Modern Slavery
by Since the fall of the Soviet Union the nations of Eastern Europe and Central Asia have faced economic turmoil. This has led to a drastic increase in human trafficking of people from the nations of the CIS.
Poverty is a way of life in many of the nations which were formerly part of the Soviet Union. In Tajikistan people make on average only $0.20 a day, in many Caucasian countries such as Georgia the monthly salary is $60 per month. This makes these people vulnerable.
Human trafficking is a horrific evil which plagues these nations offering opportunities to the most desperate members of society. The traffickers traffic not only women, but poor men, the elderly, the disabled, and even children. They give them false hope and then abuse them in the worst ways.
Contrary to popular belief most people in CIS countries are trafficked to other CIS countries. In Russia there are 4-5 million illegal workers and approximately 20% of them are performing forced labor.
These workers are offered good opportunities that would enable them to help their families, upon their arrival they are often beaten and have their passports stolen. In Russia it is nearly impossible to do anything without a passport.
If these workers do manage to escape the local authorities are often little help. As members of ethnic minorities these people are already targets for discrimination. Many times the police just taunt or beat the victims.
Another common scam prays on women who are looking for a husband abroad. They are told of programs which will help them find a western husband quick and then they are lured into the hands of the traffickers. These women are often forced into prostitution or pornography, they are beaten, raped, and kept in deplorable conditions.
Since poverty rose so much upon independence and borders amongst these countries are basically transparent it is so easy for these criminals to find victims. Abandoned children are often sought for menial labor, prostitution and pornography.
Russia is attempting to do things to combat the problem, human traffickers can face up to 15 years in prison and those who exploit children for pornography can face up to 8 years in prison. Russia needs to do much more, they need to help those who are being being exploited, ease discrimination, and clamp down on the corruption which is allowing these individuals to be trafficked so easily in the first place. Until those things happen traffickers will still have their pick of victims across the CIS.
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