Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is modern-day slavery, a crime that is brutal,
dehumanizing and a multi-dimensional threat to international security. Human
trafficking is linked to organized crime, undermines peacekeeping efforts, and
is incompatible with military core values. Any nation serious about ending human
trafficking must begin by ensuring that its own uniformed employees lead by
example by helping combat modern-day slavery at home and abroad. Historically, profiteers of both labor and sex trafficking have targeted
international military organizations. Labor traffickers sometimes try to exploit
military contract opportunities. Sex traffickers often prey on individual
peacekeepers and servicemen with solicitations of commercial sex. While the vast
majority of military personnel conduct themselves honorably, a number of recent
trafficking in persons cases have occurred in connection with international
military organizations. Typically, commercial sex sellers conduct activities, such as pimping or
maintaining brothels, in districts frequented by service members. These
activities also provide cover for sex trafficking - the recruitment or use of,
especially women and girls, for commercial sexual exploitation. Where prostitution is legal or tolerated, there is a greater demand for human
trafficking victims and, typically, an increase in the number of women and
children trafficked into commercial sex slavery. Of the estimated 800,000 people
trafficked across international borders annually, 80 percent of victims are
female, and up to 50 percent are minors. Hundreds of thousands of these women
and children are abused in prostitution each year, including many who are used
in prostitution near military bases. Peacekeepers and service members who engage in commercial sexual exploitation
put themselves at risk of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS,
which jeopardizes the readiness of their unit. Sex Trafficking and International Peacekeepers Since then, the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) has
established measures to prevent misconduct and enforce UN standards of conduct.
The UN is amending its staff regulations and contractual agreements to classify
sexual exploitation and abuse as serious misconduct and to allow the Secretary
General to discipline and dismiss personnel. All troop-contributing countries should undertake serious measures to prevent
and punish incidences of trafficking, sexual exploitation, or abuse by personnel
regardless of whether prostitution is regulated or tolerated in the
troop-contributing country. U.S. Department of Defense Combats Sex Trafficking DOD has been implementing a multi-pronged anti-trafficking approach for over
three years. DOD's "zero tolerance" policy opposes prostitution, recognizing it
as a contributing factor to sex trafficking. U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) developed
a program that focuses on increasing awareness, identifying victims, reducing
demand, and cooperating with local authorities. It is considered a model
approach and served as the basis for NATO's anti-trafficking training
curriculum. Since late 2006, patronizing prostitution is a specific, chargeable offense
for service members under Article 134 of the U.S. military's statutory criminal
law, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). This is a landmark provision
underscoring the U.S. Government's commitment to curtail the demand for victims
of human trafficking. Labor Trafficking and U.S. Military Contractors Chief among the safeguards being implemented is the mandate that all
contractors stop withholding employees' passports, that employees be provided a
signed copy of their work contract, and that contractors and subcontractors be
required to use certified recruiting firms. New regulations require that
contractors provide TIP training to all employees and ensure compliance with
U.S. law, host nation law, and local theater directives on combating human
trafficking. Anti-trafficking training is now mandatory for all U.S. service members. DOD
civilians stationed in the U.S. or abroad and military police are receiving
specialized training to help them recognize and identify possible human
trafficking scenarios, especially overseas. The Role of Every Nation
The United
Nations was forced to undertake drastic measures to overhaul its system of
monitoring gross abuses by its military and civilian personnel in light of 150
allegations of sexual exploitation on the part of international peacekeepers
stationed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In October 2004, the UN Secretary
General dispatched a team to conduct an assessment of the magnitude of the
problem among the 11,000 UN soldiers and 1,200 civilians serving there. The team
concluded there was little awareness among international peacekeepers of the UN
official policy of zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. The
investigative team found instances of rape, and prostitution with children and
adult women for money, food, or jobs. After some peacekeepers raped girls, they
tried to cover up the crime by giving them money or food.
The
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has taken an aggressive stand against sex
trafficking and related activities that may contribute to the phenomenon of
trafficking in persons.
A Defense
Department investigation prompted by 2005 media allegations of labor trafficking
in Iraq inspired significant changes. The media reports identified a number of
abuses, some considered widespread, committed by Defense contractors or
subcontractors employing third country national (TCN) workers. Some of these
abuses were indicative of human trafficking and included withholding workers'
passports and deceptive hiring practices.
Besides being a major human
rights violation, modern-day slavery is a global health threat and undermines
international security by fueling the growth of organized crime. Human
trafficking is closely connected with money laundering, document forgery, and
human smuggling. Where organized crime flourishes, governments and the rule of
law are undermined and weakened. It is therefore crucial that military groups
avoid behavior that counters law and order and creates security
gaps.