Victimization of Juvenile Trafficking: A Case Study of Sexual Exploitation

Abstract

is study was to investigate the state, factors and reasons for juveniles becomming the
victims of human trafficking, and sexual exploitation.
The results revealed that human trafficking gradually evolved from slave trading in the
past to prostitution currently. Even though prostitution was brought under control by law
enforcement, prostitution progressed to sending Thai women to sell sex overseas. At the same
time, foreign women, mostly from Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia entered Thailand’s sex
trade. Soon, these commercial sex workers were getting younger and younger, which initiatedthe human trafficking business, and having agents, providers or ring leaders who arrange the
delivery of child prostitutes to many service facilities. Victimization in juvenile trafficking is
caused by the following 3 factors:
1) Family Reasons: In families whose parents divorced or remarried and established
new families, the children or youths from the old families were left with a guardian. Children
staying with remarried mothers often ran into conflict with their step fathers, who lack family
warmth. These children have low self-esteem, and become vulnerable and more dependent on
others.
2) Economic Reasons: Most troubled children or youths came from poor families,
having parents working as farmers or hired workers with inconsistent earnings as well as the
fact that many families were burdened with lots of children. With a large family and inconsistent
earnings, living and education costs increased tremendously until the parents were unable to
provide for their children equally, causing family financial problems and debts.
3) Social and Community Reasons: Some communities place more value on material
wealth. Locals preferred to send their offspring to work in foreign countries to support their
families. Their desire for their daughters to work abroad was heightened when neighbors
came back from working abroad and improved their living conditions with their foreign
earnings.This research recommends the collaboration of all public and private sectors, including
the general public, to actively find preventive measures and solutions for the victims of
juvenile trafficking. The public must be informed about the impact and be aware of common
activities. At the same time, they must be made aware of human trafficking. The police
officers should patrol the risk areas where sex may be secretly traded as well as arrest and
charge the operators, agents, procurers, or anyone involved. People must get involved in the
process as well. For example, family members should closely monitor their children’s behavior,
and provide them with love and warmth, as well as focus on the cause of problems to detect
any changes that may lead to major problems later. More specifically, the children or youths
hooked on drugs or games are vulnerable to becoming human trafficking victims. As for the
community, community leaders, such as village heads, must be aware of the problems and
disseminate knowledge on human trafficking among the locals, and the locals must keep their
eyes open for suspicious activities in their community.