Human trafficking: The relationship between government efforts & survivor punishment
This research examines the relationship between government efforts and survivor punishment in cases of human trafficking.
The study found that countries with substantial prevention progress have a lower likelihood of survivor punishment, highlighting the importance of international partnerships in addressing this issue. However, government survivor service offerings were not significantly associated with punishment.
The study calls for the development of global measures to better understand and address human trafficking.
College of Health researcher(s)
Highlights
- Human trafficking is a global public health and human rights issue.
- Survivor punishment is evident despite global promotion of survivor-centered approaches.
- Countries with substantial prevention progress have a lower likelihood of survivor punishment.
- Government survivor service offering is not significantly associated with punishment.
Abstract
Human trafficking is a global public health and human rights issue, although it remains unknown how governmental-level systems impact survivors of human trafficking. Survivor punishment (where federal or local officials arrest, fine, imprison, deport, or otherwise punish survivors) is evident even with global promotion of survivor-centred approaches to human trafficking. This study serves as an initial investigation of how government involvement in survivor services and prevention progress are related to survivor punishment. This cross-national study utilised the 2011 Human Trafficking Indicators. Although this dataset heavily relies on the U.S. TIP reports, our analyses are guided by a human rights framework that recognises the importance of prevention and partnerships in mitigating the vulnerability of survivors. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to determine factors associated with survivor punishment. Findings indicate that countries categorised by the U.S. as showing substantial prevention progress have a lower likelihood of survivor punishment (OR = 0.30; 95% CI [0.15, 0.62]). Government survivor service offering was not significantly associated with punishment (OR = 0.65; 95% CI [0.33, 1.28]). Findings call for the development of global measures resulting from international partnerships to characterise stocks and flows of human trafficking, as well as the quality and effectiveness of governmental efforts and partnerships.