How To Really End Human Trafficking For Good

Human trafficking, particularly sex trafficking, has been in the mainstream news a lot more than usual lately thanks to the highly-publicized arrest of Robert Kraft (owner of the New England Patriots) for soliciting a prostitute in a South Florida "massage parlor" that was essentially a front for a brothel now suspected of human trafficking.  In other words, he was arrested for being a "john" in a crappy brothel in which the prostituted Women were very likely forced, coerced, deceived, and/or brainwashed into providing sexual services for men.  Which is literally another way to say, PAID RAPE, to one degree or another.  It is a modern-day form of slavery.   And this is hardly an isolated incident, but a widespread global scourge that shows no signs of ending anytime soon.

Two years ago, I had written an article about the nuanced nature of prostitution under patriarchy and capitalism, and my views in principle have not changed very much since then.  I still prefer full decriminalization, but I would no longer oppose the Nordic Model either, as that would still be a step up from the abysmal failure that is the status quo in the USA.  But we must not harbor any illusions about the true root of the problem (i.e. the systemic intersection of capitalism and patriarchy), and must tackle it directly as follows:

1. At the very least, stop criminalizing the sex workers/victims themselves, and stop treating them as "less than" in any way, shape or form.  They need to be completely decriminalized, respected, and exit services must be made abundantly and widely available.
2. For any acts that meet the internationally recognized definition of human trafficking of anyone, and/or involve people under 18 providing sexual favors for money or other consideration, ZERO TOLERANCE, period.  That goes for both the supply side (pimps, procurers, and traffickers) as well as the demand side ("johns") who knowingly and willingly participate in such evil.
3. Go after the organized crime syndicates that engage in such reprehensible activities, and get them where it hurts the most, by going after their money.  We have the tools (such as RICO) to wipe these evil organizations out already, yet their seamy underworld persists thanks to a corrupt and/or indifferent "overworld" that all too often enables it.  You can't have the former without the latter.
4. Go for a true Nordic Model in ALL ways, particularly the robust social welfare programs that are the crown jewels of such countries.  In fact, expand this even further to include a Universal Basic Income for all as well, ideally financed by money creation and/or highly progressive taxation, and we would truly remove the chronic desperation that drives so many into the flesh trade to begin with.  It would also go a long way towards smashing the greater kyriarchy, including patriarchy and capitalism.  So what are we waiting for? 
5. And last but not least, whatever remains of the sex industry needs to be fully taken over by the better half of humanity.  History has shown that only Women can be trusted with something like that.

In other words, we really need to see the forest for the trees.  Anything less would be uncivilized.

In the meantime, if in your travels or in your neighborhood you ever happen to notice any sort of red flags that may indicate the presence of human trafficking, do NOT hesitate to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline ASAP.  And fellas, seriously, don't be a "john", be a MATTOO instead.