Assessing Risks and Vulnerabilities of Human Trafficking Victims: Case of Sexually Exploited Children in Indonesia
Utilizing ecological perspective, this qualitative study assessed the conditions that can be considered as risks and vulnerabilities in the life and environment of victims prior to and during the trafficking stage. The primary informants of the study were 8 female victims aged 14 to 18 years old who were sexually exploited within Indonesia and then rescued by local government authorities and were placed in a government-endorsed rehabilitation shelter. Social workers and manager of the shelter were also included as the data source. All of the participants were interviewed using indepth interviews.
Prior to being trafficked, majority of informants were studying at middle schools and lived with their parents. They were moved by traffickers hundred miles away from their hometown. All of them had been sexually exploited between 6 months to 1 year before being rescued. They were forced to work as sex workers and also experienced various form of violence. For example, most of them had to work long hours, were forced smoke or drink alcohol, slapped or hit when refused to serve the guests, threatened to be killed or hurt, were not paid and prohibited to socialize. Their cell phones were taken by the employers and their contact lists were erased. All of victims were rescued after their families made continuous efforts to convince the police in their districts to investigate the cases.
At micro level, being young girl, experiencing family conflict/violence, and being involved with ‘wrong’ circle of friends/peers were among the risk factors. The majority of victims were persuaded and recruited through deception by friends or strangers when they run away from home as a response to family’s conflict/violence. Many victims also came from poor and large family, thus they were easily lured by traffickers to earn big money to help their families. At mezzo level, the lack of structured activities after school, the lack of employment opportunities and minimum public education regarding human trafficking were among the community hazards that increased the vulnerability of the victims. At macro level, corruption and ignorance of community’s members increased their defenseless. The participants reported that their employers employed local police to guard the sites. In some cases when the victims escaped and reported to the police of their situations, they were brought back by the police to their employers. The participants also believed that the people who came to have sex services were aware that they dealt with exploited children but none of them really offer any help to release the victims.
The findings from the study underlies the necessity to reduce risk factors and promote protective factors at individual, family, community and society levels. This may include promoting public awareness, strengthening low enforcement, enhancing family functioning, alleviating poverty, and developing appropriate coping and critical thinking of adolescents.