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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PL/LAW 325"
COURSE NAME: "Human Trafficking and Contemporary Slavery"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2024
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Silvia Scarpa
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS:
by appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course introduces students to the hidden phenomena of contemporary forms of slavery and human trafficking, relying on international legal definitions - including among others those of slavery, practices similar to slavery, forced labour, the worst forms of child labour and human trafficking - to better understand and assess the international action against these forms of exploitation. A brief comparison between slavery of the past and its contemporary manifestations, as well as an analysis of relevant contemporary forms of exploitation - including chattel slavery and religious slavery, debt bondage, the sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism and exploitation in some global supply chains - follows. The differences between human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants emerging from the imperfect international legal architecture founded on the two Protocols on Trafficking in Persons, in particular Women and Children and the Smuggling of Migrants annexed to the 2000 Convention against Transnational Organized Crime are also spelled out. Finally, the course focuses on understanding what ought to be done to fight against contemporary forms of slavery and human trafficking.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course compares slavery of the past with contemporary exploitative practices and it analyzes various forms of exploitation, focusing in particular on chattel slavery, religious slavery, servitude, the bonded labor/debt bondage practice, forced prostitution and sexual exploitation, including their link with sex tourism, early and forced marriages, the exploitation of child soldiers, child labour and forced labor. Every form of exploitation is defined and differences and overlaps existing among them are analysed. The course subsequently examines trafficking in human beings, focusing on its spreading in the world, the unreliability of estimates and the lack of data, its causes and consequences and the most common forms of exploitation related to it, including sexual and labor exploitation, the involvement of children in armed conflicts, illegal adoptions and trafficking for the removal of human organs. The lack of an internationally agreed definition of human trafficking until the adoption in 2000 of the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children will be discussed and the differences between this phenomenon and the smuggling of migrants will be studied. Specific attention will be dedicated to understanding what could be done to fight against contemporary slavery and human trafficking.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon
completion of the course, students will be able to define the various
contemporary practices and processes studied, being aware of their spreading in
the world, of their main causes and consequences, of the international action
aimed at abolishing them and of short and long-term strategies that need to be
adopted to eradicate them. They also will be able to assess the major successes
and failures in establishing a framework in which these phenomena could be
eradicated and they will have conducted research and research on a
specific topic of their choice, for the purpose of drafting an advocacy
project.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Mid-term exam | Essay questions. Sample exam available online. | 30% |
| Advocacy project | Project work: research+development of project presentation+ oral presentation. | 30% |
| Final exam | Essay questions. Non-cumulative. | 30% |
| In class/virtual participation | Students shall attend classes and participate to class discussions. | 10% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cours
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
In class and/or virtual attendance is compulsory. Students are expected to attend classes regularly, to read assigned reading materials before each class and to contribute to class discussions in a meaningful way. Students have at their disposal a maximum of 3 unexcused absences throughout the semester. Additional absences will be penalized with an F grade being recorded for class participation.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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WEEK
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TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED
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READING ASSIGNMENTS*
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Week 1
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Introduction to the course.
What is Contemporary Slavery?
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Scarpa-ContSlavery, p. 9-22; Bales, p. 281-285.
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Week 2
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What is Human Trafficking?
Is Slavery of the Past Different from the One of Today?
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Scarpa-ContSlavery, p. 25-30; Scarpa-Article-Groningen J.
Bales, Ch. 1, p. 1-19; Quirk, Ch. 3.
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Week 3
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How Many Slaves/Trafficked Victims? And what are the Characteristics of Contemporary Forms of Slavery & Human Trafficking?
Vestiges of Past Slavery: Chattel Slavery in Mauritania and Niger.
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Bales, Ch. 1, p, 19-33; Weitzer; Scarpa-Cont-Slavery, p. 38-42.
Bales, Ch. 3; Anti-Slavery International-Wahaya, p. 1-9 and 28-30 and 1 story of your choice among the ones included at p. 10-27.
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Week 4
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Continued.
Vestiges
of Past Slavery: Religious Slavery in India and Ghana.
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Black, p. 1-26; 35-38; Asomah.
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Week 5
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Forced labor: Definition. Forms of Forced Labour Imposed by States.
Continued.
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Scarpa-ContSlavery, 22-25; Kang Muico, p. 1-19 and 27; Uyghurs for Sale, p. 3-7 and 27-30 and one case study of your choice between the 3 available at p. 8-26; Hoffer.
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Week 6
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Child Labor and the Worst Forms of Child Labour: Definitions. Child Labor in Cocoa Plantations.
Review Session.
Mid-term exam
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Scarpa-ContSlavery, p. 30-31; Guilbert; Scarpa_CocoaPlantations.
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Week 7
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SPRING BREAK
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Week 8
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The Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism: Past, Present and Future after Covid-19.
Continued.
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ECPAT Report, p. 13-17 and 48-74; ECPAT Article.
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Week 9
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The Smuggling of Migrants: Definition. Trafficking in Personsv. the Smuggling of Migrants.
Group presentations
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Bhabha and Zard; Gallagher.
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Week 10
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Group presentations
Group presentations
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Week 11
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Group presentations
Peacekeeping and Human Trafficking
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Allred; Neudorfer.
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Week 12
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Children in Armed
Conflicts: Child Soldiers
Continued.
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Children and Armed Conflicts-Annual Report-Summary; Haer.
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Week 13
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Trafficking in Persons for the Removal of Organs & Organ Tourism.
Continued.
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Columb; Scheper-Hughes.
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Week 14
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What Can Be Done to Fight Against Contemporary Slavery and Human Trafficking?
Continued.
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Bales, Ch. 7; UNODC, The Effects of Covid-19; Lecture by Prof. Kevin Bales.
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Week 15
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Final Review.
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Week 16
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Final Exam
(Date TBA)
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