The Effect of Human Trafficking in Cambodia

Human trafficking is the possession or trading of humans for the purpose of engaging them in slavery and prostitution through the means of force and coercion. It is a thriving industry that continues to grow every year. It is feared, that illegal trafficking of humans may soon outdo the illegal drug trade (Urvashi Pokharna (12/28/2011)). Women and girls are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to Thailand and Malaysia and some Cambodian men who migrate willingly to Thailand for work are subjected to conditions of forced labor in the Thai fishing, construction, and agricultural industries.

Moreover, Children are trafficked to Thailand and Vietnam to beg or work on the streets selling candy or flowers or shining shoes. Some Cambodian women who migrated to Taiwan as the result of brokered international marriages were subsequently trafficked for prostitution. (United States Department of State, 4 June 2008) Although the trafficking of humans can take on different forms in different contexts, the effects of trafficking need to be considered on both an individual as well as on society. Individuals may suffer from (April Palmer lee (10/11/2004)). Human trafficking is a deliberate and blatant violation of human rights.

If the victim even survives the experience, it could take years of therapy and psychological help to make sure that a trafficking victim is healthy not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. While some argue that that where the effects of trafficking stop, others state that human trafficking in Cambodia does indeed affect the entire country and is a large cause of poverty. There is also disagreement between whether or not the trafficking industry is affecting tourism in Cambodia, which results in a hurt economy and therefore poverty. A close second behind the nation’s textile industry, tourism is an enormous sources of currency for Cambodia.

UNIAP states that industries relying on foreign spending and investments, mainly tourism, are the most vulnerable to the negative side effects the economy is facing because of trafficking (“Mitigating”) (Lindsay Bromberek (16 January 2012). Thus there are also included societal effects of trafficking that must be considered. Social breakdown is just one of the results of trafficking. The loss of family and community support networks renders the victim vulnerable to the traffickers’ demands and threats and contributes in several ways to the breakdown of social structures.

Trafficking: separates children from their parents and families, interrupts the passage of knowledge and cultural values from parent to child. And leads to a loss of education. In addition they also lead its victims to become involved in substance abuse and criminal activity. (April Palmer lee (10/11/2004)). Overall, there are two sides to the causes of poverty in Cambodia. One side of the debate argues that human trafficking is a large cause of the amount of poverty in the country. On the other hand, others argue that the illegal human trade industry does not significantly contribute to the amount of poverty in Cambodia.

Thus far, it’s easier to believe that human trafficking is a result of poverty rather than poverty being a large effect of trafficking. Although trafficking does have an effect on the economy in Cambodia because of its negative effect on tourism, it may not have a big enough effect to conclude that it causes poverty in the country.

It would be more sufficient to look into the main causes of human trafficking and why Cambodians enter into the trafficking business. Whether or not trafficking is a cause of poverty or poverty is a cause of human trafficking in Cambodia, more involvement needs to be present in one of the poorest nations and biggest human trafficking nations in the world for any of it to stop. (Lindsay Bromberek (16 January 2012)

Reference:

Urvashi Pokharna (12/28/2011). Effect of human trafficking: Download from: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/effects-of-human-trafficking.html, On (28 December, 2011).
April Palmer lee (10/11/2004). Human trafficking: Combating an international crisis Download from: http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=2727&page=0 On (10 November, 2011).
United States Department of State (2008). Trafficking in Persons Report 2008 – Cambodia Download from: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,USDOS,,KHM,,484f9a092,0.html On (4 June 2008)
Lindsay Bromberek (16 January 2012). Human Trafficking In Cambodia
Download from: https://depaul.digication.com/human_trafficking_in_cambodia/Rough_Draft/published