Persuasive essay. Join Polaris to Put an End to Human Trafficking

Join Polaris to Put an End to Human Trafficking
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Join Polaris to Put an End to Human Trafficking
Introduction
In the words of Frederick Douglass, a renowned abolitionist and social reformer, slavery would soon emerge in a new form that all humanity must watch out for and get ready to overcome. Three centuries later, these words have come to pass as the world struggles to wrestle the old monster in a new form, that is, human trafficking. A crime against humanity, a gross violation of human rights, and a backward practice that threatens modern civilization. This is what human trafficking is and the reason why every person, institution, and government should be committed to eradicating it. Imagine a 21st century world where more than 20 million women, men, and children have been forced into schemes of exploitation by a network of human traffickers that makes an annual profit of $150 billion (United Way, 2019). The generation that must unite to stop human trafficking is none other but us. This is the reason why Polaris with its Grassroots Network was formed: To make freedom happen now by serving survivors and victims, tracking the patterns of human trafficking, and converting knowledge to action.
“For those of you who think it cannot happen to you, I want to let you know that the dragnet of the traffickers is so wide that only God knows who is safe” (Agbu, 2003). These were the words of the wife of a former Vice President of Nigeria in her reference to the magnitude of human trafficking. Tiki Atiku Abubakar is a passionate advocate of the rights of women and children. Moreover, women and children are the most vulnerable population. As such, her observation that anybody could be a victim of human trafficking stems from her experiences while working as an advocate. Over the years, human trafficking has expanded beyond child labor and prostitution. Today, the business of stealing human freedom has become highly organized just like the slave trade of the 17th century. The numerous linkages across the globe have not only targeted women and young girls. Young boys too often fall prey to the dragnet of the traffickers as they seek a better life overseas.
For those who have familiarized themselves with the history of slavery and the slave trade, this ancient evil existed in many forms. For example, war captives often ended up being slaves. Enslavement could also serve as a punishment for committing a crime. In other circumstances, severe poverty and hunger could result in some families selling their relatives as slaves (Agbu, 2003). Despite the efforts by the perpetrators of the slave trade to justify their trade, most civilizations quickly opposed the evil as it constituted the basest of violations against humanity. With the remarkable advances in knowledge and understanding of the environment and human nature, one would not have expected the return of an evil that closely resembles slavery. Unfortunately, a combination of factors including poverty, corruption, and lack of laws to protect vulnerable populations have resulted in a world where human beings are prized and exchanged for monetary gains like any other commodity in the market.
The number of people who have been subjected ...