History
1200-1600
Slavery had existed for many years prior to 1200, and was a common form of everyday life worldwide. However, in the 1400's, it started the beginning of European slave trading in Africa with the Portuguese transporting people from Africa to Portugal and using them as slaves. Britain joined the slaved trade in Africa in 1952. During the 1600s, other countries became more involved in the European slave trade. These included Spain, North America, Holland, France, Sweden, and Denmark.
1700-
Human trafficking for sexual purposes was first legally recognised by the term 'white slavery'. According to Kristina Kangaspunta, 'white slavery' is obtaining a white woman or girl- by the use of force, drugs, or by dishonesty- for sex which is unwanted by the woman or girl. Kangapunta, has argued that international governments began to discuss 'white slavery' after the Transatlantic slave trade was made illegal in the 1700's.In 1807, Great Britain passed a law that made the Transatlantic Slave Trade illegal. In 1820, the United States was right behind Great Britain's example by making the slave trade a crime that was punishable by death. In 1899 and 1902, world wide conferences to discuss white slavery were arranged. 1904, an world wide agreement against the 'white slave trade' was created, with a focus on migrant women and children. In 1910, 13 countries signed the International Convention for the Suppression of White Slave Trade to make this form of trafficking illegal. However, despite the new laws, human trafficking still existed internationally.
1900-
Women and young girl victims were (are) used for sex, while men and young boys were forced to do labor for no or little pay. However, human trafficking of children is most common. King and Queens in Europe, in 1904, signed an agreement, the International Agreement for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic. The agreement included combating the traffic of women and girls in their countries. Later on, 12 countries signed International Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic as well. In 1923, the British colonial government in Hong Kong, passed the law of banning the selling of girls as domestic slaves. Countries all over the world started signing the law of banning the trafficking and selling of people. Forced labour and sexual exploitation was at its all time high during the 1900's. In 1927, after WWI, the League of Nations was founded. It had the goal maintaining world peace and also focusing on international issues such as human trafficking. The idea of White Slave Traffic was changed to "traffic in women and children" so that everyone was included with no discrimination to race. Children of both genders were also recognised as victims of trafficking.
2000-
Free the Slaves, an American charity organisation of Anti-Slavery International, was launched in the United States. This organisation is one of the most influential movements in history. This organisation, highlighted the effects of human trafficking. Approximately 80% of trafficking involves sexual exploitation, and 19% involves labor exploitation. There are approximately 20 to 30 million slaves in the world today. Human trafficking is the third largest international crime industry (behind illegal drugs and arms trafficking). It reportedly generates a profit of $32 billion every year. Of that number, $15.5 billion is made in industrialised countries.
Today, many charities and organisations help free and save the lives of those trafficked.
Slavery had existed for many years prior to 1200, and was a common form of everyday life worldwide. However, in the 1400's, it started the beginning of European slave trading in Africa with the Portuguese transporting people from Africa to Portugal and using them as slaves. Britain joined the slaved trade in Africa in 1952. During the 1600s, other countries became more involved in the European slave trade. These included Spain, North America, Holland, France, Sweden, and Denmark.
1700-
Human trafficking for sexual purposes was first legally recognised by the term 'white slavery'. According to Kristina Kangaspunta, 'white slavery' is obtaining a white woman or girl- by the use of force, drugs, or by dishonesty- for sex which is unwanted by the woman or girl. Kangapunta, has argued that international governments began to discuss 'white slavery' after the Transatlantic slave trade was made illegal in the 1700's.In 1807, Great Britain passed a law that made the Transatlantic Slave Trade illegal. In 1820, the United States was right behind Great Britain's example by making the slave trade a crime that was punishable by death. In 1899 and 1902, world wide conferences to discuss white slavery were arranged. 1904, an world wide agreement against the 'white slave trade' was created, with a focus on migrant women and children. In 1910, 13 countries signed the International Convention for the Suppression of White Slave Trade to make this form of trafficking illegal. However, despite the new laws, human trafficking still existed internationally.
1900-
Women and young girl victims were (are) used for sex, while men and young boys were forced to do labor for no or little pay. However, human trafficking of children is most common. King and Queens in Europe, in 1904, signed an agreement, the International Agreement for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic. The agreement included combating the traffic of women and girls in their countries. Later on, 12 countries signed International Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic as well. In 1923, the British colonial government in Hong Kong, passed the law of banning the selling of girls as domestic slaves. Countries all over the world started signing the law of banning the trafficking and selling of people. Forced labour and sexual exploitation was at its all time high during the 1900's. In 1927, after WWI, the League of Nations was founded. It had the goal maintaining world peace and also focusing on international issues such as human trafficking. The idea of White Slave Traffic was changed to "traffic in women and children" so that everyone was included with no discrimination to race. Children of both genders were also recognised as victims of trafficking.
2000-
Free the Slaves, an American charity organisation of Anti-Slavery International, was launched in the United States. This organisation is one of the most influential movements in history. This organisation, highlighted the effects of human trafficking. Approximately 80% of trafficking involves sexual exploitation, and 19% involves labor exploitation. There are approximately 20 to 30 million slaves in the world today. Human trafficking is the third largest international crime industry (behind illegal drugs and arms trafficking). It reportedly generates a profit of $32 billion every year. Of that number, $15.5 billion is made in industrialised countries.
Today, many charities and organisations help free and save the lives of those trafficked.