White slave trade

Nature

The white slave trade primarily involves women for prostitution or concubinage purposes and is mainly effected by means of kidnapping or false enticement. It is subsequently followed by the use of force, threats, drugs, mistreatment or torture in order to break down resistance. Many victims are eventually murdered and some commit suicide. Few ever return to lead normal lives in society.

Background

The "white slave trade" emerged as a recognized international concern in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when reports of European women being trafficked for prostitution abroad prompted public outcry and diplomatic action. Early conferences, such as the 1904 International Agreement for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, marked the problem’s formal acknowledgment, catalyzing further investigation and international cooperation as awareness of its transnational scope and organized nature deepened.

Incidence

White slaves may be destined for harems or brothels in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, or Europe. Alternatively, they may be exploited as prostitutes and call-girls in their own country by pimps of the same nationality who generally recruit them from young runaway girls who have just arrived in the city. White slaves destined for export may be kidnapped or enticed by false 'show-business' advertisements. According to INTERPOL, information was provided by 17 countries on the recruitment of foreign women under 'seemingly normal contracts' for prostitutional purposes.

Claim

The white slave trade is a deeply disturbing and urgent issue that demands immediate global attention. It represents a gross violation of human rights, exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit and perpetuating cycles of abuse and trauma. Ignoring this problem allows traffickers to operate with impunity, destroying countless lives. We must prioritize awareness, prevention, and justice to combat this abhorrent crime and protect the dignity and freedom of every human being.

Counter-claim

The so-called "white slave trade" is not a significant problem in today's world. Modern human trafficking affects people of all backgrounds, and focusing on this outdated, racially specific narrative distracts from the real, widespread issue of exploitation. Prioritizing this topic over current, global trafficking concerns is misleading and unhelpful. We should direct our attention and resources toward combating all forms of human trafficking, not perpetuating obsolete or sensationalized myths.