Syracuse University SURFACE Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects Projects Spring 5-1-2012 An Interdisciplinary Study of Modern-Day Slavery: Human Trafficking Margaret Ruiz Follow this and additional works at: https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone Part of the Other International and Area Studies Commons Recommended Citation Ruiz, Margaret, "An Interdisciplinary Study of Modern-Day Slavery: Human Trafficking" (2012). Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects. 198. https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/198 This Honors Capstone Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects at SURFACE. It has been accepted for inclusion in Syracuse University Honors Program Capstone Projects by an authorized administrator of SURFACE. For more information, please contact [email protected]. An Interdisciplinary Study of Modern-Day Slavery: Human Trafficking A Capstone Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Renée Crown University Honors Program at Syracuse University Margaret G Ruiz Candidate for B.A. Degree and Renée Crown University Honors May 2012 Honors Capstone Project in International Relations Capstone Project Advisor: _______________ Capstone Project Reader: ________________ Honors Director: _________________ Date: Abstract This project uses a multidisciplinary approach to analyze different forms of modern-day slavery, with a focus on sex trafficking. More specifically, it examines how historical slavery has transformed into modern-day slavery and it illuminates similarities and differences between historical slavery and modern-day slavery. In my work, I also studied the underlying causes of modern-day slavery, by analyzing various factors that affect slavery. Lastly, my work examines the existing legal and political instruments that confront and combat slavery. Finally, in this project, I reflect and discuss the lack of effective programs that work towards the reparation of victims. I came up with my main questions that would motivate my research and analysis, by performing extensive reading from a wide array of sources. In the process, I discovered that some forms of modern slavery stem from long-lasting colonial legacies. Hence, some forms of contemporary slavery are indeed remnants of earlier slavery that remained intact, but have transformed to fit our present time or have influenced the development of modern forms of slavery. For example, many of the characteristics that define modern day sex trafficking were visible during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Finally, this project also reveals several causes and factors that allow for modern-day slavery to flourish, and they include the effects of the global political economy, influences from some cultural and religious practices, women’s inferior status, lack of proper law-enforcement and persistent law and border patrol corruption. Furthermore, this project illustrates that the most effective legal and political instruments for combating slavery are the Palermo Protocol and the United States Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. The findings indicate that these mechanisms were mildly successful at eradicating modern-day slavery. Lastly, the results demonstrate that in terms of reparation and justice for slave victims, protection programs like “T” visas in the U.S. are available to aid victims; however, this does not fully protect victims—they continue to be treated as “instruments” for criminal investigations, instead of being treated as victims with rights that were violated. This project concludes with several recommendations for combating different forms of contemporary slavery, including but not limited to alleviating poverty, including domestic workers in equal protection labor laws, inverting risk-rewarding economies for the sex slave industry and the promotion of Fair trade products and other initiatives that work to rid the international supply chain of slavery. Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter 1: Historical Perspective on Modern-day Slavery ................................................. 6 Origins of slavery ............................................................................................................ 6 Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade .............................................................................................. 7 Comparison between human trafficking and Trans-Atlantic Slavery ............................. 8 Differences ................................................................................................................ 10 Similarities ................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 2: Different types of Modern-day Slavery with a focus on Sex trafficking ......... 17 Chattel Slavery .............................................................................................................. 17 Debt Bondage ............................................................................................................... 19 Forced Labor ................................................................................................................. 23 Sex Trafficking ............................................................................................................... 27 Chapter 3: Underlying causes of Modern-Day Slavery ..................................................... 35 Effects of the Global Political Economy ........................................................................ 35 Lilya-4-ever Movie (2002) director Lukas Moodysoon ................................................. 37 Plot summary ............................................................................................................ 37 Analysis of the film .................................................................................................... 39 Cultural and Religious Practices .................................................................................... 41 Women’ rights/ Status in societies ............................................................................... 47 Why is trafficking difficult to curtail? Corruption and Lack of Law Enforcement ......... 48 Specific causes for each form of slavery ....................................................................... 49 Debt bondage ........................................................................................................... 49 Domestic servitude ................................................................................................... 51 Chattel slavery in Mauritania .................................................................................... 51 Sex slavery ................................................................................................................. 52 Chapter 4: Legal and Political Mechanisms for Combating Modern-day slavery: ............ 54 Anti-slavery legislation in international Law ................................................................. 54 US Anti-Trafficking Legislation: ................................................................................. 56 Effectiveness of legal classifications? ....................................................................... 59 Preventative measures for modern-day slavery ........................................................... 63 Are they effective? .................................................................................................... 68 Are the existing forms of reparations for victims effective? Do the legal and political systems provide justice, in other words, are the victim’s voices heard? ..................... 69 Chapter 5: Conclusion and Implications for Practice ........................................................ 73 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 73 Recommendations for combating slavery .................................................................... 75 Combating the International Political Economy ....................................................... 79 Combating sex trafficking and sex slavery ................................................................ 80 Combating domestic servitude ................................................................................. 83 Combating debt bondage ......................................................................................... 84 Combating chattel slavery ........................................................................................ 85 Works Cited ....................................................................................................................... 89 Summary of Capstone Project .......................................................................................... 94 P a g e | 1 Introduction Aristotle once said, “Democracy, for example, arises out of the notion that those who are equal in any respect are equal in all respects; because men are equally free, they claim to be absolutely equal” (Politics of Aristotle). Most of us recognize the ancient Greek city-state of Athens as our basis for a form of government that is democratic and representative