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Marzieh
Goudarzi
 Platform
for Girls Right to Protection: Trafficking and the Girl Child
The role of the girl child in the world today is largely
undefined and obscure. The modern social ideal is one that values equality
and the power of the individual; however, there are many systems and
practices present in today's society that radically contradict these values.
Women, especially young girls, suffer most. Age old tradition maintains that
women are the lesser of two genders, and live to support men. Women are not
intended for great achievement or personal success. It is not important for
women to be treated with equality and respect. These views are slowly, but
surely, being erased from society and religion. Women and men are equal:
both deserve respect, justice, and the same opportunities to succeed. This
belief is not yet universally accepted. And even though many may believe in
equality, the belief has not been put into action. One of the most horrific
and tragic testimonies to this fault of society is the widespread success of
the human trafficking industry, which targets young women and girls more
than any other group of people.
Human trafficking is a universal crime against humanity. It is one human
taking advantage of another in the worst way imaginable. A trafficker
appeals to a person who is in a very desperate position in life and deceives
them so that they believe they will profit and emerge a better person if
they choose to work for this trafficker. Once a person makes a commitment to
this trafficker they are forced to work under inhumane conditions and often
forced to do work they did not originally agree to, especially in the case
of young girls who are forced into the commercial sex industry. Poor
families often sell their children to traffickers in desperation. Human
trafficking is fueled by poverty's desperation and human weaknesses (greed,
lust); it is shrouded in the haze of drugs and alcohol; it is kept alive
each time someone turns their head to its injustice.
The living conditions of the girl child are not ideal. In the
majority of the world and especially in places where the trafficking of
girls is a major threat, girls are incredibly mistreated and abused. They
are seen as objects to be bought and sold for work or sexual abuse. Of the
forty-three percent of laborers trafficked into the commercial sexual
exploitation, ninety-eight percent are women and girls ("Child
Trafficking"). Girls are forced to work long hours with little rest or pay.
It has been documented that girls often work longer hours than boys and for
less pay; in fact, eighty-one percent of all working children work without
pay ("Statistics on..."). They are rarely educated to the same level as
boys. Too often, girls are taught to be silent and obedient. They are not
taught to expect anything of themselves, or to hope for something better.
These girls grow up to be women - women who have few rights to safety and
protection. They will raise daughters as they were raised and the cycle of
suffering will continue, unless something is done.
There have been many efforts to correct this injustice. For
example, the United Nations International Children's Education Fund, UNICEF,
has organized the GO GIRLS! Campaign in support of girls' education. This
campaign seeks to "eliminate gender disparities in primary and secondary
education in 25 priority countries [...] where girls' education is in a
critical situation and progress would make a real impact" (Drabwell).
National governments of these 25 nations have actively cooperated with
UNICEF and their campaign, to build support within their countries and to
make the nation's resources available to this crucial project.
Government participation in the improvement of the condition of
life for the girl child has increased greatly in recent years. For example,
the government of India has initiated the National Program for Universal
Elementary Education, which strives to provide the basic elementary
education to all children. It has also passed the Minimum Levels of Learning
Initiative, so that education requirements are enforced by law. Since 1950,
the number of children going to school in India has increased from 19.2
million to 113.8 million in 2000 ("Primary School..."). This is especially
important for girls in India, where social tradition is an obstacle for
girls' education. The government of Thailand has also made efforts to curb
rampant issue of human trafficking in their country, especially through
heightened law enforcement, searching out trafficking in the streets.
Thailand has also created shelters for victims of trafficking who try want
to escape the system but have no where to turn ("Thailand"). Countries that
are affected by human trafficking are often under-developed and plagued by
many other issues besides trafficking, such as poverty, disease,
unemployment. They need the support of the more privileged, western
governments if they hope to make any real progress.
Religious groups have also made great efforts. Christian
Children's Fund, CCF, is dedicated to the betterment of the girl child in
the world. CCF encourages HIV/AIDS awareness and basic preventative health
practices through training programs. In response to female trafficking, CCF
encourages girls' education, which they believe can keep girls away from the
destructive industry ("Girl Child...").
There needs to be more improvement in the field of education for girls.
Throughout the world female illiteracy is much higher than male illiteracy.
In South Asia, female illiteracy is over double that of the males. By
educating girls, society acknowledges their value and ability to contribute
to the good of the world. If girls are in school, then they are not working,
suffering, or being disrespected. Instead they are gaining skills that will
give them more opportunities for the future and confidence in themselves and
their abilities. Girls need to know that they can make an impact and change
their lives for the better. It would be wise for government and other
non-governmental organizations to place a strong focus on the education of
girls and the support of families who choose to educate their daughters,
rather than put them to work.
If human trafficking is to stop, worldwide participation is
crucial. It must begin on a local level. The promotion of education is a
positive way in which citizens of more developed countries could become
involved. A school like Holy Names could create a partnership with a school
in a nation that is trying to overcome the problem of trafficking (perhaps
even an all- girls school), via their national government. Holy Names
students could raise money or collect supplies for the school and connect
student pen- pals. Through theology classes, ASB (associated student body),
homerooms, etc. students could compile lists of supplies that they thought
were necessary for a newly developing school. Students could also write
letters, which would be translated and sent to families with daughters, who
lived in the area of the sponsored school, encouraging the girls to go to
school and encouraging the families to allow them to go. Other girls'
organizations, such as the Girl Scouts, as well as other high schools,
including SNJM high schools, could participate in creating these supportive
connections across the world. Language skills would be especially convenient
for this project. Because technology is becoming a bigger part of daily life
for so many people, it may be plausible to set up a very convenient online
dialogue between partnered schools thousands of miles apart. Teachers could
lead discussions about human trafficking between students in their
respective school. Their could be a separate discussion board for the
students to communicate what materials the sponsored school still needed and
a discussion to document the school's progress. There could be a discussion
board where the students could express their concerns and talk about the
challenges that they faced every day. This communication between schools
would lead to greater awareness of the problems that human trafficking
creates, especially for girls.
Works Cited
"Child Trafficking." International Programme on the Elimination of Child
Labour.
21 July 2005. International Labour Organization. 08 Oct. 2006
<http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/ipec/themes/trafficking/in
dex.htm>.
Drabwell, Louise. "FOX Kids Europe Announces Partnership with UNICEF to
Promote
Girls' Education." Press Centre. 05 Feb. 2003. UNICEF. 07 Oct. 2006
<http://www.unicef.org/newsline/2003/03pr07foxkids.htm>.
"Girl Child Education." Education. 2006. Christian Children's Fund. 07 Oct.
2006 <http://www.christianchildrensfund.org/content.aspx?id=154>.
"Primary School Years." Children's Issues. UNICEF. 07 Oct.
2006<http://www.unicef.org/india/children_166.htm>. "Statistics
on Working Children and Hazardous Labour in Brief." 14 Sept.
1999.
Sustainable Development Networking Programme. 07 Oct. 2006 <http://www.sdnbd.org/sdi/issues/women_children/child-
labour- stats.htm>.
"Thailand." East Asia and Pacific. . Academy for Educational Development.
07 Oct. 2006 <http://www.humantrafficking.org/content/about_us>.
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