Abdurahman Masic

Professor Lisa Packer

English 2010
2/15/2015

Effects on Victims of Human Trafficking

Introduction
Human trafficking is a very lucrative, multibillion dollar industry on this planet. It has
existed since the dawn of humanity, and is a bigger problem now than it has ever been in its
history. Even though it has been outlawed everywhere, and is growing more and more every
year. Human trafficking has impacted mankind for millennium and been a part of our history
since we came into existence. Human trafficking has effected many people from all around the
world in many different ways, but what about the victims? The people who were directly
enslaved? How does modern day slavery effect a human being when they are subjected to such
an atrocity? This paper will delve into the many different factors that a person is subjected to
while being victimized by the institution known as human trafficking, and the long term
consequences.
Causes
Human trafficking has been around for centuries, but why? What causes human
trafficking in the first place? Well obviously the answer is profit, the cheaper the human labor,
the better profit you will yield. The real question is, what are the conditions that create the ability

for it to exist in the first place? What are its pre-requisites? The victims can be utilized in
many different ways such as for sex, military service, labor and criminal involvement. The ideal
condition for this to occur, according to Banovice Bozidar, and Zeljko Bjelajac, from their
scholarly research journal: Military Medical & Pharmaceutical Journal of Serbia &
Montenegro, poverty, unemployment, migrations, rule of law, gender inequality, region
militarization, organized crime, corruption, violence in family, etc. (Banovic, Bjelajac 94).
When these conditions exist it is very easy to create an environment for which human trafficking
can occur. There are many different methods that may be applied to people and insert them into
the institute of human trafficking; some of them are recruitment, transportation, transfer,
harboring or receipt of persons, by use of force, threats or other forms of coercion, abduction,
fraud, deceit, abuse of authority or position of the superiors (Banovic, Bjeljac 94). These main
methods are used to drag innocent victims into the world of human trafficking, all for the
purpose of profit.

Human Trafficking Victim

Damage
Different aspects of human trafficking can cause varying degrees of damage to a person,
whether it may be physical, psychological, social, or physiological. For one, the conditions in
which the slaves are kept are usually very poor, which tends to do a lot of damage to the slave in
general. The tools the traffickers use gains their victims to keep them subservient, and obedient,
and the slaves role/purpose is what does the damage. To keep them complacent, the Victims are
often beaten, raped, limited in movement, denied food or water, tortured or drugged, in order to
provide absolute obedience. These methods may be a form of punishment for disobedience, but
may also serve as prevention to warn the victims of the potential consequences in case of
breaching the established rules. (Banovic, Bjeljac 94). Each of these actions are perpetrated
unto to victim at different varieties and severities. So, each victim has their own specific trauma
and degree thereof. Effecting them in a certain fashion.

Victim of Human Trafficking

Effects
With everything what was said in the paragraph before, what it the outcome of all the
horrendous abuse and neglect? There are many long term effects on the victim, whether it be
physical, psychological, social, or physiological. Among the physical impairments are headache
and stomach pain; sudden sweating and heart disturbance; changes in sleep and appetite;
weakened immune system; alcohol or drug misuse (Banovic, Bjelljac 95). The psychological
effects far outnumber the physical parts, and there are many, such as shock and fear;
disorientation, and confusion, over-sensitivity and distress; rumination of trauma; nightmares and
flashbacks; minimization of the experience; isolation and detachment; problems with trust and/or
feelings of betrayal; feeling of helplessness, panic and loss of control; decreased interest for daily
activities; lack of sense of order or justice in the world, and fear of the future. (Banovic, Bjeljac
95). Victims who were helped by the IOM (International Organization for Migration) as part of
the CT Program (Counter Trafficking) displayed a lot more problems, including PTSD (Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder), acute stress, nightmares, inability to express feelings, unable to feel
pleasure, depression, self-mutilation by cutting, extinguishing cigarettes on themselves,
dissociating themselves, split consciousness, drug abuse. There are so many different things that
can go wrong in a human being when they are subjected to such harsh treatment. There are too
many variations and severity of trauma in all realms for it all to be generalized and assigned one
antidote so to speak, to treat every patient of human trafficking to same.
Conclusion

In conclusion, there are a wide variety of afflictions to each victim of human trafficking,
and causes thereof. To assume one treatment will work for everyone, just because it worked for
one person, is very absurd, due to there being so many possibilities of trauma and damage to the
slave. Each victim of human trafficking has their own ailments and requires specific,
individualized treatment.

Works Cited
Banovic, Bozidar, and Zeljko Bjelaljac. Traumatic Experiences, Psychological Consequences
And Needs Of Human Trafficking Victims. Vojnosanitetski Military Medical&
Pharmaceutical Journal of Serbia & Montenegro 69.1 (2012): (94-97). Academic Search
Premier. Web. 16 Feb. 2015.
Grimes, Tara. Psychological and Physical Effects of Sex Trafficking On Its Victims.
Psychology of Crime in the News. 7 December, 2010. Web. 17 February, 2015.
Impact of Human Trafficking on Victims: United States Attorneys Office. Web. 16 Feb. 2015
Human Trafficking. Digital Image. Hellotemptress. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
Woman with wounds on face. Digital Image. N.p. n.d. Web 17 Feb. 2015