Progress Report # 3

Progress Report # 3

The following are the summaries of each of our group members’ (Darfur Action Campaign group) findings. Save Darfur!

Austin Ellis:

For our Darfur Action Campaign group, I have had various responsibilities and conducted different types of research.  The first question I researched was, “How has the genocide affected woman and children, the economy, and the continent of Africa? “ I learned that women and children are being gang raped both inside and outside of Sudan. Women and children have been separated from their families and are assaulted and raped.

As a result of this, the women have been fleeing to Eastern Chad to hide out in refugee camps. Unfortunately, they continued to be mistreated. They are beaten severely on their arms and legs. While being interviewed, one women reported that she attempted to hide, but was found, and was raped by four to six men. In fact, she said she lost count. She was eight months pregnant. The baby died at birth.

I also looked into ways that Indiana University students can help and take action. One of the organizations is called UNICEF. They raise money in order to buy things like medicine, food, and water for those who have been affected the genocide. In addition, there is a student-led division called “Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND).

Sinikka Roinila:

 In my findings I discovered that Helen Fein’s article was very insightful to understand genocide and what has happened in Darfur. I didn’t know anything about genocide, the definition, or Darfur before I read this article, so it incredibly helped spur on my enthusiasm for our action group.

        

Fein stated that genocide is the “killing of people in groups targeted because of organized political oppositions” and that “actions found in genocide are murders or otherwise harming members of a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group with the intention of destroying the group, in whole or in part. I also learned that the actions specific to the Darfur genocide were disease-producing conditions, starvation in camps and ghettos, slave labor, torture, and poisoning of air and water. She also gave me the basic facts of the genocide, including the year it started (2003), that the victims were the African tribes and the perpetrators was the Sudanese government. The number of deaths was less than 400,000 but with more research on Google, I found this to be much higher than the deaths in 9/11.

       

I learned that the reason for the genocide could either have been to eliminate a real threat, spread terror, acquire economic wealth, or implement beliefs.

      

 In articles about the UN we read for class, I also learned that there were many reasons why the US or UN did not immediately come into play. They did not want to risk their own lives. In this light, Fein brought up preventative questions one could use to tell if a government was leaning toward genocide, and since the UN missed these questions and answers- they were hesitant to now fix the problem that they couldn’t prevent, which is their job.

       

Lastly, one interesting point I noticed in Fein’s article was that the USA got involved in the Darfur crisis, but limited its participation, because we were only there to help our own agenda. It was like we cared more about our own national goals than others lives.

        

The second part of research that I did was to answer Question #8 of our first progress report. To do so, I looked at the current status and situation of what is going on in Darfur in order to further recognition where it was that our action group needed to land ship.

       

I learned that this past March, Obama was pressured by George Clooney to talk with China about collaborating in pressuring the Sudanese government to end the violence that is still occurring in Darfur. It was just this past April that Russian helicopters decided to pull out of the genocide, which has led to more difficulties for aid and left people to their own violence. There are still fights occurring between villages.

        

Also, currently the Russian and Chinese are selling weapons to the Sudanese government in the knowledge that they will be used for violence, aid is being withheld and people are still displaced, even though the peace treaty was already signed and despite the UN arms embargo act.

       

Finally, I found that Omar Al-Bashir, the Sudanese president, was arrested in 2010 for crimes against humanity, and that there is actually a video game online about the Darfur crisis where you can pretend to be a villager in order to bring awareness to the issue.

       

In conclusion, I did decide the stance that our group would take as our “thesis” as an answer to Question #8 (the hardest question). We want the resulting actions of the presentation to be raised awareness and pressure put onto the students to sign a petition that would be brought before congress and pressure them to talk to the Sudanese government again. It’s Fein’s Boomerang Effect all over the place!

Larry Bryant:

The genocide in Darfur has caused the destruction of over 400 villages, causing initially 400,000 deaths with about 100 people continuing to die each day.  2,700,000 survivors of the genocide have been displaced from their homes and are currently living in refugee camps.  The people who caused this chaos was the Arab ran government (unofficially), led by President Omar al Bashir, who enlisted an extremist group called the Janjaweed to actually commit the acts of genocide.  Ultimately, the United Nations and other powers stepped in to intervene in the situation and to aid those whose most basic human rights have been taken, the African tribes or the non-Arabs of Sudan.  Many people have contributed to the efforts to restore order to the victims of the genocide including, 85 non-governmental organization and 16 United Nations agencies adding up to about 17,700 humanitarian workers.  The Sudanese government has had a history of making humanitarian efforts very hard to achieve, including even shutting down some camps and programs within the nation in retaliation to arrest warrants issued by the international crime court (one including President Bashir). 

Alex Buettner:

For the Darfur action campaign group I have researched which rights Sudan has violated in comparison to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. From what I have researched on the events that took place and ones that are still occurring, I have inferred that there are 18 out of the 30 human rights that have been violated. These only include the rights that have substantial evidence against them. I have also found videos that contribute to our groups Prezi presentation, including one on the UNs confrontation with Sudan, George Clooney's involvement, as well as interviews from those that have been firsthand victims of the atrocities that have occurred in Darfur. I have also researched ways that other student groups have gotten involved with the Darfur genocide in order to give our action campaign group ideas on how to go about making a difference and presenting our view to the class. 

Brenton Klein:

I began my research by reading two articles about the Darfur genocide. The first article, written by Eric Reeves, appeared in Dissent Magazine. Reeves is a professor at Smith College and has written extensively on Sudan. He basically condemns the United Nations for not taking sooner action in regards to intervention.

The second article, written by Molly Miller, appeared in the Mediterranean Quarterly. Miller works for the US House of Representatives and was special assistant to the Sudan mission director of the US Agency for International Development mission in Khartoum, Sudan, and Washington, DC. The article gives a brief history of Sudan and details how that history led to the genocide. Miller also suggests a couple of ways to end the genocide. Together, these two articles were quite informative of the situation in Darfur.

I also looked into any worthwhile media sources regarding the Darfur genocide. I came across a couple of films that may provide a short clip or two when it comes to our presentation. Additionally, one of these films could certainly count towards our activism involvement. One film is a documentary that was made during the height of the genocide. It details the situation and urges people to action. The second film is a drama directed by infamous director Uwe Boll. It may not be as accurate as the documentary, but it accurately portrays the horrors that have taken place in Darfur.

Furthermore, I have also researched the Sudanese political system, and how that system has contributed to the genocide. Basically, Sudan is now basically regarded as an authoritarian state run by President Omar al-Bashir. His pro-Islamist views eventually reached radical levels when he responded violently to rebel uprisings. Although efforts have been made by international players, al-Bashir continues to rule the country and was even re-elected in the 2010 Sudanese presidential election.

Lastly, I focused specifically on the events immediately preceding the beginning of the genocide. Tensions had been rising between semi-nomadic livestock herders and those who practice sedentary agriculture. These tensions were due to a massive drought, and eventually racial tensions were exacerbated as well. The government of Sudan saw an opportunity to erase non-Arabs from the region and installed policies to strengthen the brewing hatred. Soon, some of these non-Arabs got fed up and rebelled against the government. This was exactly what Khartoum officials had expected, and they responded by beginning a mass extermination of not only the rebels, but innocent civilians as well.

Mitchell Meyer:

As our campaign action group continues to research and discover new things about the horrible events of the Darfur Genocide, I have been able to develop a better understanding of the genocide as a whole. The region of Sudan located in eastern Africa is a home to around six million people and over 100 tribes. Some being Nomads and some are farmers. In 1989 a man of the name Omar Bashir took control of the Sudan by military coup, which allowed the National Islamic Front Government to spark regional tensions. With the struggle of political control now, many people became angry and conflicts occurred between many African farmers and some nomadic Arab tribes. In 2003 is when the genocide took off. Two Rebel movements became angry with the Sudan government complaining about the failure to protect people from the attacks by nomads. In response to this the government released the Janjaweed (Arab Militia). The Janjaweed went out and destroyed over 400 villages and millions of civilians were forced to leave their homes. As the Genocide continues to go on, African farmers are being displaced and murdered by the Janjaweed. So far the Genocide has took over 400,000 lives and displaced over 2,500,000 people. Over this horrible event the Sudanese government denies to having any connection to the Janjaweed and appears reluctant to address the human rights crisis in the region. They took no necessary steps to stop the activities of the Janjaweed, which became a huge problem. In 2005 the international criminal court (ICC) took action by launching investigations of human rights violations in Darfur, and once again the Sudanese government refused to be involved with the investigation. Today Darfur continues to suffer and the many problems happening in Sudan cannot be resolved until peace is protected in Darfur. This tragic event needs as much support as they can get for there are 2.7 million people still displaced in camps.

I am currently also trying to contact the African Studies Department as well. We want to send out some emails and contact people that have been affected by the genocide that would be able to speak with our group or maybe hold a videoconference. This will give our presentation a more close up emotional feeling and will draw the audience’s attention to the subject.

For people to get involved, they must be aware of what type of things they can do to help stop genocides all around the world. There are many organizations on the web that raise money for the Darfur genocide, but the two biggest ones that caught my eye and are more well-known are STAND and savedarfur.org. These organizations are doing great things and let people get involved and not just donate money. When people actually get to be involved in a movement and make a difference that makes them feel great rather than just sending money. Another interesting thing I found was an organization called the Genocide Intervention Network. This was created in 2005 and it allows people to call their anti-genocide hotline 1-800-GENOCIDE, to talk to elected officials on the Darfur Genocide and Sudan-related problems.

Terry Pritch:

Terri contributed to the group by posting weekly in the group’s blog and researching ways to spread awareness about the conflict in Darfur in a way that will reach the IU student and Bloomington resident despite the distance and cultural difference. Terri is also the Communications chair for the IU Chapter of Amnesty International and will be working with them to write a letter to a prominent figure in the Sudan government asking for reform and change in defense of the human rights of their citizens.

Progress Report #3

CUBAN REFUGEES:

Kerri Iha

From December 1965 to 1973, “Freedom Flights,” sponsored by both the Johnson and Nixon administrations, flew refugees from Varadero Beach to Miami. This “airlift” of refugees ended up transporting over 250,000 refugees who often had family or relatives waiting for them in America 

Cubans come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.  A 1995 census survey found that 37% of the population identified themselves as European, 11% claimed African heritage, and the remaining 51% were mixed.  Before 1980, nearly all of the Cuban refugees that fled to America were of white heritage from the upper middle class.  These people were either a part of the corrupt authoritarian Bautista government, (US supported), or educated professionals (bankers, lawyers, government workers, etc). 

On April 20^th, 1980, Fidel Castro opened a Cuban port and told socialist non-believers to get out of the country.  This event would forever be known as the Mariel Boatlift.  Nearly 125,000 Cubans fled via boat within the 5 months the port was open.  It was later found that 25% of these Cubans had criminal records or were released from mental hospitals.  These refugees were mostly sent to Cuban refugee camps and some spending time in US prisons until they were eventually deported back to Cuba.  50% of the 125,000 ended up staying in Miami.

Does Race Matter among Cuban Immigrants? An Analysis of the Racial Characteristics of Recent Cuban Immigrants

Benigno E. Aguirre and Eduardo Bonilla Silva

Journal of Latin American Studies , Vol. 34, No. 2 (May, 2002), pp. 311-324

Race, Wages, and Assimilation among Cuban Immigrants

Madeline Zavodny

Population Research and Policy Review , Vol. 22, No. 3 (Jun., 2003), pp. 201-219

John Hindman

Wet foot - Dry foot policy: An amendment to the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966, put in place in 1995. Any cuban refugee that's intercepted by the coast guard in the water will be deported back to Cuba unless they provide evidence they will be persecuted upon return. If a cuban manages to reach U.S. land however, they will be placed on the fast track to becoming a U.S. citizen.

Fidel Castro has used mass migration of cuban citizens to the U.S. as a threat when disputing the trade embargo.

The Cuban Adjustment Act was put in place following the mass migration of over 150,000 cubans to Florida.

Self-segregated communities have formed in Florida due to the influx of migrants. 

Many of the refugees come from middle-class backgrounds.

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES:

HyunSueng Lee

            In the Vietnamese’ history, they had many wars such as Vietnam War, World War II, and Civil War. So, they have had refugees until now. The biggest refugee was Vietnamese boat people that from 1965 to 1975, they had Vietnam War. During the Vietnam War, many people died and lost their house. Most of boat people fled to Hong Kong, Northern part of China, or other nearest country. However, Hon Kong and Indo rejected that they came to their counties, so that more than 1 million people were sent to prison, and estimated 160,000 people died. Just 65,000 people lived in other countries. After end of War, China, Japan, South Korea, and other EU countries tried to intervene the Vietnamese government.

            Why they occurred Vietnam refugees, and how they treated during the wars, also how boat people survived on the sea or other lands. Actually, Vietnam is not a developed country, so they haven’t had an organized government and systematic systems. Another reason is that they had historical huge war for a long time, so that during the war, they separated unities such as little people live in small town without any contact and network of emergency contacts. After American lost the Vietnam War, boat people who escaped from war went to sea or other countries. According to “Archives of Vietnamese Boat People” it said that most people tried to escape to south part of land such as Laos, Cambodia, and Taiwan. However, people who escaped to the ocean, they were attacked by pirates or became slavers “In1989 a boatload of 84 refugees were attacked by pirates. The women and children were transferred to the boats and never heard of again. The men were kept in the gold and brought up on by on to be clubbed to death.”  Moreover, some people were died by hunger on the sea.

            In my opinion, Vietnam boat people lost a lot of their human rights by war, death, hunger, and so on, and other people who survived in other countries don’t have their own

freedom until now because they work hardly with very low pay. Also, in the Korea News, I have read about Vietnam women are selling to Asian countries such as comfort women, marry with other countries men, work in overseas, or sex slaves. Nowadays, the international laws have prohibit this problems, so that if other people think about their lives, and try to help them, all of us live with painless lives.

Inhyuk Hue

In 1974, South Vietnam supported by U.S was defeated by Communist North Vietnam led by Ho Chi Minh, and as a result, over one hundred thousand Vietnamese escaped from their sea surrounded home land by boat. In 1979, Sino-Vietnamese War occurred with the People's Republic of China (PRC). Many ethnic Chinese living in Vietnam, who felt that the government's policies directly targeted them, also became "boat people."

For various reasons, people have been fleeing from Vietnam. The escape was never easy. Often times, several dozen of people got on a small boat, and there were many things to worry about. During the escape, many women and children were raped. Additionally, since they moved covertly at night, it was difficult to elude pirates, and the fact that refugees sold everything they had and carried gold, attracted Thaipirates. To protect boat people, UNHCR set up refugee camps in Malaysia, Thailand, Philippine, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. At the end, the lucky ones would be rescued by freighters and taken to Hong Kong where “port of first asylum policy” was adopted in 1979. Others landed on Southeast Asian countries such as Philippine, Korea, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Australia. Unlucky ones would continue their journey for half a year suffering from pirates, hunger, and hopelessness.
            Since they were deserted by their own government, they had to find place to live outside Vietnam. Many boat people were captured and detained in refugee camp and deported back to Vietnam. Those deported people were sent to “re-education camps” where thousands were tortured and abused and let go back to the society. But until today, they have to periodically report to police office and report their recent activities.
            As part of Vietnamese economy transforms policy, when boat people comes back to Vietnam, the government promised not to ask anything. It is attracting Vietnamese living in foreign country and is invigorate the country’s economy.
            Boat people were victim of political unrest in Vietnam. Fleeing of people from Vietnam was not solely their fault. This turmoil was result of cold war and clash of ideology. Neighboring countries as well as U.S, China and other countries should take responsibility and actively seek solutions to solve this international humanitarian crisis.

NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES:

Sung Hoon Chung

I have been researching about why North Korean escapes their country in the first place. And how they escape from the country or what route they use to escape.

First, one of the main reasons that they escape their country is financial poverty because North Korea does not have many resources except capital city PyungYang. Therefore, people cannot get food to feed their family. As North Korea is socialism state, they need to work for country to earn money or food but even though they work for country, they did not have resources to reward their citizen (worker).  Despite harsh surveillance and control, people will escape if they are not stratified necessities of life.

Second, they escape country to seek their freedom because North Korean citizen must do what labor party or country ordered. If they disobeyed the order, they can be buried from the society. This means that they never do what they want to do and no one has human rights in their life. However, after they work at different association from another country, they get to know about freedom, democracy, and human rights. Therefore, they decide to escape from capitalism to seek their freedom in face of danger.

As I mention why people try to escape from North Korea, the next step we need to focus is what is the route they use to escape even though china does not accept North Korean refugee and how they can be treated when they get caught. North Korean refugees usually cross Amnok River to go china and go to Thailand because they need to go South Korea embassy to report them. See the picture bottom.

·      http://kin.naver.com/qna/detail.nhn?d1id=6&dirId=60602&docId=131845799&qb=7YOI67aB6rK966Gc&enc=utf8&section=kin&rank=1&search_sort=0&spq=0&pid=RcUgKF5Y7usssts6MdZssc--501976&sid=UHXS2XKNdVAAAEPkE@Y

·      http://www.toxjals.com/

Tae Rim Eun

I have focused on finding the possible solutions to the problems the North Korean refugees are facing and how this problem is being handled internationally.  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have accepted the fact that people who fled from North Korea to be recognized as refugees.  However the Chinese government is still resisting accepting them as refugees and is considering North Korean refugees as people who fled just for economic reasons.  One of the possible solutions to save the North Korean refugees from being violated their human rights and also reduce the number forced to go back to North Korea is building a refugee camp, where they can safely be sent to South Korea or any other countries they wish for.  Since China is unwilling to help the North Korean Refugees, in 2005 the South Korean government and Mongolian government agreed upon building a refugee camp in Mongolia.  However in November 2006, the Mongolian prime minister denied the existence of building such camp probably because of their relations with North Korea and China. The best solution to secure the lives of North Korean refugees is for China to accept their status as refugees which is hard to expect considering their relations with North Korea.  The next best solution would probably be building a refugee camp in other countries around China.  This refugee camp will help North Korean refugees to first solve their basic needs and give them time to choose nations that they would be willing to live in.  There are over 20,000 North Koreans who have successfully came to live in South Korea, but there are also many European nations along with United States that accept the North Koreans to their countries.  There are currently about 100 North Koreans who were granted the refugee status to live in United States.

BURMESE REFUGEES:

Kaitlyn Barker

One of the most interesting resources that I have found is “Human Rights Abuses and Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS: The Experiences of Burmese Women in Thailand.”  This article connects human rights directly to health problems and demonstrates that these health problems frequently occur in situations involving refugees.  This article explains how over one million Burmese refugees have fled to Thailand and suggests that they undergo numerous abuses to human rights  by employers, immigration, and the government.  It shows how they are more likely to experience health problems such as AIDS, giving the reader a unique insight into the connection between refugees and health issues.  I find this article fascinating, because it not only involved my action campaign group, but also the AIDS one.  I’m considering asking them to discuss this issue further with me. 

            One of my other favorite resources that I have found is this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1ZAi7hiE3A.  It shows that while the refugees are glad to be out of their previous circumstances, they are still having difficulties.  This specific video focuses on a refugee camp in Thailand.  One of the main problems is the lack of food.  This video connects to the resource shown above in that it demonstrates current problems involving refugees and health.

            While I have found a few other resources, they are not nearly as rich as the two above.  I hope to broaden my research in order to find more resources rich with insight and information.  I hope to find a news article next, for I have not found a decent one yet.

AIDS Progress Report 3

Keri Marshall’s AIDS Campaign Summary

I am currently working with Brett and Ivan on organizing the whole campaign. We are making sure we got everything we need and things ready for presentation. I have provided six resources with vital information, personal stories, etc. I have contributed with the brainstorming in this campaign process and participate in the group meetings. I have been coming up with ideas for presentation and have made a layout of an ideal on how and what to present. I hope to bring not only information about AIDS to the class with my group’s campaign but also more of a visual and personal affect. I will be meeting with my group to work on this campaign’s progress more.

Ivan Escamilla Findings Summary

            Ryan White was a thirteen year old child when came into contact with an infected needle used to treat his Hemophilia. A resident of Kokomo, Indiana, he was bullied and discriminated among peers and teachers. He was forced to take school at his home through a computer, but it came out fuzzy and hard to hear. Rumors were started about him in his town of Kokomo, and a mother was so bent on getting him expelled that he and his family decided to change towns. Ironically, after already having received nationwide attention, he was received with open arms in his new town. He met many celebrities and received a vast amount of support nationwide. Unfortunately, his battle against AIDS ended abruptly at the age of 18. His activism against unjust and misinformed discrimination paved the way for new policy, the Ryan White Act, which is currently the largest federally funded program that contributes to people living with AIDS/HIV. This fund is given to special treatment institutes where AIDS and HIV are treated. This program, unlike Medicare and Medicaid, is a “last resort” program, where those uninsured or under-insured victims of AIDS with low incomes may derive benefit from. It provides care to at least 500,000 people, and provided funds to 2,567 organizations back in 2004, where it has only increased until present. President Obama upheld the bill, hoping to give aid and relief to the now 1.1 million people in the U.S. living with AIDS, with 56,000 new infections occurring every year.

            International acclaim towards AIDS is highly subjective to culture. Different cultures give way to different approaches to sexual behavior, and thus AIDS, as exemplified through the people of Swaziland, which 25% of its population is infected. Condom use is also affected by culture, and also has resource restraints; condom availability is limited in an environment where traditional and political health leaders clash. Unfortunately, women consent, or their inability to say no to unprotected sex, is also founded in a culture where male dominance is deemed the norm. However, this does not mean males are unwilling to strive for better health for their families, as exemplified by Kenyans, who embrace the highly controversial act of circumcision. Circumcision has proven effects that reduce the contractibility of AIDS, but are seen by human rights groups as a mutilation of the body that is imposed on powerless ethnic groups. This is not entirely the case as Kenyan males subjected themselves with complete consent. Through small encouragement, a society can be saved from an alarming AIDS epidemic. Ugandans’ transmission of HIV changed drastically after only they were merely asked to change their sexual behavior. Though culture affects AIDS and HIV viewpoints, small changes can have an everlasting difference.

Brett Dworski’s Summary

In 1981, the virus known as AIDS (Autoimmune Deficiency Syndrome) was discovered in the United States. People did not know what it was or how to contract it, but they knew right off the bat that it was deadly. It had been around the world for quite a while by this time, beginning in what most people believe to be non – human primates in countries of West – Central Africa. In the U.S., initial cases were found in drug users (sharing needles) and homosexual men. The first sign of the virus in these people was a skin disease called Kaposi’s sarcoma. After research by scientists all over the country, they discovered that it was a virus that is an exchange of bodily fluids that causes the Helper T Cells in the immune system to die. Thus, in July of 1982, the name AIDS was given.

            When people think of the Olympic sport of diving, it’s very likely that the first person they think of is Greg Louganis. Back in 1984 and 1988, Louganis won five gold medals for the United States in diving. Nowadays, he is also known for something else; he is a homosexual with AIDS. Louganis came out to the world sharing his virus in 1995, when he wrote his best – selling novel, ‘Breaking the Surface’. He revealed within his novel that he had contracted AIDS from unprotected sexual activity with an abusive partner. A large controversy at the time was of the ’88 Olympics, when Louganis hit his head on the diving board. At this time, he knew he had AIDS, but he had not shared it with the world. After he shared his virus with society, there was huge talk all over the country, and even the world, of what “could” have happened (even though AIDS cannot be transferred through a swimming pool…). As of today, Greg Louganis is an avid speaker and activist for HIV and AIDS. According to him, “Education and prevention are the keys”

Progress Report # 3

Maggie's findings -
Kathleen Davis:

Davis covers many of the important questions regarding the issue of Human Trafficking that occurs over the North Korean and Chinese borders. These important questions include why is there crossing the border, who is being trafficked and how many, how does the smuggling and crossing the border process occur, what are the victims subjected to, and what is being done to help by the international community. According to Davis, the increase in the border crossing is a direct result of the lagging economy in North Korea. The stagnant economy post Cold War has caused there to be a lack in food available, thus leading to rationing and women being subject to a low economic status in North Korea. Additionally, because of Chinese child-bearing laws, there is a shortage of wives available in China, thus leading men to look to North Korea for women they can essentially purchase for a wife. Davis reports that nearly 80-90% of women who do cross the Chinese and Korean border are trafficked. Men typically use coercion, abduction, force, threat and money to obtain the women who are being trafficked. There are "distributors" who often times can "re-sell" the trafficked women, and often times, these distributors depend on border patrol who turn a blind eye or pretend to arrest the women found crossing the border and then traffic the captives. As a captive, these women are subject to physical abuse in labor camps, sexual abuse, and mental abuse but cannot escape this inhumane treatment because of their illegal status. If they were caught, they would be subject to more labor and sexual abuse and then deported back to their home country, where they are often regarded as outcasts. 

One of the more disturbing finds from Davis is the response of both the Chinese and the North Korean governments; both have given a response of denial. International pressure exists to both of the countries and there is a continued desire for both the countries' involvement in the UN Trafficking Protocol. 

Davis, Kathleen. "Brides, Bruises and the Border: The Trafficking of North Korean Women into China.." SAIS Review of International Affairs. 26.1 (2006): 131-141. Web. 1 Oct. 2012. <http://kg6ek7cq2b.search.serialssolutions.com.ezproxy.lib.indiana.edu/?genre=article&isbn=&issn=19454716&title=SAIS Review of International Affairs&volume=26&issue=1&date=20061215&atitle=Brides, Bruises and the Border: The Trafficking of North Korean Women into China.&aulast=Davis, Kathleen&spage=131&sid=EBSCO:Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson)&pid=>.

Katharine Moon:

In Moon's scholarly article also covering human trafficking between the Korean and Chinese border, she discusses much about human rights currently in North Korea. There is a significant lack in protection of and involvement in human rights efforts by the government officials of China and North Korea and other international powers. The government officials continue to "turn a blind-eye" to the activities going on at the borders. According to Moon, there is a disconnect with regards to punishing those responsible for the human trafficking because anti-trafficking efforts are hard to impose. Both countries need to be held accountable; China needs to look to those crossing the border into China as refugees instead of criminals, and thus need to help them and grant them amnesty instead of deporting them. Furthermore, China needs to be more involved in UN involvement and treaties discussing human trafficking.
Moon, Katherine H.S. "Beyond Demonization: A New Strategy for Human Rights in North Korea.."Current History. 107. (2008): 263-268. Web. 1 Oct. 2012. <http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.lib.indiana.edu/eds/detail?sid=4b33ff37-99d3-4d08-b1ec-27896165ab01@sessionmgr104&vid=4&hid=1>.


Mark Lagon
In Lagon's scholarly article, much of the trafficking that goes on in China is discussed. Today, in China, North Korea continues to be one of the top sources of trafficked women. The labor and sexual abuse are conditions that the women and girls are subjected to could be considered modern day slavery. According to Lagon, North Korean women in China are the most vulnerable trafficked women because of their illegal status in China and their fear of deportation back to their home country. Lagon's article does an excellent job of highlighting what is going on in China in terms of human trafficking and how this connects to women trafficked from North Korea. 

Lagon, Mark. "Human Trafficking In China." DISAM Journal of International Security Assistance Management. 30.1 (2008): 40-41. Print. <http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=afec1ee7-013a-4da6-be4b-8f22dbe80436@sessionmgr11&vid=9&hid=115>.

Ashley's findings:

Louise Shelley discusses the issue of human trafficking in North and South Korea and how they are different.  While South Korea is considered one of the largest economies in the world, fewer women are available for prostitution, and therefore, women are often imported from other countries such as the Philippines, Russia, and Thailand.  On the other hand, human trafficking in North Korea is different in that the government regulates the population.  Human trafficking is important to their economy in that it produces money for the state.  Since there is such a tight control over population, North Korean women are often exported to serve as wives to China.  Since the one-child policy exists in China, there is a shortage of women to marry.  She also discusses the different clients that participate in this global “business”.  These clients are military personnel but also foreign tourist from Europe, North America, the Middle East, and many other places.  Shelley explains that “different nationalities serve different clienteles”.  For example, Russian women serve both American and Korean clientele, while Filipinos are required to work at “clubs” that serve American servicemen because of their understanding of English.

“Human Trafficking: A Misunderstood Global Scourge”, discusses the importance of human trafficking in the United States.  Hilary Clinton refers to the issue as “one of the world’s largest and most pressing human rights concerns”.  Clinton also explains that human trafficking is also an American problem, arguing that, “It doesn’t just take place in the sweatshops of impoverished Indian village or in Thai brothels, but on US streets from San Francisco to New York.  This article could be used in our discussion of what the United States is doing to help these countries regarding this issue and also the fact that it is occurring in our own country.


Bibliography:

Shelley, Louise. “Human Trafficking: A Global Perspective” Cambridge University Press, 2010

<http://books.google.com/books?id=XY8uJoYkNBsC&pg=PA155&lpg=PA155&dq=human+trafficking+in+north+korea&source=bl&ots=MBFyZj9G1C&sig=4e0Lecg2qx2TRnGfwJMjTXAxYJQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=46B1UOy2JOjy0gHimYH4Aw&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=human%20trafficking%20in%20north%20korea&f=false>

Hanes, Stephanie.  “Human Trafficking: A Misunderstood Global Scourge”.  The Christian Science Monitor.  Web. 9 Sept. 2012.

<http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-Issues/2012/0909/Human-trafficking-a-misunderstood-global-scourge>

Progress Report #3

Ashley's findings:

Louise Shelley discusses the issue of human trafficking in North and South Korea and how they are different.  While South Korea is considered one of the largest economies in the world, fewer women are available for prostitution, and therefore, women are often imported from other countries such as the Philippines, Russia, and Thailand.  On the other hand, human trafficking in North Korea is different in that the government regulates the population.  Human trafficking is important to their economy in that it produces money for the state.  Since there is such a tight control over population, North Korean women are often exported to serve as wives to China.  Since the one-child policy exists in China, there is a shortage of women to marry.  She also discusses the different clients that participate in this global “business”.  These clients are military personnel but also foreign tourist from Europe, North America, the Middle East, and many other places.  Shelley explains that “different nationalities serve different clienteles”.  For example, Russian women serve both American and Korean clientele, while Filipinos are required to work at “clubs” that serve American servicemen because of their understanding of English.

“Human Trafficking: A Misunderstood Global Scourge”, discusses the importance of human trafficking in the United States.  Hilary Clinton refers to the issue as “one of the world’s largest and most pressing human rights concerns”.  Clinton also explains that human trafficking is also an American problem, arguing that, “It doesn’t just take place in the sweatshops of impoverished Indian village or in Thai brothels, but on US streets from San Francisco to New York.  This article could be used in our discussion of what the United States is doing to help these countries regarding this issue and also the fact that it is occurring in our own country.


Bibliography:

Shelley, Louise. “Human Trafficking: A Global Perspective” Cambridge University Press, 2010

<http://books.google.com/books?id=XY8uJoYkNBsC&pg=PA155&lpg=PA155&dq=human+trafficking+in+north+korea&source=bl&ots=MBFyZj9G1C&sig=4e0Lecg2qx2TRnGfwJMjTXAxYJQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=46B1UOy2JOjy0gHimYH4Aw&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=human%20trafficking%20in%20north%20korea&f=false>

Hanes, Stephanie.  “Human Trafficking: A Misunderstood Global Scourge”.  The Christian Science Monitor.  Web. 9 Sept. 2012.

<http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-Issues/2012/0909/Human-trafficking-a-misunderstood-global-scourge>