Civil Disobedience

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that occurs in countries throughout the world and in communities across our Nation.  It is a crime that can take many forms, and one that tears at our social economy and violates what we stand for. An estimated 27 million people are victims of the crime, which involves being forced to perform labor or commercial sex acts. Sex traffickers frequently target vulnerable people with a history of abuse, violence, threats, lies or false promises, and use manipulation to keep the victims involved in the sex industry. Children are made to be soldiers, teenage girls are beaten and forced into prostitution, and migrants are exploited and compelled to work for little or no pay.

In Canada, human trafficking often takes place in large urban centres, and also occurs in smaller cities and communities, for the sexual exploitation. ABC News says on April 2nd in Canada, Daegun Chun and Yong Li were arrested for exploiting more than 500 women from China and Korea. 

Human trafficking does not pass Kant's Categorical Imperative test. It is not morally right for kids or adults to be forced to perform commercial sex or labor, it takes away from human dignity by degrading victims of the thirteenth amendment. In terms of the third test of Reciprocity, Human trafficking is wrong for all victims and sex traffickers because it is illegal and unjust to hold someone against their will and treat them as property. 

I think Thoreau would be against human trafficking because this is a form of slavery and it is not morally right. This also goes against his idea that we should live equal and treat individuals with respect as a neighbor. He'd want people to stand up and speak for what's right. He'd say that we need to treat people how we want to be treated and not as property. Thoreau would also say that we are depriving one another from success by holding them hostage and selling their body. I think that Thoreau would first raise awareness about human trafficking to pull slavery out from the shadows and into the public eye. Thoreau would help support and develop new human  trafficking awareness campaigns. Another possible solution would be to vote for more effective laws to help stop human trafficking. 

Human trafficking is a worldwide issue that can't be stopped by one individual but the nation as a whole. I think that protests and awareness can help decrease the percentage rate of human trafficking but it cannot erase the issue completely. Just like Thoreau said there is always going to be a small percentage of evil but we can only hope that the good will balance it away.