The History Human/Sex trafficking history from the 1900-present
1904: The International Agreement for the suppression of “white slave traffic” was sign and enacted. “White Slave Trafficking” was a term used to describe when white women were forced or deceived into prostitution.
1927: After WWI the League of Nations was founded with international issues such as human trafficking being one its main concerns. They changed the international aim of focusing of White Slave Traffic to the broader scope of trafficked women and children so that there would be no discrimination on race or age.
1932: During WWII Japan set up a disturbing and despicable system of forcing women into sexual slavery. They housed women in what they called “comfort stations”. These places were established to boost soldier moral during the war.
1956: India initiated the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, which focused on 3rd parties involved in trafficking. They prosecuted people running brothels, living on earnings from sex work, capturing and imprisoning people into prostitution. This act was seen as failure b/c of its implications.
1995: the United Nations held the 4th World Conference in which that years leading agenda was addressing the issue of trafficking women. This meeting was a major accomplished in moving into the right direction as far as informing and the prevention of human trafficking. Some its key achievements were that trafficking was recognized as an act of violence against women and the concept of trafficking was further defined. It also wanted others to enforce international and established effective law enforcement and institutions who would work to eliminate human trafficking both nationally and internationally.
2002: The Polaris Project was founded two Brown University students. Today it is the leading non-profit working to stop human trafficking. The project helped establish a national toll free hotline regarding information and reports of human trafficking and helped to advocate for legislation.
2008: In Thailand illegally smuggled migrant workers were found dead in the back a seafood freight. They were being transported when the air conditioning system malfunctioned. 67 survived but 57 suffocated to death.
2009: In Taiwan a huge human trafficking ring was busted up in which several of their victims were sent to America. A total of 74 suspects were brought in for the investigation.
2011: President Obama declared January to be Human Trafficking Awareness month and the 11th was made National Human Trafficking Day.
2015: Virginia enacts its 1st sex trafficking law. The enactment of HB 1964 and SB 1188, established Virginia’s first standalone sex trafficking law. The two bills, HB 1964 and SB 1188, were signed into law on March 27 by Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe. One of the main goals of these bills were to closes a loophole in Virginia’s existing laws by criminalizing the recruitment of minors and adults for commercial sex—conduct which was not criminalized under Virginia law.