Exploring Human Trafficking in Four Selected Woredas of Jimma Zone, Ethiopia
The concern of human trafficking has been growing both at global, national and local level. However, it has become a major social problem in Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia. The Problem is widespread in the Zone. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in four woredas of Jimma Zone between June and July 2013 to assess the main factors/causes, consequences, the process, and people’s awareness of human trafficking to fill knowledge gap on the area. Survey questionnaires were used to collect data from 382 randomly selected respondents. Furthermore, Case studies, in-depth and key informant interviews were used to collect qualitative data. Descriptive statistics, thematic analysis and case descriptions were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study showed that 377 (98.7%) were aware of the existence of human trafficking. They stated that deceiving and motivating people to migrate specifically to Middle East is widely practiced by brokers in hidden ways. 46 (12 %) of the respondents revealed that they themselves had become victims of human trafficking and illegal migration. Case studies indicated that most of the victims have lost their money, suffered from long distance travelling, various forms of abuse, labor exploitation, exposure to disease, lack of water and food.
