Why do people migrate?

Factors that effect trafficking outcomes and vulnerability

VulnerableCommunity

Person seekinga better life

Based on a variety of needs and motivations, people make

choices related to a possible migration

SafeMigration

If the potential migrant is well- informed and is

lucky enough to be associated with

people who have no intension of

exploiting him/her, the outcome can be very positive

TraffickingOutcome:Slavery

However, if the potential migrant is

ill-informed or being influenced

by criminals who’s intent is to exploit, the outcome can be devastating.

It is important to note that in

addition to these end points, there are many people who migrate and fall somewhere in between these two

extremes.

For example, a person might be exploited, but not

enough to be considered trafficked.

Not all exploitation is trafficking…..

To better understand how the migratory process can be directly associated with a

trafficking outcome, there are pre-departure factors that need to be taken into consideration.

They include…

Community vulnerability…

Personal motivations and needs…

and the influence stakeholders, family members and others have on influencing the potential migrant’s decisions.

Each community has a variety of different factors that makes it either more vulnerable

or less vulnerable to recruiters/traffickers

For example…..

The relative alignment of these factors can help predict a community’s vulnerability.

Community Vulnerability

CONSUMERISM

STRONG WEAK

PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING (COMMUNITY)

PESSIMISTIC OPTIMISTIC

ECONOMIC SECURITY

NO ECONOMIC SECURITY ECONOMIC SECURITY

STABILITY OF COMMUNITY (NO CONFLICTS/DISASTERS)

UNSTABLE STABLE

HUMAN SECURITY

NO HUMAN SECURITY HUMAN SECURITY PRESENT

UNDERSTANDING OF TRAFFICKING RISK

NO UNDERSTANDING UNDERSTANDING

GEOGRAPHICAL PROXIMITY

TRAFFICKING PRESENT TRAFFICKING NOT PRESENT

COMMUNITY VULNERABILTY?

This table identifies seven elements

that can be used to measure community

vulnerability

When a community’sindicators fall on this end

of the spectrum, it is considered more

vulnerable

Likewise, when a community’s

indicators fall on this endof the spectrum, it is

considered less vulnerable

Understanding thesefactors helps to predict

which communitiesneed more preventive

support than others.

Within each community, there are individuals who are predisposed

to migrate.

A person’s unique individual needs and motivations must also

be taken into consideration….

While the previous table can give us some indication of which communities are more vulnerable than others, ….

For example….

Personal Needs and Motivations

Motivations and needs to migrate are varied and not

always based on negative factors

Emotionalstability

Increaseeconomicstability

Escapestigma Desire to

increasestatus

Poverty

Adventure

Educationabroad

Lack ofhumansecurity

Potentialmigrant

Note the many reasons why a person might

chose to migrate..

It is not simply poverty.

Decision Influencers

Family membersNeighbors

Past MigrantsTraffickers

Community leaders

Those who influence the decision to

migrate include a variety of people..

Understanding the relationship between motivations and those who

influence the decisions is essential for understanding how to prevent

trafficking from happening

Why are these factors important?

Because to develop effective prevention programs, we MUST

understand what motivates a person to migrate.

Assuming that poverty is the main motivating factor is too simplistic and will result in assumptions that will not help to reduce trafficking vulnerability.

An analysis of community vulnerability, personal needs and motivations, along

with an understanding of who influences a potential migrant, will help

to develop the right messages and interventions.