NO two words fill us with more fear and disgust than human trafficking. Human trafficking includes many different crimes, each loathsome to our senses: child pornography, forced prostitution, slavery. There are others but let us focus on these.
According to the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, it involves “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force…for the purpose of exploitation.” In other words, human trafficking is forcing someone against their will to do something they would not choose to do. It is a matter of exercising immoral and illegal power over someone else.
Does human trafficking occur in the Marianas? Yes. Anyone who has been on Saipan for a while can name night clubs that were raided and closed because they were cover operations for prostitution. Regular street prostitution is not considered human trafficking because the women choose their profession. But there is another kind of prostitution, where people are forced into this line of work against their will. Consider this 2007 testimony from a Filipina brought to Saipan to be a waitress:
“Mamasong was with a guy and told me to massage him. I was shocked. I did not know what kind of massage. Mamasong left. I started massaging the guy’s back, he told me ‘not that kind, I already paid Mamasong.’ Then he said ‘you give me satisfaction.’ I did not know what I was going to do, I was scared, I started crying, I told him, ‘I don’t like, I don’t like.’ He then started to rape me. I started crying, the man complained to Mamasong, he told her ‘Your girl is no good.’ He wanted a ‘yellow massage,’ which is having sex with a guy. Four men raped me in this same way on my first day in Saipan.’
Human trafficking occurs throughout the world, with supplier countries, as well as receivers, in Asia, North and South America, Europe, Africa, and the islands. But while no one region has a monopoly on the trade, Asian countries tend to dominate the statistical charts for supplying and receiving bonded humans. There are many reasons why this is the case. In addition, most exploiters are the same nationality as their victims.
When we think of trafficking, or forcing someone against their will, our thoughts turn to sexual slavery, and for good reason. A U.N. report discovered that sexual exploitation made up 79% of trafficking, followed by 18% for forced labor, and smaller numbers for organ harvest, forced military service and other crimes. Children and men are exploited to be sure, but women dominate the world of human trafficking, both as victims and perpetrators. It is shocking to discover that many of those who lure women into forced prostitution are themselves women. Many are victims who turn to dealing as a way to escape their own condition. In any case, while many women have their guard up when around men, they instinctively trust other women not to hurt them, giving a female exploiter an advantage.
Arm yourself with the information in this column. Do not let yourself, or anyone you love, become a victim of human trafficking.
BC Cook, PhD lived on Saipan and has taught history for over 20 years. He travels the Pacific but currently resides on the mainland U.S.
BC Cook
