SLAVERY TODAY JOURNAL

A Multidisciplinary Exploration of Human Trafficking Solutions

Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2015
ISSN: 2333-7222

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Trafficking in Human Beings as an Enterprise: Highlighting Key Questions About Data Shortage on the Business Side
Julia Muraszkiewicz and Dr. Hayley Watson and Kush Wadhwa and Dr. Paul De Hert

Researchers and policymakers face a shortage of data on the business side of human trafficking. This inevitably leads to problems when trying to combat this crime. Questions such as: who is involved in trafficking, how do they operate, what is their relationship with organised crime groups (or other traffickers and third parties) remain unanswered. The purpose of this article is to harvest the knowledge on what we know about trafficking as a criminal enterprise and, in turn, encourage further research. The article also aims to show that the challenges encountered by researchers.

Rise, Unite, Support: Doing “No Harm” in the Anti-Trafficking Movement
Karen Countryman-Roswurm LMSW, PhD

Awareness regarding domestic sex trafficking has increased rapidly over the last decade. However, as general awareness increases so too does the interest of multidisciplinary professionals and concerned citizens who, while well intended, cause significant strain on the anti-trafficking movement. Drawing upon personal, professional, and academic research expertise in the areas of runaway, homeless, and street youth, as well as domestic sex trafficking, this article provides insight into the current struggles within the anti-trafficking movement. It serves as a cry for those who wish to join the anti-trafficking movement to create contexts in which survivor-leaders are recognized and treated as competent leaders and in which current efforts are intentionally supported. Furthermore, it serves as a call of encouragement for survivors to unite; to stand up for themselves as individuals and as a collective group, and to recognize and utilize the full potential of their malleability, strength, knowledge, and passion.

Toward Assessment of Child Survivors of Restavèk in Haiti: Development and Evaluation of a Locally Adapted Psychosocial Assessment Instrument
Cara L. Kennedy, PhD

Restavèk is a form of child domestic slavery in Haiti that affects an estimated 300,000 children. This article describes the development and evaluation of an instrument to assess mental health and psychosocial problems among survivors of restavèk living in Port au Prince, Haiti. The Youth Self-Report was adapted to reflect the mental health problems that emerged in a previous qualitative study among the same target population. Internal consistency reliability scores were acceptable to good for all scales. Test-retest reliability scores were adequate for all scales, and good for the internalizing and total problems scales. Criterion validity could not be assessed.

Considering a Regional Approach to Combating Human Trafficking in the Caribbean: The ECOWAS Example
Jill St. George LLB, LLM, PGDIP (BVC) and Tom Durbin LLB, LLM, PGDIP (BVC)

This paper seeks to explore the current practices employed in two regional organisations with regards combating human trafficking. Both West Africa, through ECOWAS, and the Caribbean, through CARICOM, have established regional agreements with neighbouring states to achieve regional cooperation where possible. However CARICOM policies are in their infancy with regards human trafficking, while ECOWAS has a vast network of agreements in place. This paper will consider the successes of the ECOWAS agreements and their possible assistance and relevance to the Caribbean to assist in CARICOM’s fight against human trafficking.