About the Project

Thesis Statement

Human trafficking has existed in many forms throughout history as slavery, human bondage, sexual exploitation, etc. The 20th-century issue facing millions today has only been recently studied and documented, but much work remains to be done. Reviewing U.S. and international legal documentation of human trafficking through primary sources and previous definitions is helpful but not sufficient enough to properly trace the history of human trafficking and its societal impact. The historical record of human trafficking is short under its current name but stems thousands of years through its previous aliases and related crimes. The absence of appropriate definition use and clear understanding of the issue has previously contributed to a need for additional human trafficking research and study. Therefore, without definitive knowledge of its history within the twentieth century, particularly in the United States, professionals and the general public alike will face obstacles of foundational knowledge and competency when studying and combating human trafficking as a human rights, social, and criminal issue in the present.

Historical Perspective

Studying historical and statistical evidence of human trafficking must be based on credible and well-intentioned research, as the internet and other technologies have made information on virtually any topic accessible. Oftentimes, easily obtainable information possess downsides in terms of accuracy, bias, opinion, or if such information is backed by credible sources. In terms of this project, before presenting factual information and historical research, it is necessary to confront disinformation and misconceptions about human trafficking. The focus of combating human trafficking is constantly shifting in U.S. domestic and international politics, legislation, and criminal justice as new research is conducted and survivors are included in prevention efforts. Just as the definition of human trafficking has changed throughout the 20th century, traffickers and predators have used the public’s lack of awareness and factual information to their advantage, to continue their operations and exploitation of human victims. In realizing the necessity for an interactive collection of historical, credible research, the thesis project will encompass human trafficking's historical record in the twentieth century and how its definition has related to human rights, criminal justice, and legislation issues in turn. Reliable information and studies will be utilized and made available as resources within the project.

Due to the lack of research focus on the historical roots and origins of human trafficking, the collection of resources involving topics of human rights, U.S. and international legislation, historical context, and statistical data/reports hold the majority of relevant information. By utilizing the documentation of primary and credible resources, the intention is to reveal the 20th-century origin of the term human trafficking, determine facts from misconceptions, and disclose how human trafficking has been previously identified, defined, and combated.

Note: This project comes from an academic perspective. Although the thesis is heavily researched and includes outside professional voices when studying the history of human trafficking, it is imperative to cross-check updated information and consider other sources (e.g. survivor testimony, legal professionals, public health/safety officials, etc.) for your own references.