Drug Trafficking Organizations - Essay Example

Drug Trafficking Organizations There has been a significant upsurge in the number of women associated with Drug Trafficking Organizations, commonly known as DTO’s. Although association with such dangerous organizations poses problems to all people involved, as the activities carried out are illegal and no formal employee contracts or protection of rights exist. However, women are more vulnerable to exploitation and susceptible to violence as they are inherently regarded as weak, and drug trafficking is dotted by macho-mafias. Hence, as it is increasingly believed to be a male-oriented business, which involves grave risk and violence; women are believed to be disposable. A direct consequence of this can be seen as a surge of killing of women associated with drug dealing. It is often known called femicide (Mares, ‘The Rise of Femicide’).The Rising Role of Women in Drug Trafficking has led to ‘femicide’ in areas where drug trafficking is prevalent.The paper discusses why it is an alarming situation and what policy options could be implemented to curb this rising menace. Women are mainly hired by DTO’s only because of increasing restrictions imposed by the government. Hence, they are able to bypass security restrictions due to the widespread belief of women not being involved in such practices, due to their appealing and distracting looks and possibility of diverse ways of hiding narcotics within their bags and clothing. In addition to it, they have also been hired due tothefierce competition between rival DTO’s. However, women have not been consideredasan intrinsic element in the drug dealing industry, they are often disposed off, once they fulfill their assigned operations.Moreover, women are alsoassassinatedin order to pressurize the government to succumb to the narcotics industry’s demands. According to a report by Council of Hemisphere Affairs, a woman was murdered and her head was left in a phone booth as a sign to stop the increasing restrictions on drug cartels (Mares). Women are also targeted because of their indirect association with drug dealers, for example, if a family member is involved. Then, women are targeted for assassination as a tool to send a warning signal by the rival party. Hence, due to their increased association with drug trafficking industry, women killings have drastically increased. In Mexican states, the number of women who were murdered due to it, has tripled from 2005-2009, it has soared from 3.7 to 11.1 per 100,000. (Mares, ‘The Rise of Femicide’) This phenomenon has been prevalent in the U.S, especially in North and Central America.The Central U.S regions that were most affected includesEl Salvador, which currently has the worst femicide record in the world, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. Majorly due to drug cartels, in Honduras, for instance, the rate of female assassinations has been increasing four times as that of men (Fox Violence against Women in Mexico, Central America). (BBC, Mexico’s Drug Related violence) The interesting fact is that these rates have specifically rocketed in the phase when there was a surge in drug dealing activities. Hence, there is a strong correlation between drug dealing and women killings, as also recently pointed out by two Nobel Laureates,Jody Williams (R) and RigobertaMenchu (L),that the drug war has gone against women and thus, has become a war against them ( Fox,‘Violence against Women in Mexico, Central America’). In Mexico, nearly 50,000 have been killed in drug cartel-related violence since 2006. However, it is interesting to note that from 2002 to 2010, femicide in Honduras increased by 257%, the same period, which witnessed doubling of U.S government’s spending on military and police force. Similarly, although laws have been passed to safeguard the legal rights of women in Guatemala and El Salvador and task forces have been formed to specially tackle the problem of femicide, as many as 90% of the assassins are able to evade legal penalties. Hence, it becomes increasingly evident that alternative solutions must be undertaken by the government (Castillo, ‘Violenceagainst Women in Mexico’). In addition to it, ensuring the implementation of legal provisions granted to women, and curbing such violent practices through the use of military and policy. The government could also target the potential victims, through preventing them from becoming a part of such organizations, rather than assuaging the affected victims later. The major reason for females to be increasingly associated with such organizations is their poor economic conditions. Most of the women associated with DTO’s belong to low income families and are mostly uneducated. As they have no other promising job opportunities, embarking on drug dealing business ensures them not only an easy and instant way to have financial security, but a ravishing and luxurious life. Many of the women are not even aware of the true dangers associated with such organizations (Fregoso 123). Hence, government must seek to empower women through widespread education and awareness. However, this policy is effective only in long term as the process would entail years. Similarly, if the socio economic status of women does not improve, there is a great probability of them still opting for drug trafficking, despite being aware of the high costs and probable danger of working with such organizations. Consequently, in addition to awareness, the public policy should be aimed at improving the economic status of women. However, rather than introducing a continuedwelfare based program, training workshops for women could be conducted, which would them to help equip with basic skills to earn a decent living, for example as tailors, beauticians, handmade art and crafts or any skill that renders them useful in the labor market. Such a measure induces huge budget deficits; through the help of NGO’s which could be sought. Similarly, as evidence suggests that increased spending on police force in those areas has not produced viable results, that the spending could be curtailed to finance such projects. Therefore, with the increase in awareness regarding the probable dangers associated to women who are directly involved in drug trafficking and the dangers posed to their families. Potential increase in job opportunities will economically empower themand rationallymake them capableto induce to weigh the huge costs related to drug trafficking. Hence, their increased emergence in drug associations and thus, female killings that emerge as a result will decline. In order to economically empower women government could undertake multiple programs. Government could introduce income support programs, which would ensure a certain income to the underprivileged women who opt for drug trafficking because of their financial condition. Government could also especially target these women through thorough investigation and then make the income support and counseling sessions free of cost for all the family members involved in drug trafficking. It is so because; it highly increases the chance of other members to get involved. As data provided before signifies that it is a major factor for women to be increasingly involved if their husbands and family members are involved. It would decrease the likelihood of women opting for drug trafficking, and hence would decrease the probability of femicide. A more long term and economically viable solution for the government would be, to lease land to women to set up their own small scale industries. It would incentivize women to set up small industries such as handicrafts, sewing, boutiques or meal houses. It would not only financially empower the women, but would garner benefits for the government as GDP would increase, as more citizens would then be effectively contributing to the economy. It would incentivize women to opt for these safer options to earn money, thorough which they could financially provide for their families without any risks and dangers that are involved in working for drug organizations. As a result, not only crime rates and femicide would decrease, but also the family structures would also be protected. Women bind the households together, and if their lives are protected and economic opportunities are provided to them, the overall family structure that are destroyed when women are killed, would be preserved as well. It would also generate goodwill for the government and hence, would be a politically viable strategy as well. Hence, potential increase in job opportunities will not only economically empower them, but would induce them to rationally weigh the huge costs related to drug trafficking, with availability of alternate opportunities that are safer and viable in long term. Overall, the increased association of women with such drug associations will decline and thus, female killings that emerge as a result will decline. Works Cited "Q&A: Mexico's Drug-related Violence." BBC News. BBC, 10 Sept. 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. . Castillo, Mariano. "Nobel Laureates Highlight Violence against Women in Mexico, Central America - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network, 05 June 2012. Web. 22 Nov. 2012. . Fregoso, Rosa Linda and Cynthia L. Bejarano. Terrorizing Women: Feminicide in the Américas. Durham ,NC: Duke UP, 2010. Print. Fox, Edward. "How the Drug Trade Fuels Femicide in Central America –InSight Crime | Organized Crime in the America" In Sight Crime. Open Society Foundations, 12 July 2012. Web. 22 Nov. 2012. . Mares, Andrea. "The Rise of Femicide and Women in Drug Trafficking." Council on Hemispheric Affairs. COHA, 28 Oct. 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. . Read More