The views expressed in this paper/presentation are the views of the author and do not necessarily

reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the
governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper
and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. Terminology used may not necessarily
be consistent with ADB official terms.
 Or …

A form of unlucky
migration

Why are People Trafficked?

Three parts:
1. Why do people migrate?
2. Why are some migrants vulnerable to exploitation?
3. Why do people traffic others?*

Often, people conflate reasons for migration with

reasons for trafficking.
 What are the Risk Factors?
Tabl e 4.1. COMM UN ITY, IND IVIDU AL, AND FAMI LY FACTORS THAT
INCRE ASE RISK OF CAM BOD IANS BEING TRAFF ICKED TO THAILAND
CO MMU NITY FA CTOR
Loca tion Mos t migr ation an d traffickin g occurs along
the major highway s linki ng Cambodi a to
Thail and
IND IV IDUA L & FAMIL Y FAC TORS Significant risk Not a risk factor
factor
Sex 9
Age 9
Numbe r of brok ers us ed 9
Pre -existing knowledge and idea s about 9
Thailand
Ma rital stat us 9
Years of educa tion 9
Pre vious job 9
Numbe r of dependents 9
Ill or rec ently passe d awa y family memb er 9
Sibling o r child w ho ne eds school fees 9
Forc ed to g o to Thailand by family mem ber 9
Violenc e in the family 9
Recent flood, drought, natur al disaster 9

Impact of New Roads on TIP

1 Open up new migration routes

• New migrants are often more vulnerable
• Central Vietnam - Thailand
2 Encourage migration
• Exposure to new jobs, lifestyles, etc.
• Baoshan - Longling, China
3 Change the way people migrate
• Impact on Interventions - from train to road*
• North-South corridor in Mongolia
Impact of New Roads on TIP

Impact of New Roads on TIP

 Impact of New Roads on TIP
4 Disturb traditional lifestyles
• Land grabbing, move to monetary economy*
• North-East Cambodia, Lao PDR
5 Increase Prostitution
• Inherently exploitative trade
• During road-building projects
• And After? Route 3 in northern Lao PDR
6 Provide alternatives to migration
• Increase local opportunities
• Longitudinal work needed
(Most of the impact is not within project life)

Preventing Trafficking
„ Awareness raising is the ’black hole’ of anti-TIP
resources
„ unclear messages
„ wrong messages
„ knowledge already exists
„ Actions, Means and Purpose
„ Unlike TIP networks, prevention programmes are
not linked along migration routes
„ Prevention often misses those in need
 Trafficking and HIV/AIDS
Lessons
„ Major gap between awareness and behaviour
„ Approaches that deny reality will fail
Challenges
„ TIP seems to lend itself to dubious interventions
„ Potential tensions in entertainment venues
Opportunities
„ Both are risks faced by migrants

More broadly …
„ Best contributions may come at policy level
„ ADB already active in COMMIT
„ TA6448, linking with key sectors (transport, tourism)
„ More recognition of labour migration as core
component of regional economic integration
„ Ensure good labour practices on projects
„ Ensure existing guidelines are implemented
(environment, gender, ethnic minority)
„ Build on opportunities*
„ Drop the word?
 At project level
Be realistic about what might be achieved
„ Migrant information centres
„ Community Education
„ Peer education for sex workers
„ Out-reach at ‘choke points’
„ Community health schemes
Many can be combined with HIV/AIDS work
All must be based on accurate problem definition