Sunday, November 04, 2007

This Week in Trafficking


GAP used slave labor to manufacture clothes for children
Child workers, some as young as 10, have been found working in a textile factory in conditions close to slavery to produce clothes that appear destined for GAP Kids, one of the most successful arms of the high street giant. Speaking to The Observer, the children described long hours of unwaged work, as well as threats and beatings. GAP said it was unaware that clothing intended for the Christmas market had been improperly subcontracted to a sweatshop using child labor. It announced it had withdrawn the garments involved while it investigated breaches of the ethical code imposed by it three years ago.

Recent report shows lack of preparedness in Kosovo to deal with trafficking

The monitoring of trafficking cases by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2006 and 2007 reveals a concerning lack of preparedness by the Kosovo authorities to handle these cases. In particular, the OSCE has noted a consistent failure of the relevant authorities to place the human rights of trafficked persons “at the centre of all efforts to prevent and combat trafficking and to protect, assist and provide redress to victims.” In cases monitored by the OSCE, victims did not receive the basic guarantees provided by law, and frequently faced prosecution or the threat of prosecution.

Mark P. Lagon, Director, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons discusses trafficking in China
Although Chinese law prohibits forced and compulsory labor, including by children, serious problems of forced labor exist. For this reason, the People's Republic of China (PRC), a source, transit and destination country, has sustained a Tier 2 Watch List ranking for three consecutive years. Though Chinese men and women are trafficked abroad for forced labor and sexual exploitation, the majority of trafficking in China is internal. Early this summer reports emerged of over one thousand farmers, teenagers and children, including some who were mentally handicapped, forced to work for little or no pay in scorching brick kilns, enduring beatings and confinement in worse than prison-like conditions. This was a form of modern day slavery that shocked not only the international community, but prompted an outcry among Chinese citizens and a forceful reaction from the authorities.

Colorado law enforcement reports prostitution and human trafficking at massage parlors

In a hidden camera investigation News First uncovers a problem that most people seem to either ignore or deny -- human trafficking and prostitution in Southern Colorado.
Metro Vice also thinks some of the women are human trafficking victims forced into what human rights groups call "modern day slavery." When asked if there are sex slaves in El Paso County Lieutenant Harman answered, "Yes there are. We have had a couple women come forward and tell us that they were forced to perform prostitution in several massage parlors." According to Metro Vice, the Colorado Springs area is on a human trafficking circuit that includes Denver, Chicago and Seattle.

Warning issued about human trafficking and sex trade at 2010 Olympics

A report by an organization that combats human trafficking is warning that the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver could be exploited by those trying to profit from prostitution.The Future Group recommends the federal and B.C. governments increase efforts to deter human traffickers and potential sex-trade customers."There is a real risk that traffickers will seek to profit from the 2010 Olympics," said Sabrina Sullivan, managing director of the non-partisan, non-governmental organization."This event could create an increased demand for prostitution, and also give an easy cover story for victims to be presented as 'visitors' by traffickers."As he's only just taken on his job, the head of security for the 2010 Olympics said earlier this week that the issue of human trafficking during the Games hasn't hit his radar."For me, not, not yet," RCMP Assistant Commissioner Bud Mercer said in an interview Monday with The Canadian Press."I've never seen anything that's come across my desk, but keep in mind it's day two."

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous7:11 AM

    GAP??? I thought this clothingline stands for GOD Answers prayer.

    ReplyDelete