Reconceptualizing Approaches to Human Trafficking: New Directions and Perspectives from the Field(s)

28 Pages Posted: 4 Dec 2007

See all articles by Grace Chang

Grace Chang

UC Santa Barbara

Kathleen Kim

Loyola Law School Los Angeles

Abstract

Scholars and advocates across several movements have attempted to develop approaches to human trafficking that would best serve the needs and support the rights of all migrant workers and survivors of trafficking. Many U.S.-based and international groups organizing for immigrant, labor, sex worker, and sexual and reproductive health rights, understand the need for collaborations among them. Yet, such connections have been largely obstructed by the U.S. federal government approach to trafficking, which emphasizes sex trafficking over other forms of labor. There is a growing consensus among advocates that current U.S. anti-trafficking policies and practices that focus on law enforcement and anti-prostitution efforts detrimentally impact the rights of trafficked persons. Advocates increasingly witness a prosecutorial approach to trafficking narrowly focused on criminalizing prostitution as a purported means to stop trafficking. Meanwhile, enforcement agencies largely neglect the broader phenomenon of trafficking into agriculture, domestic service, restaurants, hotels, manufacturing, and construction. This article discusses the local and global consequences of the United States government approach toward human trafficking. This article also evaluates U.S. policies and practices across multiple sectors that relate to human trafficking including prostitution, labor migration, and sexual and reproductive health rights. By providing an overview of current issues, problems, and concerns within the anti-trafficking movement and within related rights-based movements, this article seeks to facilitate the development of a new anti-trafficking paradigm. This paradigm evaluates trafficking within a broader framework and provides the foundation for a cross-sectoral alliance to challenge mainstream approaches to human trafficking and to create new strategies to protect the rights of trafficked persons, migrant workers, and women against the negative impact of United States policies and practices.

Suggested Citation

Chang, Grace and Kim, Kathleen, Reconceptualizing Approaches to Human Trafficking: New Directions and Perspectives from the Field(s). Stanford Journal of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2007, Loyola-LA Legal Studies Paper No. 2007-47, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1051601

Grace Chang

UC Santa Barbara ( email )

South Hall 5504
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
United States
8058937414 (Phone)
8058938676 (Fax)

Kathleen Kim (Contact Author)

Loyola Law School Los Angeles ( email )

919 Albany Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015-1211
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
3,435
Abstract Views
15,178
Rank
6,323
PlumX Metrics