CGTN America
CGTN presents a series on the perils and crises of trafficking around the world.
Traffickers abuse U. S’s reliance on migrant workers
The U.S. agricultural industry depends to a great extent on migrant workers – particularly from Latin America – for labor that gets their harvests to market.
But that reliance has led to abuse from human traffickers, leading to nothing less than modern-day slavery in the U.S.
One federal indictment unsealed last year revealed a yearslong case of modern-day slavery taking place here in the state of Georgia. Investigators say migrants trafficked from Mexico and Central America to this agricultural region were held in dirty camps, fed very little, and paid a pittance to work the fields at gunpoint.
At least two victims of the scheme died.
CGTN’s Alasdair Baverstock reports.
With economic opportunities further dwindling after the pandemic, millions more are at risk of Human trafficking across the world. Up to 800,000 people are estimated to be trafficked within Asia each year. In South Asia, India and Nepal are two of the most affected countries.
CGTN’s Radhika Bajaj reports from Mumbai.
Human trafficking is a big problem in Nigeria, rated by UNESCO as the third most common crime in the country after drug trafficking and economic fraud. Nigerian authorities have been battling to end human trafficking as they launched a national action plan to fight the scourge.
CGTN’s Deji Bademosi has more details on the plan.
2022 Trafficking in Persons report released
Human trafficking remains a global problem according to the 2022 edition of the U.S. State Department’s “Trafficking in Persons” report.
The report also notes that victims in the U.S. are sometimes prosecuted for crimes instead of being protected. The report even finds that U.S. government personnel are sometimes complicit in human trafficking.
CGTN’s Jim Spellman reports.
Trafficking of women and children in Ukraine
Earlier this month, authorities in Kyiv arrested the suspected leader of a criminal gang who trafficked women into sex work with promises of legitimate employment in foreign countries.
According to the United Nations, women and children fleeing the conflict in Ukraine are at heightened risk of human trafficking and exploitation.
Even months after the start of the conflict, human rights advocates across the European Union are still warning officials to be more vigilant.
CGTN’s Natalie Carney reports.
U.S. authorities fight trafficking with task forces
The U.S. state of Ohio ranks fifth in the country for human trafficking.
But armed with new laws, authorities there are fighting back.
Columbus is dedicating various resources to the issue of human trafficking. There is still a long path ahead. But some of the work here could also help provide answers for other areas with similar problems.
CGTN’s Dan Williams reports.
Combating organ trafficking in Brazil
Organ trafficking is one aspect of human trafficking that often receives little attention. Many may consider it as an urban myth rather than a serious crime but prosecutors in Brazil says it exists – though underreported.
CGTN correspondent in Brazil, Paulo Cabral, has the story.
Helping sex trafficking victims in Colombia
More than six million Venezuelans have fled the political and economic turmoil in their country.
Migration makes women and children vulnerable to predatory sex traffickers.
One Colombian woman has been working to help victims of sex trafficking, and especially, the growing number of migrants who have become victims.
How technology can be used to fight against human trafficking
The United Nations says human traffickers have increasingly turned to the internet and social media to target victims because of Covid-19 lockdowns.
The organization is highlighting how technology can also be used to protect the vulnerable.
