The 20th annual Symposium will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2009.

The Comparative and International Policy Implications of Human Trafficking at the Thai-Burmese Border
Norris 104, 8:45 AM

Rebecca  Friedrick,   '10 59
   Major: Political Science
   Hometown: Alma, MI

Sponsor(s): Alfred Pheley
Support:  

Abstract: 
Human trafficking, or modern slavery, is sensationalized in an attempt to increase awareness of the atrocities that link the western world to less developed countries. But this only tells a small fraction of the story. Human trafficking arises from a variety of issues related to poverty, culture, international policy, migration, and gender experiences. In looking for solutions, both the policies of international organizations and powerful governments must be evaluated, as well as the practices of developing countries. Originating from a western, developed perspective, effective policy that crosses cultural boundaries, one must consider motives and morality. In this analysis I used the case study of the Thai-Burmese border, where trafficking is just one of many controversial issues. This is an example of many regions where weaker individuals are forced into a certain mode of life through deception and an unresponsive government. Thailand supports one of the largest sex industries in the world perpetuating a culture of exploitation that reaches victims beyond its borders. Despite recent commitments to progress, many of the issues relevant to trafficking, especially of Burmese migrants, cannot be resolved outside of the context of geopolitical issues such as migration and trade. Like the situation in Thailand, many other areas experiencing trafficking have undergone decades of political and social turmoil, of which trafficking is just one symptom. The root problems need to be addressed one at a time along with efforts to lessen these tragic indicators.

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