Human Trafficking
This unit will provide students with an in depth understanding of the many different forms of human trafficking and its underlying causes Students will learn about forced labor, hazardous/exploitative child labor, sex trafficking, forced marriage, involuntary domestic servitude, and child soldiers, using a survivor centered approach This unit discusses prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnerships Students will evaluate current solutions implemented to eliminate human trafficking
L e a r n i n g O u t c o m e s
Define the different forms of exploitation connected to human trafficking
Determine what groups of people are most impacted by human trafficking
Identify the underlying systems and causes that contribute to trafficking
E s s e n t i a l Q u e s t i o n s :
What is human and child trafficking?
What industries/individuals benefit from human trafficking?
Who/what communities are most vulnerable to trafficking?
What are the signs that people have been trafficked?
What are the underlying causes behind human trafficking?
What are methods of prevention and protection for those who are survivors of trafficking?
S k i l l s :
Apply investigative skills
Report on issues taking place
L e s s o n s :
Human Trafficking & Child Labor
Industries Fueling Human Trafficking
Underlying Causes & Vulnerable Communities Combating Human Trafficking
U N I T 2
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Human Trafficking & Child Labor
Human and child trafficking occurs when children are taken away from the safety of their homes and exploited by predators who force them to work, use them for sex, or sell them. Trafficking is associated with demand for cheap labor This is especially true where regulations governing working conditions for adults are weak and employers, therefore, get away with employing kids Children can be more easily controlled than adults, so traffickers target them for exploitation Also, children often cannot be held responsible for criminal activities, which lowers the risk for traffickers that their source of income will be taken away if the children are picked up by police.
Children may be forced into dangerous and illegal situations, including child slavery, domestic labor, sexual exploitation or prostitution, drug smuggling, or being inducted as child soldiers. These children are exposed to extremely harmful situations, deprived of their chance to reach their full potential, and prevented from receiving an education They don't have the freedom to make their own choices
Child trafficking is considered one of the worst forms of child labor Article 3 of Convention No 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labor) classifies child trafficking as one of the “forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery ”
The Palermo Protocol is an instrument that specifically protects women and children from human trafficking It was ratified by the US in December 2005 and defines human trafficking as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation ”
Human trafficking of children is a special case for which only two components are required: movement and exploitation A child cannot give consent to being exploited, even if they are aware or agree to be moved from one place to another and even if the initial recruitment was “voluntary ” Coercive mechanisms to keep a person in an exploitative situation may come into play later
Lesson 1
U N I T 2 : L E S S O N 1 35
T
T O
E R M S
K N O W Child Trafficking Domestic Labor Sexual Exploitation Prostitution Drug Smuggling Child Soldiers Palermo Protocol What is human and child trafficking? E S S E N T I A L Q U E S T I O N S Take Action The Polaris Project Stories of Freedom Anti Slavery International The Bill of Rights ECPAT S U G G E S T E D R E S O U R C E S 36
What is Human Trafficking?
ACTIVITY INTRODUCTION:
This exercise can be used as an introduction to Unit 2, as well as a tool to help students compare what they knew about Human Trafficking before the lessons and after This will help you assess their understanding of the topic
PREPARATION BEFORE THE ACTIVITY:
Cut a piece of paper into small pieces also feel free to use post it notes or an online word cloud tool
ACTIVITY DURATION: 30 MINUTES
ACTIVITY OUTLINE:
What is human trafficking?
When you think of the word human trafficking, what image, sound, idea, or feeling comes to you?
Who can be trafficked?
1 Ask your students to write (in a few words) answers to the following questions: Once all of their questions have been submitted, read them aloud and discuss
2 Hear your students’ thoughts and comments about each other’s answers and note:
What beliefs or ideas were more prevalent, which ones were unique, which ones surprised them, which were the most accurate?
3 At the end of Unit 2, ask your students to reflect on this activity and share:
Did their thoughts and ideas on the topic accurately reflect the present reality? How did the new information help them shape their understanding of the issue?
How is this information useful in their life?
What surprised them the most?
BONUS ACTIVITY:
Under your supervision, encourage students to take up projects creating advocacy and awareness raising materials about human trafficking for their school and community Some examples would be brochures and campaign materials, art displays or exhibits, a song, or any other creative expression that is school appropriate Use the hashtag #UnitedAgainstHumanTrafficking to share and see what students in different schools have come up with!
Lesson 1
U N I T 2 : L E S S O N 1 37
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