Slavery? In 2009?!

     Sometimes, I feel as though the US should not assume the role of “international policeman.”  Situations such as this, which are going on throughout the world should not be neglected though.  Hundreds of women are falling victim to sexually transmitted diseases and millions are being violated each day.  The most painful fact that I extrapolated from the articles is that the women Kristof rescued will never be able to trust people as easily as they used to.  This is very upsetting to here; therefore we should devise a plan to deal with this horrifying issue. 

     The most obvious action to turn to would be sanctions.  We could impose sanctions on the participating countries or expel  them from free trade agreements and the like.  This might not work out well so we should brainstorm some other ideas.  We could set up stations of peacekeeping troops at the places that Kristof describes in which there are girls attempting to sell “souvenirs.”  These peacekeepers, employed by the UN, may be able to preserve some of the rights of the women at these stations.  While the women are at these stations the peacekeepers could ensure that the women are not publicy ridiculed or abused. 

     Sadly it seems as though the US cannot do much in this situation.  It is hard to stop a crisis abroad when we are not aware of the customs of a particular country of the norms.  The only immediate actions we could take would be to impose sanctions or employ peacekeeping troops.  Although I am extremely against human trafficking and would really wish that would could save each and every one of these women, I just feel it would be extremely difficult to police these countries from our home base, the US. 

     My view is not exactly compatible with liberalism.  My ideal goal would be to save (and protect the rights of) each and every one of these women, but everyone knows in reality that this is not possible.  We  must start taking steps to help save as many women as we can by threatening the countries who support human trafficking.  A few hundred women are worth more than none.