Trafficking in Person through Ethio-Djibouti and Somali Routes to Middle East Countries: Investigating Violence and Abuse against the Migrants

Abstract

Trafficking in person is now day a dreadful global problem and terrible crime. It is plaguing East Africa, where people continually migrate for different purpose. For the last three decades Ethiopia became source and, to some extent, destination and transit country of trafficking in person. Some of the dominant routes of human trafficking in East Africa are the routes passes through Ethio-Djibouti and Ethio-Somali to Middle East countries. The objective of the study is to investigate the violence and abuse against the migrants during their journey and in the destination country.  A mixed research method was employed to substantiate data obtained though qualitative with quantitative technique. Interview schedule, key informant interview and in-depth interview were instrument of data collection.  The sampling technique was snow ball sampling technique. The sample size was 63 (returnees of human trafficking). Both primary and secondary data were obtained. Qualitative data obtained were analyzed by SPSS (version 20). Qualitative data obtained were analyzed thematically. The result indicates that trafficking in person via Ethio-Djibouti and Somali routes to Middle East countries were faced different kind of abuse such as physical, psychological, sexual, forced labor, hunger and financial exploitation. Recommendations are: Awareness raising movement on the problem of human trafficking  shall be given for both rural and urban community in collaboration with experienced victims or returnees, The existing proclamation on human trafficking shall empower  regional authorities especially police commission in way that they can collaboratively work with  federal police  to prevent  the escalation of human trafficking, Ethiopian government shall make continues collaborative work with neighboring countries to jointly fight against practices of human trafficking and Strict movement on foot and vehicle patrolling of human trafficking in the eastern routes shall be done during night especially in border areas faraway from main road and towns close to border.

Keywords: Trafficking in Person, Violence , Abuse