GLOBAL SEX TRAFFICKING:
PART VI – AUSTRALIA
By Trevor K. McNeil
On the Surface
Australia is generally seen as a tough, sporty, happy-go-lucky western democracy. A small isolated continent surrounded by water in a geographic region known as Oceania. A tangle of contradictions and mix of traditions making it one of the most unique, unusual and interesting nations on earth. Sadly it is also a tier 1 level country in terms of international human and sex trafficking. This despite consistently complying with minimum requirements.
Not Enough
It turns out the minimum is not quite enough. Trafficking is rampant in Australia in terms of both labor and sexual exploitation. It is difficult to know exactly how bad the problem is, as there is little reliable data on the issue. The government is quite scattershot in terms of acknowledging the issue. Often downplaying it as not to sully their international reputation.
No Significant Steps
According to a report by the United States Justice Department, while levels of sex trafficking are relatively low, it remains a persistent problem. Mostly due to a lack of significant steps on the part of the government. Of the 87 cases of sex trafficking in 2014, less than half ended in prosecution. Despite cases such as a 15-year-old girl who, after suffering horrific abuse requiring surgery for severe damage to her anus, was sold to an undercover police officer for $5,000.
Not All Bad
To be fair, Australian Law is in line with other civilized nations in terms of punishing sex traffickers. This includes hefty monetary fines and a maximum of 25 years in one of the nation’s notoriously violent prisons. The sex trafficking of children is comparatively rare. The market seems largely limited to older teenagers. Most of the victims being either Australian or brought in from elsewhere, particularly Asia and the former Eastern Bloc. Both notorious sources for sex trafficking. “Exporting” thousands of women and girls per year to all parts of the globe.
But Still
The sexual trafficking of any human being is heinous. No matter how old they are or how comparatively pleasant the country they are going to. They are still being abused, exploited and dehumanized. Often kept dependent on their traffickers by way of violence (one 13-year-old’s legs were broken after trying to get away), intimidation, isolation and drug dependency. The grooming process in Australia being very similar to that of other Western nations such as the USA and the UK. Vulnerable girls being identified and “befriended” by traffickers and slowly induced into sexual slavery. In terms of Australian women and girls, those from the impoverished Aboriginal community are most at risk.
If the Government Won’t Do It …
The issue is so persistent, and the government response so middling, that the Australian-based broadcasting service SBS, ran a program on how to recognize the signs of human trafficking. Showing more proactive initiative than the government has.
Root Causes
The driving force of sex trafficking in Australia is financial. At least on the part of the traffickers. Each of the victims commanding thousands of dollars each time they are sold. Involvement in the system is almost always involuntary on the part of the victims. Few of them knowing what they are getting into at the outset. The traffickers often lie about their identities and intentions. The victim’s families tend to be either absent or unaware of what is happening. Many of the women and girls integrated into the system have been abducted and are officially classified as missing. The majority of traffickers are members or associates of the Australian criminal underworld.
“Not An Active Issue”
If the Australian government are aloof about sex trafficking, New Zealand is willfully ignorant. To the point of describing the problem of women and girls being abused and raped within their borders as “not an active issue.” A sentiment contradicted by the maximum penalties for this crime. Which include a $500,000 fine and 20 years in prison.
Misplaced Priorities
Immigration Services are the authority empowered to investigate trafficking cases in New Zealand. An authority with no jurisdiction over domestic crime. Basically tying their hands and making prosecution nearly impossible. An absurdity made tragically clear by the fact that one case of child sex trafficking took 12 years to prosecute.
Please Think of the Children!
Unlike other nations, the sex trafficking networks in New Zealand take the form of small, secretive cells that have it as their exclusive activity. The majority of the victims are from within New Zealand. This is partly due to the nation’s geographical isolation as well as the difficulty of bringing in victims form other counties. Airports being one area in which the immigration services are quite effective indeed. The majority are also kids. Often teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17.
Trapped in the Net
The internet is a primary method for locating and luring victims. Once the target has made contact, the predator will carefully groom them and win their trust. Such as the 60-year-old brothel owner who posed as a young surfer online to attract young women into his orbit. Eventually the two will meet, the predator revealing their real identity and abducting the girl. Usually putting her to work in a brothel. The system being such that if they were to be put on the street it would be too likely to attract the attention. Despite state police not being properly empowered, few normal human beings could just ignore an abused child standing out in plain sight. But, then again, maybe not.
A Swift Boot In the Arse
As bad as the situation is, all that is really required for the governments of Australia and New Zealand to do is to follow the laws and recommendations they already have. And, in the case of New Zealand, to incorporate an element of the domestic police force to tackle the abuse of locally born kids. What we can do, from way over here on the other side of the world, is let them know that we know. The main concern for those in power is that they not look bad, prosecution of such cases invariably bringing media attention. But we do know. And can make them look worse than they ever imagined.
Summation
The issue of global sex trafficking is huge and complex. Nearly every nation on earth is affected in some way and each with their own combination of root causes and attempts to combat it. The sad fact is, slavery did not end with Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Meat Market
There are still innocent human beings, mostly women and young girls, being treated as commodities. Bought, sold, abused and violated every minute of everyday. The damage, both mental and physical, is difficult for most of us living a comfortable existence to comprehend.
Slaying the Beast
It can seem overwhelming. Looking into it can be emotionally devastating. Involving sounds and images that can never be unheard or unseen. Flashbacks, sleepless nights, nightmares and night terrors are common for those working on the issue. I know this first hand and have only encountered documentary evidence after the fact. Imagine the people who walk into the scene of one of these crimes to rescue victims. Or who find them after it is already too late. Not to mention what it is like for the victims themselves. As difficult as it is, we must not turn away from this. Closing our eyes will not make the monster go away.
References:
https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2016/258716.htm
https://www.afp.gov.au/what-we-do/crime-types/human-trafficking
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12079943
https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi441
https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/currentseries/tandi/421-440/tandi436.aspx
