pretty Maori girl” or “Caribbean beauty”. The ads show a photo of the women and a biography explaining their physical features, including available sexual services (Carville. 2016)
It is not easy to find sexual trafficking until prostitute report themselves. According to agency of immigration of New Zealand, Nigel Bickle, after his interview in Auckland brothel, prostitutes were satisfied and there were no indications of exploitations. To reduce and protect sex trafficking, the government and the labor department are research into international best practice in supporting and protecting victims (Tan. 2010).
- The article (pdf) Born Free talks about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which came into effect in 2016. Find out if human trafficking is addressed by one of the goals? What needs to be done to combat human trafficking?
According to the article Born Free, after 2015, in the world, we might actually see a significant decline in human trafficking including, buying and selling of children, women and men. To reduce and remove human trafficking, Sustainable Development goals are used by the Outcome Documents. Under proposed goal five, no matter genders and sex, everyone should be equal. Under the eighth goal, promote sustained, sustained economic growth, and place must be able to work. These proposal urges the end of the trafficking of children and soldiers by 2025. There are also sub-goals which can start to eliminate trafficking, “provide[ing] legal identity for all including birth registration,” promoting “sustainable tourism,’ and “sustainable transport systems…with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children with disabilities…” (Mendelson 2014).
According to UNICEF, combatting organized crime, promoting the rule of law, and reducing all forms of violence are all connected to ending trafficking in the world. Which include end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. These goals cannot be achieved if we do not work together. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center in the United States has launched a Global Hotline Network, UNICEF had launched The Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children in order to accomplish the goal of eliminating trafficking. Also it is important to have access to decent, stable job. Since poverty is one of the root causes for slavery and human trafficking. Situations of desperation are created when families cannot have food, health care or unavailability of education. Many reason for human trafficking begin with an individual’s hope to get a decent job. If nation truly concern and invest in economic opportunities, it will reduce human trafficking. As the SDG’s will integrate the three core dimensions of sustainable development: the social, the economic and the environmental – UNICEF’s message is that sustainable development starts with safe, healthy, and well-educated children (UNICEF, 2016)
Donnell, H. (June 20, 2012). NZ Criticized for Sex-Trafficking and Slavery. Nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10814256
Tan, L. (Aug 4, 2010). NZ’s Sex-Slave Cases ‘Slip Under Radar’. Nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved from. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10663446
Carville, O. (Sep 22, 2016). Exposed: The Dark Underbelly of Human Trafficking in New Zealand. Nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11711211
Mendelson, SE. (Sept 22, 2014). Born Free: How to Prevent Human Trafficking.
UNICEF. (Jan 29, 2016). End Trafficking Campaign: The Sustainable Development Goals that Aim to End Human Trafficking. UNICEF. Retrieved from https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/sustainable-development-goals-aim-end-human-trafficking/29864
Australia & Oceania 