Children Trafficking in the Border Town of Metema, North Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Trafficking in persons is an illicit trade in living human beings, where people are recruited in their country of origin and transported to destination countries for the purposes of different exploitations. This study is conducted in Metema town. The study used qualitative approach in terms of understanding children trafficking. Depicting the multifaceted challenges being faced by trafficked children based the account of children trafficking in the study area was the major objectives of the study. To accomplish the above objectives, the study data was collected from primary and qualitative data from different informants in Metema town by employing such qualitative data collection techniques such as key informant interview, in depth interview and focus group discussions. A total number of 16 informants were participated in the study for Key-informant and in-depth interview and 12 participants were participated for FGD in 2 FGDs sessions. The collected data was analyzed thematically involving series of steps to organize and present the qualitative data meaningfully. The findings of the study obtained from the interview conducted for this report, corroborating information and testimonies from other sources indicated that increasingly abusive environment trafficked children. Contributing factors for children trafficking are economic problems, lack of education and ignorance, early marriage, family causalities like death of family member and divorce, peer pressure, lack of job opportunities, fostering practices, unwanted teenage pregnancy and law enforcement problems. The main actors who are actively involved in the process of child trafficking are their relatives or friends, their family itself, and agents and or Delala and violence experienced by trafficked children are deception, withholding of wages, restriction movement, verbal, physical abuse and sexual harassment, social educational and emotional problems. The details of the brutality are shocking as per the data collected. The study will have relevant implications for social work practices with vulnerable children experiencing violence of various types due to child trafficking in Ethiopia.