Abstract
BackgroundA number of individuals in Ethiopia are involved in illegal types of transnational migration, namely human trafficking and smuggling. The magnitude is not declining despite efforts to curb it. An in-depth understanding of the reasons for trafficking is needed to control human trafficking and its consequences.MethodsThe study included four focus group discussions and 44 in-depth interviews conducted in three border towns, five trafficking-stricken areas, and the IOM transit center for returnees in Addis Ababa. Participants were victims of trafficking, emigrants, community members, police, immigration personnel, and staff of labor and social affairs offices and non-government organizations. Based on the social-ecological model framework, content analysis was implemented using opencode-4.03 software.ResultsFactors identified as possibly encouraging acts of illegal migration included community attitudes such as having a child abroad being considered a measure of status, and the reluctance to do certain types of works associated with low social status when at home. There was, however, willingness to do similar work abroad, which was coupled with the belief that wages for such jobs were better abroad than at home and a lack of knowledge regarding differences in working conditions in the two settings. Further reasons given were poor government service provisions, ineffective immigration policies, political instability, government focus on reactive and poorly coordinated control rather than on sustainable prevention of human trafficking and corruption. Corruption was said to be the underlying factor for the poor coordination among government agencies, communities, and individuals. These factors, among others, led to the loss of trust and belief in local governance, resources, and opportunities to build one’s future at home, thereby creating fertile ground for illegal migration, including smuggling and possibly trafficking.ConclusionsIndividual lack of trust and belief in local governance, resources, and opportunities to build one’s future was the main reason why people resorted to migrate in a manner subjecting them to human trafficking. Thus, comprehensive and coordinated efforts involving government agencies, communities, and other stakeholders are needed to help curb human trafficking and its consequences.
Highlights
A number of individuals in Ethiopia are involved in illegal types of transnational migration, namely human trafficking and smuggling
Two of the focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted at Metemma Yohannes
The FGD conducted in Hawassa was made up of six persons and the remaining three of seven persons each (Table 1)
Summary
A number of individuals in Ethiopia are involved in illegal types of transnational migration, namely human trafficking and smuggling. A considerable proportion of global migrants were involved in illegal migration, mainly in human smuggling or trafficking [1]; illegal migration accounted for two-thirds of all transnational migrants in Ethiopia [2]. The process of human trafficking may follow legal processes and procedures or it can involve smuggling during the movement across borders; the relationship between the trafficker and the victim is not sufficiently protective for the latter [3, 4]. Little is known about the predisposing factors that subject people to illegal migration in a manner that makes them vulnerable to transnational human trafficking in Ethiopia [7]. The mechanism how people from Ethiopia enter into the web of trafficking is unclear [6]
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