Jane Godiner is a current sophomore at Bowdoin College in Maine. She is majoring in English and Psychology and concentrating in Creative Writing. She is also the Arts and Entertainment Editor for The Bowdoin Orient, Bowdoin’s newspaper. She believes in the informative and inspirational power of journalism and writes with the purpose of encouraging her readers to be instigators of change in their daily lives. She hopes to make a difference in her surrounding communities, to live as ethically as possible and to encourage others to do the same.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shifted the priorities of American citizens and policymakers alike. The current national focus is on managing the devastating effects of the virus on the economy and on everyday life, and these goals have been pursued at the expense of some of America’s most vulnerable populations. As COVID-19 cases climb, so do reports and incidences of human trafficking and exploitation.
One of the most vulnerable populations for human trafficking has always been children, but during 2020 alone, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children observed a 90% increase in “online enticement” tips and a child exploitation report increase of 2.2 million from March to April alone. The FBI hypothesizes that these increases have much to do with the likelihood of children spending more time online after school closures and the transition to online learning. The internet is one of the most commonly used platforms for child predation and trafficking, and the pandemic has resulted in many children having a larger—and more dangerous—online presence.
On a larger scale, the transition of countless social activities to an online format has provided human traffickers with new avenues for exploitation. The influx of members of dating apps, as well as other tracking-based social media apps, has resulted more in increased usage of these apps by traffickers.
With social distancing protocols in place, it is harder for labor inspectors, social workers, educators and other supervisors to identify both survivors and perpetrators of human trafficking, but even without this obstacle, resources for survivors have depleted drastically during the pandemic. Because of national economic loss, international law enforcement that is usually in charge of human trafficking investigations are overwhelmed, and such investigations are now being severely delayed. The shortcomings and limitations of these resources, compounded with a devastating spike in unemployment and an increased human trafficking demand, have fanned the flames of the human trafficking crisis.
During a time of economic and social scarcity, it is imperative that Americans do not overlook these already vulnerable populations. Human rights resources are more necessary than ever for producing justice, protection and rehabilitation for survivors of human trafficking.
Meet the artist: Anais is a French woman living in London. She works as a palliative care nurse and loves creating illustrations. She has been working for more than 10 years with people who have disabilities and terminal diseases. Anais enjoys making art that brings attention to different cause.
