RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Mariah Qureshi
Independent Research G/T
2016-2017
Title: Human Trafficking
Introduction and Overview of Research:
The area of research generally concerns the act of human trafficking. Specifically, how
the act of trafficking may be greatly lessened in South Asia is the problematic issue one is
attempting to resolve. Through gaining more knowledge about the topic itself, as well as
collecting primary observations about trafficking in Pakistan, one will teach the information
learned to other individuals in order to spread more awareness about the topic. Once awareness is
spread, measures will be taken to lessen the act of trafficking. In the end, the severity of the act
will be made clear and it will be demonstrated how humans must cooperate with one another in
order for it to end.
Background and Rationale:
Human trafficking is an immoral crime that is executed within modern day society.
Human trafficking is essentially the equivalent of slavery, but it is carried out in an illegal
manner. The three major types of human trafficking include sex, labor, and debt bondage
trafficking. Labor and debt bondage trafficking are practically the same, with very few
differences between the two. In labor trafficking, Individuals may be held against their will as
domestic workers, working for little or no pay, and with no way to find other employment.
(Background on Human Trafficking), which constructs an endless cycle of torture and misery.
As aforementioned, debt bondage trafficking differs slightly from labor trafficking, though the
two are very similar. In debt bondage trafficking, an individual is tricked by a seemingly
influential and wealthy employer who is actually a trafficker into working for them, in order
to pay off demanding debts (DAdamo 1-122). Once the individual begins their work schedule,
they realize that working excessively long hours with little to no food is not what was signed up
for originally (DAdamo 1-122). However, since the workers are usually ignorant and illiterate,
they can be easily deceived once again into believing that they somehow must continue to work
for the employer, even though that information is false (DAdamo 1-122). Sex trafficking
involves an individual - typically a female - that is often kidnapped into the system and forced to
engage in sexual acts in order to survive (Sex Slavery/Trafficking). Commercial sexual
exploitation includes pornography, prostitution and sex trafficking of women and girls, and is
characterized by the exploitation of a human being in exchange for goods or money. (Sex
Slavery/Trafficking), which leads one to infer that sex trafficking may be easily seen by
bystanders, but nothing is done about the issue. For instance, unwilling prostitution falls under
the category of sex trafficking. Prostitutes are regularly seen in local areas such as Baltimore,
during the nighttime. Yet, nothing is done about the issue because by bystanders may not want to

say anything or perhaps law officials choose to turn a blind eye to the situation, for a variety of
reasons.
Within itself, human trafficking has had a very long history. ...the earliest form of global
human trafficking began with the African slave trade. (Oster, The History of Human
Trafficking), though slavery back then was technically neither legal or illegal, human
trafficking did originate from this time period. As it is known, slavery was fortunately abolished
in all countries, and as of today, no known country legally permits slavery. Yet once slavery
started being abolished, trafficking of persons began. Human trafficking was first noticed to
occur when white women began to mysteriously disappear. This was known as white slavery,
with the official definition being, procurementby use of force, deceit, or drugsof a white
woman or girl against her will for prostitution.(Oster, The History of Human Trafficking).
Once human trafficking began to become recognized with white females, many governmental
efforts were made in order to stop the crime. As one can observe from current events, these
governmental efforts may have succeeded in lessening the act of trafficking, yet it was not fully
abolished. The occurrence of World War I led to human trafficking being recognized
internationally, meaning that trafficking was then given attention to humans of other races as
well, not just Caucasian women (Oster, The History of Human Trafficking). However, at this
time period, only sex trafficking was being recognized as a form of human trafficking - labor and
debt bondage trafficking were not spoken about. Eventually, in 2000, the United Nations
adopted the...first agreement that acknowledged modern-day slavery, as well as the possibility of
men being victims of human trafficking. (Oster, The History of Human Trafficking), and
finally other forms of human trafficking were recognized. From analyzing how recently all these
agreements were made about human trafficking, it may determined that this is a relatively new
topic and there is still much more to be learned.
The issue concerning human trafficking is undoubtedly determined to be one of utmost
significance on account of moral and ethical reasoning. As humans, it is morally and ethically
wrong for one to treat another like an inanimate object. It is absolutely sickening to learn that 27
million individuals around the globe are entrapped in this horrific cycle (Statistics). In this
very moment, a little girl has just been sold off to live the rest of her life as a sex slave. A boy is
currently completing his fourteen hour work day without even being fed a nourishing breakfast.
Young children have just been kidnapped in order to continue on this endless cycle. Simply put,
human trafficking is an outrageous act and society is in charge of the task of putting an end to it.
Research Methodology:
Research Question
Which advances can be made toward lessening the amount of human trafficking amongst
all young adults within South Asia?
Research Hypothesis
A declined amount of corruption within law officials will greatly lessen the occurrence of
human trafficking within South Asian countries.

 To support the hypothesis, statistics will be utilized in the paper to demonstrate how law
officials are often bribed or may be involved in the trafficking system itself to cover up
traffickers themselves from getting caught. Logical reasoning may also be mentioned in
order to establish how it is simply not possible for so many trafficking victims to be
smuggled across the borders of South-Asian countries without the captors having
assistance from someone working on the inside.
Research Design Model
The specific design model utilized is ethnographic research, which falls under the
category of qualitative research. This certain design model was chosen in particular because
human trafficking is a research study in which the cultural values (obtained by the people living
in the particular region) often impact the trafficking itself in some way, in that country. This
design model applies to the research study since South Asian countries, to be exact, will be
analyzed in order to see how cultural values in South Asia may have an affect on trafficking. As
the design model is ethnography, there are no variables.
Data Collection
For the original project, an observation notebook with 10 entries will be proposed. Since
the 10 entries are required to be executed over a span of ten weeks, it is estimated that there may
be more than 10 entries. For the first 10 entries, observations about trafficking in the country of
Pakistan will be recorded. This will have to occur over the span over two weeks because a trip
will be taken to Pakistan, which will last for solely 15 days. The next few entries, which could be
executed for over the span over the next eight weeks can be conducted with a mentor. This
project was chosen primarily because of the unexpected trip taken to Pakistan, which presented a
very unique opportunity in which one could observe trafficking in the exact area that the research
question and hypothesis focused on. Data will be collected from children seen in the
impoverished villages visited, and the children that beg for money on the streets. Videos and
pictures may also be taken of these areas, but it is not guaranteed. If a mentor is found at the
Samaritan Women House, then the observational data will be collected from people met in the
house, as well as the mentor. With this proposed project, primary research will be created rather
than the same continuous information being repeatedly presented over and over again. First-hand
observations concerning human trafficking in Pakistan will be recorded, which will then be
utilized to help the trafficking issue in South Asia. Areas where trafficking can occur will also be
recorded, and in some way, this information can be presented to citizens of Pakistan so the entire
population is more aware of this instance and can work together to put an end to the horrific act.
Product Objectives:
A presentation will be made that will be showcased to members of the anti-trafficking
club at Mt. Hebron High School. This information will then be very useful to the audience as the
members will gain a better understanding of human trafficking, particularly of its occurrence in
South Asia. However, after this presentation, the members will be given an opportunity to
shadow the mentor for a day (if at the Samaritan Women House, the members could spend an

entire day there, perhaps even being able to talk to trafficking victims) and actually get some
hands-on experience in the field of research. As aforementioned, the specific audience for the
product consists of the members of the anti-trafficking club at Mt. Hebron High School, which
was deemed to be an exceptional audience primarily because these students are already dedicated
to the area of research.
Logistical Considerations:
If the potential trafficking victims are asked for permission by the researcher to observe
their actions, permission will either be denied, or their actions will most likely be covered up to
avoid displaying that they are involved in the trafficking industry. As long as the information is
not presented to a public audience, then it should be okay to showcase. However, it is necessary
for permission to be granted by the mentor and those at the Samaritan Women House for the
anti-trafficking club to visit one day. Lastly, something will have to be done concerning the
transportation - how exactly will the members of the anti-trafficking club get to the Samaritan
Women House? Perhaps the members could carpool together to the location. In third quarter, a
timeline will be added that outlines the data collection, product development, and audience
distribution.

Works Cited
"Background on Human Trafficking." Northeastern University, 2011,
www.northeastern.edu/humantrafficking/background-on-human-trafficking/.
Accessed 22 Dec. 2016.
D'Adamo, Francesco. Iqbal. Aladdin, 2001.
Oster, Grant. "The History of Human Trafficking." Hankering for History, 3 Oct.
2015, hankeringforhistory.com/the-history-of-human-trafficking/. Accessed
22 Dec. 2016.
"Sex Slavery/Trafficking." Soroptimist, www.soroptimist.org/trafficking/
faq.html#2. Accessed 22 Dec. 2016.
"Statistics." Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, www.mdhumantrafficking.org/
statistics/. Accessed 13 Oct. 2016.