I know this is an unusual, and possibly uncomfortable question, but here it goes anyways:
I have read that a significant portion of the girls at various clubs in TJ, including Hong Kong, are victims of human trafficking by the cartels.
From what I have read, Narcos come into various Mexican villages and take girls by force into cities like TJ to serve in these clubs. Other stories say these girls are there to pay off coyotes who take relatives across the border, etc
I really want to visit Tijuana - it’s an actual dream of mine - and I have made my peace, morally speaking, with being a monger. But I can only do so with the understanding that it’s an exchange between two consenting adults.
So I was hoping for some insights from other more experienced TJ Visitors: are the girls there against their will? Are they victims and would I be contributing towards their life of misery?
This is a genuine question- I am not trying to “confront” anyone .
Replies (3)
A reasonable question. I too would love some advice on how to detect and prevent human trafficking but I would add three caveats: 1). don't forget that trafficking occurs in all kinds of labor intensive industries such as agricultural workers, 2) how do you separate the workers who are truly consenting and possibly even enjoying their work from those who are being exploited? and 3) what steps can a "consumer" take that will effectively reduce human trafficking or help the victim of human trafficking, be it a dancer at a strip club or a farm worker who picked the produce you are purchasing at the grocery store.
I often wonder what would happen if sex work was legalized and regulated, like many other types of work that have safety and wage guidelines. Would it reduce the risk of trafficking? Of course, this would require effective and honest government regulation. of the sex work industry..... that may be an unrealistic expectation.
Anyone notice that while human trafficking is used for sensational news purposes, no one actually ever gets arrested and charged with the crime. Human trafficking has been used twice within the past 20 years to go after Providence strip club and if I recall one dancer, underage, was found in one club (cheaters)m and she had been trafficked all the way from Revere Mass. Interesting note. I had represented her pimp 14 years earlier. For what? Deriving earnings from a prostitute. Burn in hell Troy.
@skibum609 I’m surprised you think and voice the opinion no one gets charged with human trafficking without researching that position. A simple google search brings up pages and pages of cases and convictions. I mean hundreds of examples.
As a director of an NGO whose mandate is prevention of trafficking and care of victims I need to emphasize trafficking happens everywhere but it’s most prevalent in the dim areas of society. That makes the victim afraid to report to authorities since they are complicit in committing crimes themselves, although usually under duress.
In the case asked about by the OP, since sex work in the Zona isn’t illegal, if there is coercion by the cartels it most likely involves simple extortion but I think that is rare if ever the case. I believe most of the girls arrive at and work at the brothels in TJ simply because of the lust for easy money. Simple human greed. Greed being the cornerstone of American society, I can deal with and even appreciate that.
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