Jack Swanson, Royal Oak High School
Madagascar
Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee, Human Trafficking
Section 1: History, Legislation, and Actions
The issue of human trafficking is of great concern to Madagascar. We have a major problem with human trafficking, One which we have unfortunatley placed on the backburner as of late. All human trafficking is prohibited by Malagasy law, but punishments are only in place for sex traffickers. Lebanon seems to be a major destination for our people, with thousands of Malagasy women and children being sent to the nation against their will since 2009 (1). Madagascar is seen as a haven for sex trafficking, which does include children. Hundreds of teenagers in the capital of Antananarivo have been coerced into international sex rings, with some numbers even reaching the thousands (2). It is a problem that has gone unfixed for far too long, and our nation sees it fit to take action on a global scale. We do not want to be a case study, we want to be a mark of progress. It may take decades to eradicate the problem of human trafficking, but we are determined to see thorugh to it.
Section 2: Possible solutions
Human trafficking, as with all criminal enterprises, won’t just disappear due to a piece of paper. Criminals, by nature, are not law abiding. If we simply set up legislation, it will have no impact. That legislation needs weight behind it to make a difference, and we have an idea to add said weight. We believe that Interpol should assist national governments investigate and take down human trafficking rings, prosecuting them as international criminals. The crime of human trafficking rarely stays in the country of origin, as we know all too well with Lebanon. With the UN breathing down their necks, human traffickers will sure get chills down their spine. If that does not work, the international community may need to strengthen the penalties for the crime of human trafficking. If human traffickers are imprisoned for life, perhaps they may reflect on their actions. After all, it is a sense of poetic justice. You forcefully lock others up only to get stolen for life and locked up yourself. Being lax will not solve the issue.
Citations:
(1): “Human Trafficking in Madagascar.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Sept. 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking_in_Madagascar.
(2): Thompson-Hernandez, Walter. “This Is What Child Sex Trafficking Looks Like in Madagascar.” The Root, The Root, 19 Nov. 2017, https://www.theroot.com/this-is-what-child-sex-trafficking-looks-like-in-madaga-1820430828.
- Jack Swanson
