scholarly journals A Public Health Approach to Global Child Sex Trafficking

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 481-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan Greenbaum

Human trafficking and child sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in particular are global public health issues with widespread, lasting impacts on children, families, and communities. Traditionally, human trafficking has been treated as a law enforcement problem with an emphasis on the arrest and prosecution of traffickers. However, use of a public health approach focuses efforts on those impacted by exploitation: trafficked persons, their families, and the population at large. It promotes strategies to build a solid scientific evidence base that allows development, implementation, and evaluation of prevention and intervention efforts, informs policy and program development, and guides international efforts at eradication. This article uses the public health approach to address human trafficking, with a focus on child sex trafficking and exploitation. Recommendations are made for public health professionals to contribute to antitrafficking efforts globally.

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 511-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudeepa Abeysinghe

ArgumentScientific uncertainty is fundamental to the management of contemporary global risks. In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the start of the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic. This declaration signified the risk posed by the spread of the H1N1 virus, and in turn precipitated a range of actions by global public health actors. This article analyzes the WHO's public representation of risk and examines the centrality of scientific uncertainty in the case of H1N1. It argues that the WHO's risk narrative reflected the context of scientific uncertainty in which it was working. The WHO argued that it was attempting to remain faithful to the scientific evidence, and the uncertain nature of the threat. However, as a result, the WHO's public risk narrative was neither consistent nor socially robust, leading to the eventual contestation of the WHO's position by other global public health actors, most notably the Council of Europe. This illustrates both the significance of scientific uncertainty in the investigation of risk, and the difficulty for risk managing institutions in effectively acting in the face of this uncertainty.


Author(s):  
Emily F. Rothman

Pornography and Public Health explores the scientific evidence that helps answer the question: “Is sexually explicit media causing epidemic harm to human health?” It situates this question in the context of historical concerns that sex and sexuality have the power to radicalize people and legal cases that have defined obscenity in the United States. It reveals how pornography came to be considered a public health crisis in multiple US states despite a lack of support and involvement of any governmental public health agency. It also reviews peer-reviewed scientific findings that address whether pornography contributes to epidemics of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, the dissolution of intimate relationships, eating disorders and body dissatisfaction, and compulsive use. Further, it discusses working conditions for pornography performers and outlines possible methods for improving them. It suggests that public health frameworks and tools can be applied meaningfully to analyses of pornography’s impact on health. This title is written for emerging public health advocates.


Author(s):  
Tina Ljungberg ◽  
Emma Bondza ◽  
Connie Lethin

Background: Mental illness is one of the fastest rising threats to public health, of which depression and anxiety disorders are increasing the most. Research shows that diet is associated with depressive symptoms or depression (depression). Aim: This study aimed to investigate the diets impact on depression, by reviewing the scientific evidence for prevention and treatment interventions. Method: A systematic review was conducted, and narrative synthesis analysis was performed. Result: Twenty scientific articles were included in this review. The result showed that high adherence to dietary recommendations; avoiding processed foods; intake of anti-inflammatory diet; magnesium and folic acid; various fatty acids; and fish consumption had a depression. Public health professionals that work to support and motivate healthy eating habits may help prevent and treat depression based on the evidence presented in the results of this study. Further research is needed to strengthen a causal relationship and define evidence-based strategies to implement in prevention and treatment by public healthcare.


2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Korin Lebov

This paper reports on interview-based research carried out to improve the evidence base around human trafficking in Scotland. It aims to construct a more detailed national picture of the nature and extent of the phenomenon while also examining the issues and challenges for policing and victim care in a Scottish context. In total, 79 individuals believed to be victims of human trafficking came into contact with agencies in Scotland between April 2007 and March 2008. The majority of cases involved adult female victims who had been trafficked into sexual exploitation. Overall, this research echoes the message of that carried out in other jurisdictions: human trafficking is a complex area of policing and victim care with many challenges.


Author(s):  
Kathleen Bergquist

The definition of human trafficking generally includes the commercial exploitation of persons for labor or sex. Although the International Labour Organization estimated in 2012 that exploitation through forced labor trafficking is up to three times more prevalent than forced sexual exploitation, sex trafficking seems to receive greater media and public attention. This article provides a historical context for sex trafficking, some discussion about the political evolution of sex trafficking legislation, current knowledge, and practice.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-5
Author(s):  
Alexander Butchart ◽  
Stephanie Burrows ◽  
Berit Kieselbach

Abstract Violence is a major public health problem and in recent years has become increasingly important on the global public health agenda. This article provides an overview of the history and significance of interpersonal violence – including child maltreatment, youth violence, intimate partner violence and elder abuse – in global health and development policy, and illustrates the public health approach to violence prevention.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-330
Author(s):  
Rochelle L. Dalla ◽  
Trupti Jhaveri Panchal ◽  
Sarah Erwin ◽  
Jessie Peter ◽  
Kaitlin Roselius ◽  
...  

The commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is considered normative and expected among some Indian castes. Focusing on the Bedia specifically, we sought to identify factors responsible for the intergenerational continuation of CSEC as well as opportunities for prevention. To this end, three questions were posed, including: (a) What structural factors perpetuate CSEC among the Bedia? (b) What are the mechanisms by which Bedia children enter the commercial sex industry (CSI)? and (c) To what extent do Bedia women have personal agency in exiting the CSI and in keeping their children from entering? Guided by structural vulnerability theory and a phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 31 Bedia women engaged in (or exited from) the CSI. Results indicate that girls as young as 12 are “selected” to enter the CSI; once involved, they carry the burden of familial financial sustainability and exit only comes when they are no longer able to attract paying clients and younger female kin able to assume the primary breadwinner role. Ability to keep female children from entry is minimal. Implications for future research, practice, and policy are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
MH Kim ◽  
Wonhyuk Cho ◽  
H Choi ◽  
JY Hur

© 2020, © 2020 Asian Studies Association of Australia. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented global public health crisis, and governments have implemented various responses with varying degrees of effectiveness. South Korea’s approach, which has involved minimal lockdown in order to “flatten the curve”, and which offers an alternative for many democracies, has attracted much attention. Based on in-depth interviews with public health professionals and policy advisors in government agencies, this article analyses how well South Korea’s response to COVID-19 complies with the expectations of good governance, and assesses the strengths and challenges of the Korean model. Our analysis shows that South Korea has been reactive rather than preventive/passive amid waves of clusters such as outbreaks in nightclubs, e-commerce warehouses, schools, hospitals and religious gatherings. The government has used a range of countermeasures, including contact tracing, diagnostic testing, media briefings and text alerts. At the same time, the challenges for the Korean approach have been concerns about privacy, fatigue over emergency alerts and politicisation.


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