Cultural Factors Associated with Human Trafficking of Girls and Women in Northern Tanzania: The Case of Arusha Region

Abstract

Human trafficking is persistent in many regions of Tanzania despite different efforts to reduce the practice by the Government and other stakeholders. Girls and young women are more affected by this practice in violation of their human rights than men and boys. This study explored the cultural factors attributing to the trafficking of girls and women in Northern Tanzania. The study involved 400 girls and young women for a quantitative and qualitative study on cultural determinants of human trafficking. The study found the following cultural practices pushed girls and women towards situations in which they could be trafficked: female genital mutilation (82%); son preference (78%); daughters not inheriting land and animals (77%); women not participating in decision making (70%); the workload for women and girls (88%); wife battering (87%); early marriage (82%); under estimating women and girls’ decision-making-making abilities (77%); and polygamy (76%).