Human trafficking and violence: Findings from the largest global dataset of trafficking survivors
Background: Human trafficking is a recognized human rights violation, and a public health and global development issue. Violence is often a hallmark of human trafficking. This study aims to describe documented cases of violence amongst persons identified as victims of trafficking, examine associated...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Migration and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623521000404 |
| _version_ | 1818976462340882432 |
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| author | Heidi Stöckl Camilla Fabbri Harry Cook Claire Galez-Davis Naomi Grant Yuki Lo Ligia Kiss Cathy Zimmerman |
| author_facet | Heidi Stöckl Camilla Fabbri Harry Cook Claire Galez-Davis Naomi Grant Yuki Lo Ligia Kiss Cathy Zimmerman |
| author_sort | Heidi Stöckl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Human trafficking is a recognized human rights violation, and a public health and global development issue. Violence is often a hallmark of human trafficking. This study aims to describe documented cases of violence amongst persons identified as victims of trafficking, examine associated factors throughout the trafficking cycle and explore prevalence of abuse in different labour sectors. Methods and findings: The IOM Victim of Trafficking Database (VoTD) is the largest database on human trafficking worldwide. This database is actively used across all IOM regional and country missions as a standardized anti-trafficking case-management tool. This analysis utilized the cases of 10,369 trafficked victims in the VoTD who had information on violence. Results: The prevalence of reported violence during human trafficking included: 54% physical and/or sexual violence; 50% physical violence; and 15% sexual violence, with 25% of women reporting sexual violence. Experiences of physical and sexual violence amongst trafficked victims were significantly higher amongst women and girls (AOR 2.48 (CI: 2.01,3.06)), individuals in sexual exploitation (AOR 2.08 (CI: 1.22,3.54)) and those experiencing other forms of abuse and deprivation, such as threats (AOR 2.89 (CI: 2.10,3.98)) and forced use of alcohol and drugs (AOR 2.37 (CI: 1.08,5.21)). Abuse was significantly lower amongst individuals trafficked internationally (AOR 0.36 (CI: 0.19,0.68)) and those using forged documents (AOR 0.64 (CI: 0.44,0.93)). Violence was frequently associated with trafficking into manufacturing, agriculture and begging (> 55%). Conclusions: An analysis of the world's largest data set on trafficking victims indicates that violence is indeed prevalent and gendered. While these results show that trafficking-related violence is common, findings suggest there are patterns of violence, which highlights that post-trafficking services must address the specific support needs of different survivors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:12:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-68c84d8ce131431fabbcffdf42268c8e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-6235 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:12:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Migration and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-68c84d8ce131431fabbcffdf42268c8e2022-12-21T19:33:56ZengElsevierJournal of Migration and Health2666-62352021-01-014100073Human trafficking and violence: Findings from the largest global dataset of trafficking survivorsHeidi Stöckl0Camilla Fabbri1Harry Cook2Claire Galez-Davis3Naomi Grant4Yuki Lo5Ligia Kiss6Cathy Zimmerman7The Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany; Corresponding author.Gender Violence & Health Centre, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Northern Ireland, United KingdomMigrant Protection and Assistance Division International Organization for Migration, Geneva, SwitzerlandMigrant Protection and Assistance Division International Organization for Migration, Geneva, SwitzerlandMigrant Protection and Assistance Division International Organization for Migration, Geneva, SwitzerlandThe Freedom Fund, Northern Ireland, United KingdomInstitute for Global Health, University College London, Northern Ireland, United KingdomGender Violence & Health Centre, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Northern Ireland, United KingdomBackground: Human trafficking is a recognized human rights violation, and a public health and global development issue. Violence is often a hallmark of human trafficking. This study aims to describe documented cases of violence amongst persons identified as victims of trafficking, examine associated factors throughout the trafficking cycle and explore prevalence of abuse in different labour sectors. Methods and findings: The IOM Victim of Trafficking Database (VoTD) is the largest database on human trafficking worldwide. This database is actively used across all IOM regional and country missions as a standardized anti-trafficking case-management tool. This analysis utilized the cases of 10,369 trafficked victims in the VoTD who had information on violence. Results: The prevalence of reported violence during human trafficking included: 54% physical and/or sexual violence; 50% physical violence; and 15% sexual violence, with 25% of women reporting sexual violence. Experiences of physical and sexual violence amongst trafficked victims were significantly higher amongst women and girls (AOR 2.48 (CI: 2.01,3.06)), individuals in sexual exploitation (AOR 2.08 (CI: 1.22,3.54)) and those experiencing other forms of abuse and deprivation, such as threats (AOR 2.89 (CI: 2.10,3.98)) and forced use of alcohol and drugs (AOR 2.37 (CI: 1.08,5.21)). Abuse was significantly lower amongst individuals trafficked internationally (AOR 0.36 (CI: 0.19,0.68)) and those using forged documents (AOR 0.64 (CI: 0.44,0.93)). Violence was frequently associated with trafficking into manufacturing, agriculture and begging (> 55%). Conclusions: An analysis of the world's largest data set on trafficking victims indicates that violence is indeed prevalent and gendered. While these results show that trafficking-related violence is common, findings suggest there are patterns of violence, which highlights that post-trafficking services must address the specific support needs of different survivors.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623521000404Interpersonal violenceHuman traffickingSexual exploitationLabour exploitationInternational organisation for migration |
| spellingShingle | Heidi Stöckl Camilla Fabbri Harry Cook Claire Galez-Davis Naomi Grant Yuki Lo Ligia Kiss Cathy Zimmerman Human trafficking and violence: Findings from the largest global dataset of trafficking survivors Journal of Migration and Health Interpersonal violence Human trafficking Sexual exploitation Labour exploitation International organisation for migration |
| title | Human trafficking and violence: Findings from the largest global dataset of trafficking survivors |
| title_full | Human trafficking and violence: Findings from the largest global dataset of trafficking survivors |
| title_fullStr | Human trafficking and violence: Findings from the largest global dataset of trafficking survivors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human trafficking and violence: Findings from the largest global dataset of trafficking survivors |
| title_short | Human trafficking and violence: Findings from the largest global dataset of trafficking survivors |
| title_sort | human trafficking and violence findings from the largest global dataset of trafficking survivors |
| topic | Interpersonal violence Human trafficking Sexual exploitation Labour exploitation International organisation for migration |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623521000404 |
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