Intersectionality of Human Trafficking with Migrants, Refugees and Internally Displaced People

US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking has created a helpful reflection on the connections between human trafficking and the realities and vulnerabilities of migrants, refugees, and internally displaced people.  Below is an excerpt and you can download the full resource in English HERE


"Human trafficking is always an exploitation of vulnerability and migrants are among the most vulnerable populations. This vulnerability can arise in an instant, as a result of conflict or after a natural disaster. Migrants and refugees experience vulnerability along every step of their journey. What are some of the trafficking risks for refugees? Most lack money, food or shelter at some time during their journey making them vulnerable to traffickers. They experience a lack of community, family, social structures and networks.

The IOM identifies hopelessness as a determining factor in victim recruitment. The trauma of leaving their home and their experiences along the way may dispose them to be less self-protective and enable them to be easily coerced as victims of trafficking. Many may be travelling alone and if they are missing, nobody will know nor look for them.

Women and children are especially vulnerable to trafficking. Women may experience social isolation or other negative consequences resulting from sexual violence. UNICEF reports that one in ten Syrian refugee children in neighboring host countries are engaged in child labor and that refugees as young as three years old are working.

Large numbers of displaced people increase competition over already limited resources. This may increase desperation making displaced populations more willing to take risks. UNHCR resettles a relatively small percentage of refugees and this massive disparity between those with a need for resettlement and those who actually receive resettlement creates tremendous opportunities for traffickers.The more heavily secure the border the greater need migrants feel to acquire the assistance of smugglers which often leads to trafficking.

Camps for refugees and internally displaced persons are prime targets for traffickers. The concentration of vulnerable, displaced people combined with a lack of security, services, and oversight make them ideal locations for traffickers to operate. In long-standing camps, traffickers are able to build relationships with corrupt camp officials and establish trafficking rings. An estimated 580,000 Rohingya Muslims have crossed into Bangladesh (August-October 2017) and organized trafficking rings are embedded in refugee camps, looking for vulnerable people to traffic for both sex and labor."