# Exploring Human Trafficking in Four Selected Woredas of Jimma Zone, Ethiopia Tariku Ayele ? & Gudina Abashula ? Abstract-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 crosssectional 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. Only two of them mentioned that they have come up with some money and started small business. Unemployment, limited land for farming as a result of high population growth, poverty, families'/relatives' and friends' influence, brokers' initiation, success history of some returnees, long process and high costs required to migrate legally were the major factors identified for the widespread of human trafficking in the area. Traffickers use initially persuasive mechanisms and then force immediately after the victims left their area and cross borders of Ethiopia. Despite the challenges associated with s human trafficking, 155 (40.6%) respondents still tended to migrate be whatever the mode of the migration because they were disappointed with their local situations. Human trafficking and illegal migration is a widely practiced by brokers in the studied area and almost all people are aware of the phenomenon. Despite government restriction, it remains challenging since many people have still the intention to move. Key terms: human trafficking, illegal migration, smuggling, hawala. I. # Background of the Study uman trafficking is the growing concern at international, national and local levels. It has become a global challenge. According to the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (UN 2002), human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or the receipt of persons by means of threat or use of force or other form of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payment or benefit to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, sexual exploitation (including for involuntary prostitutions and others forms of sexual exploitation), forced labor or services, slavery, or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs. The consent of a victim of trafficking in persons to the intended exploitation set forth shall be irrelevant where any of the means set forth have been used (UN 2000). There is difference and overlapping in human trafficking and smuggling. Both smuggling and human trafficking are parts of illegal movement of persons and are crime. In addition, both involve recruitment, movement, and delivery of migrants from origin to destination. The difference between the two lies on the relationship between victims and brokers/traffickers. Human smuggling is the facilitation, transportation, attempted transportation, or illegal entry of a person across an international border, in violation of one or more countries' laws, either clandestinely or through deception, such as the use of fraudulent documents (Iselin, 2003). Unlike smuggling that is illegal commercial transaction between two willing parties who go their separate ways once their business is complete, trafficking specifically targets the trafficked person as an object of criminal exploitation. Smuggling is consensual while trafficking is by force. The purpose of human trafficking from the beginning is to get profit from the exploitation of the victim (DOS, 2006) as cited in (Jermy M., and Dalton, 2007). The term human trafficking was first used in the mid 20th century in phrases such as "white slave traffic" and "the trafficking in women and children" to refer to forcing women and children into prostitution but in recent years the scourge of trafficking, or what many people call modern-day slavery, has exponentially increased due to globalization, the magnitude of poverty, organized crime, government corruption and the growth of the global commercial sex industry (Cullen-DuPont, 2009). (Iselin, 2003). However, it has got a special attention since the beginning of the twentieth century. While slavery and the slave trade were commonly associated with transporting African slaves to Europe and North America, trafficking was initially understood to take place for prostitution and sexual exploitation of white women and girls within Europe (Onuoha, B, 2011). Although human trafficking has long history, much attention was not given to the problem by the international, national and local community until 1980s. The feminist movement, new thinking on migration, the spread of AIDS, child prostitution and sex tourism are the main factors for growing concern of international community about human trafficking (Wijers and Chew, 1997; Doezema, 1998). Human trafficking is the major agenda of the world community today because it has become a growing criminal activity throughout the world (Miko, 2002). Men, women, and children have become victims of trafficking. Today, almost every country in the world is affected by trafficking for sexual exploitation, forced labor and other forms of exploitation. The magnitude of the problem is not known exactly. Different countries and different nongovernmental organizations provide different figure reports. At global level various estimates on the size of the problem have been released recently by the United States Government States' Department, International Labor Organizations (ILO), International Organization of Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Of these organizations, the United States Government and the ILO estimate the global number of victims, while IOM collects data on assisted victims and UNODC traces the major international trafficking routes of the victims. However, there is a consensus that trafficking of human beings has become a widespread practice in the modern world. It has been estimated that between 600,000 and 800,000 people, mainly women and children are trafficked worldwide each year (US Department of State, 2005). According to ILO, the number of people became victims of human trafficking in 2005 was estimated to be 2.5 million. Of this number, 1.4 million were in Asia and the Pacific, 270,000 in industrialized countries, 250,000 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 230,000 in the Middle East and Northern Africa, 200,000 in countries with economies in transition and 130,000 in sub-Saharan countries (ILO,2005). Likewise, a report by the United States of America States Department in 2007 revealed that excluding millions trafficked within their own countries; approximately 800,000 people were trafficked across national borders annually (US States Department, 2007). The UNODC (2012) report indicated that at least 136 different nationalities were trafficked and found in 118 different countries between 2007 and 2010. Of the 5,498 trafficked victims assisted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in 2011, more than half of or 62 percent were adults aged 18 and above and two thirds 62 percent of them were female. Of the victims, 53 percent of them were trafficked for forced labor, 27 percent for sexual exploitation and 7 percent for forced marriage and organ trafficking. Moreover, the report revealed that 64 percent of these victims were trafficked across borders while 31 percent of them were trafficked within their own countries (IOM, 2011). The United Nations Office of Drug and Crime (UNODC) report, on the other hand, indicated that between 2007 and 2010, women constituted the majority of victims of trafficking in persons detected globally. Women account for 55-60 percent of all trafficked victims detected globally of which women and girls account for 75 percent. Traffickers for sexual exploitation and forced labor also account for 58 percent and 36 percent respectively (UNODC, 2012).According to UNODC report, 79% of the trafficked women were for sexual exploitation and 18% of them were for forced labor. Women and girls are mainly trafficked for sexual exploitation. Throughout the world, 20% of the victims of trafficking are children. In Africa, however, children constitute the majority of the victims of human trafficking (UNODC Report, 2009). IOM data, on the other hand, showed that 53% of persons were trafficked for forced labor, 27% for sexual exploitation, 7% for other purposes such as forced marriage and organ trafficking, 5% for begging, 5% for combined sexual and forced labor, 3% unknown purpose and 0.1% for forced labor and other as well as for low level criminal activities (IOM, 2012). However, such estimate concerning magnitude and purpose of trafficking is unavailable in Ethiopia. And there is limitation of data on both international and local trafficking. However, media and some fragmented reports showed that human trafficking and smuggling is widespread in Ethiopia. For instance, during the Spring of 2006, the Punt land authorities reported that each day between 200 to 300 Ethiopian were arriving in the town of Bossaso to attempt to sea voyage to Yemen and then to Gulf states, Europe and other countries (UNODC, 2006). The ILO (2011) study report indicated that there is high prevalence of human trafficking in Ethiopia, especially, in Addis Ababa, the capital city of the country, and other towns such as Adama, Dire Dawa, Shashamanne, Jimma and Dessie. The United States Department of State 2012 trafficking in person report indicated that of the 20,000 to 80,000 of Ethiopians applied to work overseas in 2011, 60 to 70 percent of the labor migration is facilitated by illegal brokers that increase migrants' vulnerability. Ethiopia is a source country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. (http:// www.refworld.org/docid/4fe30ccb32.html). The constitution of Ethiopia allows the free movement of people from place to place and prohibits human trafficking. For instance, article 18 of the constitution states that "no one shall be required to perform a forced or compulsory labor (Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopian constitution, 1995). In Ethiopia, human trafficking for labor and sex results in punishment that ranges from five to twenty years. However, this couldn't prevent human trafficking in the country. As it is one of the poorest countries of the world, Ethiopia is a source country for human trafficking. Especially young women and men migrate voluntarily or involuntarily within and across the country in search of job opportunity and better life. Many Ethiopians trafficked each year from different parts of the country to Middle East, Sudan, South Africa, Egypt, and even to European countries (USAID, 2009). Within the country, women and children were trafficked from rural areas to major cities for forced labor and sexual activity. Although data is unavailable, Jimma Zone is one the Zones in Oromia National Regional State (located at south west Ethiopia) where human trafficking is more prevalent. Comments given on meetings suggest that the Zone is the first in the country in human trafficking. This needs deep investigation about its factors, process and consequences toward which this study is aimed at. # II. The Oretical Framework III. # Statement of the Problem It has become common to hear news about human trafficking and the suffrage of the victims in Ethiopia. Various Medias and concerned bodies also report that each day a number of people travel tiresome journey on foot across deserts to reach destination countries and many lives are lost on ways as a result. According to the US Department of state 2012 Trafficking in Persons Report, a number of Ethiopians have become victims of human trafficking and exposed to various forms of exploitation. Ethiopian girls are forced into domestic servitude and prostitution outside of Ethiopia, primarily in Djibouti and South Sudanparticularly in Juba, Bor, and Bentiu while Ethiopian boys are subjected to forced labor in Djibouti as shop assistants, errand boys, domestic workers, thieves, and street beggars. Young women, most with only primary education, are subjected to domestic servitude throughout the Middle East, as well as in Sudan and South Sudan, and many transit through Djibouti, Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, or Yemen as they emigrate seeking work. Some women become stranded and exploited in these transit countries, unable to reach their intended destinations. Many of the Ethiopian women working in domestic service in the Middle East face severe abuses, including physical and sexual assault, denial of salary, sleep deprivation, withholding of passports, confinement, and murder. Many are also driven to despair and experience psychological problem, with some committing suicide (http://www.refworld.org/docid /4fe30ccb32.html). The International Organization of Migration (2010) study report also indicated those Ethiopians become victims of external trafficking to the Middle East face labor exploitation, physical and emotional abuse, as well as sexual abuse and exploitation. The most recurrent forms of abuse are overworking, confinement, denial of wages, emotional abuse, beatings, sexual harassment and rape. The recurrent perpetrators of abuse are employers, agents and the police. Death, physical disability, psychological and health problems as well as imprisonment are the prevalent documented effects of abuse and exploitation. Likewise, the International Labor Organization (2011) study result revealed that trafficking of Ethiopians as domestic workers for labor exploitation is highly prevalent in Ethiopia. The research indicated that the practice has increased recently and the youths are deceived and sometimes coerced into migrating to the Middle East countries and the Sudan without adequate protection from abuse and exploitation. Despite these, many people have been preparing, deciding and moving from Ethiopia to Gulf States, Saud Arabia, Europe, Sudan and South Africa by traffickers/brokers. Jimma Zone has become one of the most known sources for human trafficking. Even relatives, neighbors, friends and families are facilitating the process by selling their precious properties to pay for the fees required for the brokers as heard from public discussions made at different times regarding the issue. This research is guided by integrating various sociological theories-rational choice theory, Conflict perspective, structural functionalism and symbolic internationalism. Each theory provided explanations for human trafficking. For instance, rational choice theory rooted the issue to rational decision by actors. According to rational choice theory, people make decision on the basis of calculation and free will. Conflict theorists root to capitalist economic system. Demand theory; on the other hand, relate the cause of human trafficking to demand of people for prostitution, labor and other purposes. Thus, concepts from rational choice theory, conflict perspective, structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, victimology and demand theory were integrated with other sociological theories to explain and guide the research on human trafficking. The main reason for this is that human trafficking is an outcome of various interacting factors. Lanier and Henry (2004) stated that integrative framework better explains chain of events. There must be pressing factors from the source communities that contribute to this widespread problem of human trafficking. This needs further comprehensive study regarding its factors for, the process, consequences and public awareness of the issue. The previous reports and studies by various concerned bodies were based on qualitative interviews of few victims, their families and concerned bodies. Their coverage was so limited and could not address the awareness of the grass-root source communities about the existence of the issue and its extent, the contextually unique socio-economic and cultural factors for human trafficking, the process and its consequences. Therefore, this study is intended to fill the gap based on survey and other qualitative methods with special emphasis on the four woredas in Jimma Zone namely Omo Nada, Kersa, Dedo and Manna. Furthermore, this study is aimed at suggesting policy recommendations to alleviate the problem based on grass root level empirical evidences. IV. # General Objective of the Study The general objective of the study is to explore the factors, process and consequences of human trafficking in the four selected woredas of Jimma Zone and to offer policy recommendation to alleviate the problem. # b) Study area and population The study was conducted in four woredas of Jimma zone. Jimma Zone is located in Oromia National Regional State. Jimma Zone is one of the 17 zones of Oromia Regional State and it is located in the Southwest of the Region and the country as well. The zone has 18 administrative woredas having their own capital towns. The zone is predominantly inhabited by Islamic religion followers. Jimma Zone is among the known coffee growing areas in the region and the country. The administrative seat of the zone is Jimma town which is located at 350 km away from the capital of the country, Addis Ababa. # c) Source of Data The researchers collected both primary and secondary data. This is to obtain full information about human trafficking. Primary data was collected directly from sampled respondents such as elders, victims, police officers, experts, families of victims and the community using various research methods. Secondary data was collected from concerned relevant documents such as IOM, government reports, police records, other international organizations reports, journals and books. # d) Sampling technique and Sample size Jimma Zone is vast in terms of area and population. It is very difficult to collect data from such vast area with limited resources in a short period of time. Hence, four woredas were selected. The four Woredas selected for this study are Mana, Dedo, Kersa and Omo Nada. These four woredas were purposively selected for this study based on the prior information obtained from the zonal administrative office regarding the situation of human trafficking in the zones. These sites were known for the widespread of human trafficking according to the information. People involved in trafficking are not known or they are hidden populations. They perform all their activities in illegal and hidden way. This is because trafficking is criminal both at national and international level. Thus, this research targets this hidden population and organizations that work to combat the problem. Generally, the target populations of the study were victims, families of victims, elders, and the community, the governmental and non-governmental organizations involved in combating human trafficking. To assess the awareness and cultural outlook of the community towards human trafficking, multi stage sampling technique was applied. That means, two kebeles were randomly selected from each woredas first. Then two Gotes( the smallest grass-root level administrative unit under the kebeles) were selected from each kebeles. Accordingly, a total of 16 Gote were randomly selected from 8 kebeles. Finally, 384 households were randomly selected and persons above # Volume XIV Issue VII Version I ( C ) Exploring Human Trafficking in Four Selected Woredas of Jimma Zone, Ethiopia fifteen years from the households in the Gotes were included in the sample. The sample size was determined using the following formula. n= Z 2 p (1-p)/d 2 Where "n" is the sample size, ? "Z" is a standard score corresponding to 95% confidence interval (1.96) ? "p" estimate of Proportion, we took 50% since there is no previous data. ? "d" is the margin of error of 5% ? Thus, the required; n = (1.96) 2 x.0.5 (1-.0.5)/0.05 2 = 384.16 VI. # Methods of Data Collection The researchers employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods. As far as quantitative method is concerned, survey was conducted. Regarding qualitative methods, in-depth interview, key informant interview and case studies were used. # e) Data Collection instruments The researchers used different data collection instruments to obtain data required to meet the objective of the research. Research instruments used by the researchers were: Questionnaire (Survey): Open and closed ended questionnaires were prepared and survey was conducted in order to gather information on communities awareness and factors for human trafficking.Questionnaires were employed to collect data from 384 sample respondents taken from the population of the four woredas whose age is above 15. Survey research was conducted to check whether the public believes that human trafficking exists at the study areas, whether human trafficking is criminal or not and the attitude of the public towards human trafficking. Key Informant/In-depth interview: These helped to obtain data in detail. In-depth interviews were held with brokers, victims (both returnees and in the process), families of victims, police officers and the elders. Interview guides were used to collect the data. The interview guides were prepared in English and translated to Afaan Oromoo, the official and vernacular languages of the people's in the study sites. Then researchers themselves conducted the interviews and collected the data from the informants. # f) Case Studies Case study also helps to show the clear picture of the human trafficking, victim's experiences and the process. Victims of human trafficking (especially the returnees) were approached and their human trafficking experiences were explored. # g) Data Analysis The data collected using different data collection instruments were analyzed and presented. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequencies. The quantitative data collected were presented in frequency tables. Qualitative data, on the other hand, was analyzed using case descriptions and thematic analysis. # h) Ethical Consideration This research was conducted on people who run the business in a hidden way. Thus, it is important to follow research ethics. Accordingly, the objective of the research was explained for participants and informed consent was obtained orally. Moreover, the confidentiality of the respondents was kept. To this end, their names were not mentioned in any part of the report in order to maintain anonymity. VII. # Result and Discussion The survey was planned to collect data from 384 randomly selected individuals. However, it was impossible to get two of them and hence, the data was collected from 382 of them. This part of the study deals with the analysis of the data collected from the survey, the key informant and in-depth interviews. a) Public awareness about the existence of human trafficking in the study areas One of the objectives of this study is to identify the grassroot level communities and concerned government bodies' awareness about the existence of human trafficking in the study area. Information obtained from the interviews, the survey and the document of the respective woredas revealed that the existence of human trafficking in the studied areas is unquestionable. The Labor and Social Affairs Office is the concerned government body that gathers information related to illegal migration and human trafficking at woredas level in Jimma zone. According to the information obtained from the Labor and Social Affairs Offices of the four respective woredas covered under this study, a number of people moved from their woredas to other countries through human trafficking and illegal migration in the past four years. As table 2 above shows, data collected from 382 individuals from the four studied woredas of Jimma Zone revealed that 377(98.7%) had information about human trafficking and stated that it is widely practiced. A number of people have been moved from the study area to particularly Arab countries through trafficking and illegal migration. However, the community couldn't distinguish between illegal migration and human trafficking since decision to move and transportations in both cases are initiated and facilitated by brokers who have links with brokers at other countries. The result of the survey reveals that human trafficking exists and it was the major problem of the study sites. Furthermore, interviews made with women and children Affairs offices, Labor and Social affairs offices, the returnees from Middle East, Sudan and Elders in the respective studied woredas show that human trafficking is widespread in the study areas. # VIII. Mechanisms used and the Process of Human Trafficking Information obtained employing various research method revealed that human trafficking is a complex process in Jimma Zone. Respondents claimed that the brokers use various strategies that influence people to decide to move. They stated that deceiving, motivating, indirect forcing and facilitating conditions for people to move to other places are widely practiced in hidden ways by brokers. Chains of brokers linked from the study area to the place of destination facilitate the process by accepting broking fees as understood from case studies of the returnees too. In the survey, respondents were asked whether they have already experienced of moving out of their place of origin or not. The following table depicts this situation. then to Yeman/Saud Arabia, as well as from Jijiga to Somaliland and from Borena Kenya to Tanzania and then to South Africa. This indicates that there are four known routes out of Ethiopia to neighboring countries and to final destination places. The information obtained from case studies also witnessed this reality. A 22 years old male returnee from Saud Arabia currently living in Omo Nada town expressed how he illegally became victims of human trafficking as follows. Case 1: "I was moved by brokers from my place of origin in Omo Nada district through Addis Ababa, Dire Daw, Djibouti, Yeman and finally reached Saud Arabia after two months". An 18 years old female returnee from Sudan currently living in Yabu town of Manna woredas also revealed that she was deceived by the brokers to move from her place of origin via the following routes. Case 2: "I moved from Yebu via Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Gondar/Umera and Galabat to reach Sudan in order to get employment opportunity." Recruitment, selection, harboring and transportation are very complex in the studied areas and the brokers undertake it in hidden way. Elders and victims stated that extreme cares are taken to avoid their possibility to be detained by police. They use various techniques and strategies for this purpose. One of the techniques they use is integrating themselves with the community. Traffickers or brokers are hidden in the community and they live, eat and married to the daughters and sons of the community. Thus, their activity cannot be easily detected. The other is using various deceptive strategies. Brokers use economic hardship at the study area as an opportunity to persuade people, especially youth, to decide for movement. Respondents were asked whether they know the various techniques used by the brokers. The survey conducted depicted that 298(78%) respondents know that traffickers use various strategies in the selection and transportation of victims. However, 22% (84) claimed that there is no strategy they know that traffickers use. Interview made with various experts and office holders of women and child affairs, Labor and Social Affairs, returnees and elders and religious leaders revealed that the strategies they use are very complex and change over time. The main strategies used are telling about good opportunities available abroad, telling success stories of some friends or individuals went abroad and the socioeconomic and political problems found in the country (Ethiopia). The persuasion and discussion are made at chat chewing and different social or friendship gatherings. Peers and same sex groups play a pivotal role in persuading the people. The discussion continues for long and repeatedly until the group or individuals from the group decides to migrate. The discussion involves the purpose for travel, how to travel, transfer money and the amount of money required to travel to different parts of the world. Brokers influenced families and made them to dream about Arab world's life. According to the key informants, the family members, particularly the youths, always discuss reach Middle East and enjoy the economic opportunities found there. Moreover, brokers make influence on the youths by deceiving and presenting false promises that their lives will become better in a short period of time if they migrate rather than staying in miserable situation. Another widely used recruitment technique is false promises that potential migrants cannot refuse. These include helping them to reach places of destination and getting employment in a short period of time, changing employers if they would not be happy with the working conditions, and facilitating for them movement on credit basis. Since illegal brokers do not follow the official or legal procedures required for foreign employment, they can usually facilitate beginning of travel within a short period of time the illegal migration on credit usually leads to debt bondage as migrants generally do not know how much is owed to the broker or what the payment modality is. A 20 years old female returnee from Sudan has revealed her experience as follows. "I did not have money when I decided to move to Sudan. The broker promised me that he would cover all of my travelling and other costs which I would pay him back when I get employment. However, he indirectly negotiated with my potential employee that my salary should not be paid me directly until I return his 6000 birr costs he said expended to facilitate my travelling. Hence, I worked for six months without payment. The employee was directly paying my salary to the broker. It The law of Ethiopia gives people the freedom to move either within or out of the country (FDRE, 1995). Despite this, many citizens of the country especially the youths become victims of human trafficking as information obtained from various sources cited in the background part of this study. The survey, the in-depth interviews and key informant interviews reveal that there are many reasons for the widespread of illegal migration and human trafficking in the study areas. These include unemployment and limited employment opportunity, high population growth, poverty/low living conditions, slow growth of income and improvement of living conditions, family/relatives and friends influence, brokers' initiation, rumors about the improvement of life of those who arrived at the place of destination and the long bureaucracy of legal conditions for movement of people from Ethiopia to abroad. A returnee from Yemen said that "land is limited and family size is increasing. The land is subdivided repeatedly and became a small plot which its production is not sufficient for the consumption of family members. There are no other employment opportunities for rural uses other than agriculture. Even if available, they are tiresome ones with little gains. The best opportunity is to migrate through any available means". Another returnee from Saud Arabia stated that "youths have even no opportunities to get the small plot of land from their parents until they are married". Two of the elderly interviewed also stated that most of the rural families in their kebeles have small plots of land and the productivity of the land is decreased as it is exhausted from continuous farming for a long period of time. High population growth, limited land for agriculture and other opportunities are the mainfactors emphasized by respondents. Each year large proportion of people enters into adulthood age. They said that land for agricultural production is the same in the past, present and future. In addition, opportunities in urban areas and small towns are not in a position to integrate the growing population in the area. Increase in population created stress and competition over scare resources. Migration, be it legally or illegally, is a way out of the competition and a limited livelihood system. Traffickers/brokers know this situation. Traffickers/brokers initiation is very high. They always tell to the youths and even to the public about easy improvement of life of the person and his/her families' within short period of time in abroad to where they are trafficked to. The dark side of living within their country of origin is magnified and the beautiful aspects of the place of destination are exaggeratedly propagated. These initiate the family, relatives and the person himself to decide to choose human trafficking as an option to escape the stressful living situations at their place of origin. Females are easily persuaded by looking at the limited opportunity available in the country. Hence, many people do not have even adequate food for consumption and this is the reason for many youths to migrate legally or illegally by brokers or traffickers in order to support themselves and their families. Despite the government's efforts to create employment opportunities for youths, unemployment (large proportion of rural youth work on small plots of land) is still one of the major reasons for the wide spread of illegal migration and human trafficking in their woredas as stated by the experts in the respective woredas of Labor and Social Affairs Offices. The influence of brokers, families, relatives and friends are also the fueling factors for illegal migration and created conducive environment for human traffickers. The other issue that forces people to become victims of human trafficking is the long process and high costs required to migrate to abroad legally. The place of destination cannot process legal entry into their country especially for males for works like camel and cattle keeping and lower level jobs found in rural areas of those countries. Males who have driving license are only wanted and the others are not welcomed as such in IX. Factors for the Human Trafficking was after I paid back all debt of the broker that I start to get my salary from my employee." Transportation starts after money required be ready and all preparations are completed. The victims are expected to put their money in the hands of what they locally call 'hawalas' or persons acted as money transferors. The 'hawalas' are small shop owners found in various cities, such as Jimma, Addis Ababa, Dire Dewa, Gonder and many other towns as understood from the in-depth interviews with the returnees. They run small business and the facilitation of human trafficking side by side. Victims do not know by face whom the "hawalas' or the money transferors are. They give the money through their representatives and only the representatives contact them. Traffickers orient them to be careful in their entire journey since there is possibility to be detained by police for questions and investigations in case suspected. This suspicion is common especially for people travelling with children. Hence, the victims stay somewhere on the road, especially in Kersa woredas or other forests nearby Jimma town. Then the journey starts to Addis Ababa or Nekemte or Gambela and other routes. When arrived at Addis Ababa, one individual represented by victims goes to 'hawala' and receive some amount of money required in their journey to Dire Dawa or Gonder (Humera). The journey from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa has been by bus. At each city victims are not allowed to travel on the straights of the cities, especially in groups. # Volume XIV Issue VII Version I ( C ) Exploring Human Trafficking in Four Selected Woredas of Jimma Zone, Ethiopia Middle East. The only option, according to them, is going through illegal ways. This made them victims of traffickers. Moreover, an attempt was made to identify whether the respondents have intentions to migrate in future and mechanisms they prefer to do so. Accordingly, 155(40.6%) respondents have replied that they have interest to migrate and prefer travel facilitated by brokers. Hopelessness to bring change/improvement within their area within short period of time, miserable life conditions prevalent in the area and information about few cases of migrants able to bring change within a short period of time are the main reasons for their desire to move as understood from the study. The rest 227(59.4 %) of the respondents reported that they do not have interest to migrate to abroad and even if they want they prefer the legal way. The following table shows the fact. # The Cultural Outlook of People towards Human Trafficking According to the interviewees with the elders, key informants and the returnees, people in the studied area have positive outlook for migration of their family members to abroad particularly to Arab countries be whatever the form of the movement. Those families who have children abroad are respected and considered rich by the community because they earn remittance. The mother or the father who is unable to send his son/daughter to Arab countries has no equal social status within the community as the others able to do so. People also consider that entering Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia is culturally valuable as it has religious significance. As the elders interviewed briefed, the historical movement of many people from Jimma to Saud Arabia is started as a religious movement though its purposes have become changing over time. Hence, the religious and economic gain of entering Saudi Arabia has become the dream and day to day point of discussion for families, relatives, peers and the community. Due to these, most families initiate and facilitate conditions for their children to go to Arab countries. Brokers also present Arab countries as land of plenty in order to motivate and win the potential migrants' decision to move. # XI. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Human Trafficking Human trafficking and illegal migration have various consequences on the families and the victims. Attempt was made to explore the advantages and disadvantages on the victims in this study. One of the returnees in Nada town whose journey to Saud Arabia was aborted by the Yeman police revealed that "if one is lucky to reach the destination country, it is possible to get employment opportunity and change one's life Case 3: "I was in Beirut for the last four years. I was a house servant for a rich family earning a monthly salary of 120 USD. I was supporting my families with part of my salary. After four years, I have come back to my country, Yabu town, with a sum of 85,000 ETB and started my boutique. I am now running my own business. If you are lucky to reach there and get good employers, you can get really life changing money within three to five years. Contrary to this, many people come back with nothing after being exploited for a long time. Of course, having a relative who have been there for a long time helped me too a lot. Thanks Allah" Case 4: "I returned from Saud Arabia. I was able to reach there through chains of brokers. Then I was employed as house servant. I served there for three years. I was working from dawn to night and the work was backbreaking. However, I have accumulated 63,000ETB and came back to Dedo,sheik town. I renovated my families' dilapidated house with part of the money and opened beauty salon with the rest. However, most of the people migrate through brokers and illegal ways face various types of challenges as understood from the survey and the interviews. Victims' suffrage starts ones they cross Ethiopian border towns. Deception and persuasion strategies employed at place of origin changed to force, within a short period of time". Another returnee living in the same town said that "if you successfully arrive at Saudi Arabia, you can pay back the money you borrowed for broking services and travelling expenses and start to send back a lot of money to your family within three to six months. He said that his friend safely arrived at Saudi Arabia and sent 6000 birr within three months to his family." Two of the returnees, in Yabu and Dedo town of Manna woredas interviewed also described their gains from illegal migration by brokers as follows. # ( C ) Year 2014 Global Journal of Human Social Science -Exploring Human Trafficking in Four Selected Woredas of Jimma Zone, Ethiopia rape and harassment. The problem aggravates as they move from the boundary of Ethiopia to other countries. As they join new brokers in the chain of the relationship for human trafficking at different places especially abroad, the travelers are requested to pay unjustifiable payment. If they resist paying, they are assaulted, robbed and abandoned in deserts. In extreme cases, females are raped and males are even killed or they droned into seas or oceans. Those unable to pay are forced to work for the brokers/traffickers for three to six months even more without any payment. Brokers request payment to facilitate travel. The amount of payment varies according to place of destination. It is small if the place of destination is Sudan and increases if the Journey is to Middle East or Europe. This does not include payment for food and other required things. The amount of money requested by the brokers/traffickers varies from 3000 to 20000 birr and sometimes goes up to 60,000 birr as understood from the in-depth interviews and case studies. 360(94.2%) of the survey respondents also revealed that people pay to the brokers/traffickers before they move while 22(5.8%) said that they do not have information related to payment. Regarding the mode of the payment, the case studied revealed that the money is not directly paid to the brokers/traffickers within the boundaries of Ethiopia. Rather one person from the potential travelers collects the money and submits to "hawala" (serve as money transferor) in Ethiopia in cash. Then the "hawalas" reduce their commission from the total paid money and transfer the rest to the brokers in Djibouti or give in cash to victims. The sequential "hawalas" in Djibouti, Sudan, Yemen and other countries also do the same thing until the person reaches the final destination. A returnee stated that Brokers in Djibouti and Yemen request payment by cash. Traffickers operating with Ethiopian boundary are citizens of Ethiopia. Internal traffickers pass the victims to other countries traffickers. In the survey the respondents were also asked whether there are domestic investment possibilities to invest the money instead of paying it for brokers. Data collected from respondents indicated that 235(61.5%) claimed that it is possible to invest the money paid to the brokers/traffickers in the country and improve one's own life while 147(38.5%) said the money paid to brokers are too small to invest in the country. In-depth interview conducted also indicated that the money paid to is very small to start business in the country. However, the case of two of the returnees started their business in Dedo and Yebu mentioned above shows that the money paid for brokers is really adequate to start small business. Some of the individuals interviewed claimed that the majority of victims are from rural areas. However, land for agricultural productions (crop cultivation, forestry and animal husbandry) is limited. The informants indicated that what is limited is not only money to start business but also the skills, experiences required and market for the goods and services produced. Moreover, there are very few skill training, saving and credit facilitating organizations in remote rural areas. Even if such exist, they have also less capacity to serve the existing needs and require tight bureaucracies to avail their services especially for unemployed youths. # XII. Susceptibility to Human Trafficking Both sex and people from all socioeconomic background can be victims of human trafficking. However, there are some groups more susceptible to trafficking than others. The findings of this research revealed that youth, children and women are the target of traffickers. # Source: Own survey, 2013 As table above shows, 204(53.4%) said female, 126(33%), said both male and female equally and 52(13.6%) said male were more exposed to trafficking. The main question here is why traffickers focus more on those groups than others. Interview with the victims, the elders and key informants also indicate that females in the studied area have little employment opportunities compared with males and they constitute the largest proportion of the segments of community affected by unemployment. Regarding the socio-economic background, the survey result revealed that 269(70.4%) claimed the poor, 64(16.8%) stated the middle income groups, 34(8.9%) said all income groups, 10(2.6 %) said upper income groups and 1.3% (5) said both poor and middle income groups are vulnerable to human trafficking as depicted by table 7 above. In-depth interview conducted also showed the same thing. These indicate that women, children and the poor are the main targets of traffickers. These categories are easy to persuade for travel decision. The majority of these groups are unemployed and poverty stricken groups. In addition, for their lower orientation and education, particularly women do not expose the issue to legal bodies. Once selected, they are easily driven by the brokers/traffickers to everywhere. In other word, the brokers/traffickers use the vulnerability of the groups to target them. # XIII. Community Knowledge about the Criminality of Human Trafficking and Measures Ever Taken by Government Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. It is one of the crimes that the international community pays attention to it. According to the Ethiopian constitution and law, human trafficking is crime and forbidden. Violating the law has a consequence of punishment in either imprisonment or fine. But do people really know the criminality of human trafficking was one of the issues investigated in this study. As table 8 shows, 352(92.1) of the respondents said that they know the criminality of human trafficking while 30(7.9%) said that they do not know the fact that this phenomenon is criminal. Concerning measures ever taken, the government started a kind of operation at central level and imprisons some individuals suspected to traffic (brokers) people and tried to work some programs on human trafficking and aired using media in 2012/13 after horrific news heard repeatedly about people trafficked from Ethiopia. A technical committee was also established up to the grass-root level to follow up and control human trafficking according to the key informant interview with experts in Labor and Social Affairs Offices. However, there is no specific policy adopted to deal with the growing problem yet. Survey conducted in the four woredas of Jimma zone revealed that 239(62.6%) of respondents said that measures have been taken while 143(37.4%) said that there is no measure taken to alleviate the problem of human trafficking. In-depth interview made with experts and official from labor and social affairs office and women and children affairs office of respected woredas indicated that they are using one in five grouping introduced by government to curb the problem of human trafficking. The police have been taking some measures for long period of time although it lacks consistence and sustainability. The police also sometimes inspect people who travel by public transports from Jjmma bus station to either Nekemte or Addis Ababa and detain suspected individuals moving illegally for further investigation, however, this is not done regularly. Thus, the brokers or traffickers have designed a system to escape from such kind of sudden police detentions and investigations. The system is that the brokers or the traffickers make the people stay in forests out of Jimma town, book a bus ticket for them and transport them easily according to the information obtained from the in-depth interview with returnees. # XIV. People More Involved in Trafficking In-depth interview conducted indicated that brokers, families, relatives, friends and local community are active participants in selection and transportation of persons. The result of survey revealed that brokers were key players in human trafficking. 66.2% (253) said brokers, 15.4% (59) claimed brokers, Relatives, nonrelatives and NGOs together, 7.3% (28) said relatives and 4.2% ( 16) said non-relatives are active participants in human trafficking. There are also respondents who believe the existence of NGOs (1%/4) participation in human trafficking. 1% (4) said that people trafficked by their own will and interest. XV. # Discussion Human movement from Jimma Zone to Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia has long history and related with a number of factors (religious affiliation, trade, and historical linkage). The result of the study showed that residents of Jimma Zone have positive outlook towards travel to Middle East both for religious purpose and employment. The socioeconomic problems and attitude of people towards local conditions made people migrate in large numbers from Jimma Zone to abroad. This created fertile ground for traffickers and brokers to operate widely in the study areas and made children, youth, women and men susceptible to human traffickers and trafficking. The finding of the study indicated that human trafficking is the most wide spread social problem in Jimma Zone. The residents of the studied woredas have awareness and knowledge about the existence of the problem of human trafficking and its criminality. Limited data and official report of local governments also indicate this. There are many outlets that traffickers manipulate to transfer victims from Jimma Zone. The main ones are Jimma-Addis Ababa-Dire Dewa-Djibouti-Yemen-via Middle East and other areas, The findings of the study showed that causes of human trafficking range from personal factors to structural factors. The causes are many and interrelated. Individuals motives and beliefs, socio-economic hardship, limited employment opportunity, family/ relatives and peer influence, positive attitude towards Middle East and European countries, success stories of some individuals reached place of destination, religious influences, historical attachment to middle east, bureaucratic nature of legal procedure to migrate to abroad, restriction of entering of people legally by governments of destination countries and high population growth accompanied by shortage of land for agriculture are the factors that influence people decisions to migrate. Traffickers use the opportunity created by these factors and even initiates people to decide by integrating themselves with the community in the way it is difficult to detect and get information to detain them. They magnify socio-economic hardship of local conditions and approach people as important people in helping them solve themselves and their families' poor living conditions. Traffickers involve a number of groups-families, peers, brokers and various categories of the population. This made trafficking in the area seen as smuggling. Their persuasion strategies are deep rooted and complex. The strategies traffickers use in influencing people decision to move and start travel varies and complex. They removed the conceptual demarcation of trafficking and smuggling. They use persuasive mechanisms to initiate people to decide for migration. They made people to discuss the issue on social grasping and at household level, use hardship as an instrument to persuade people and propagate about lucrative living conditions at the place of destination. Persuasive instruments were replaced by force after they left their area and worsened when they crossed boundaries of the country. Exploitation, rape and longtime working for traffickers are the main problems that victims suffer at transit areas (Djibouti, Somaliland and Yemen). They change their strategies from time to time and the changing strategies made people to see victims as they rationally decided to go and hide the activities of traffickers. Traffickers know also the group they easily persuade. As researches and UN reports revealed children and women, the poor and the youths are more targeted by traffickers (UNODO 2012; ILO 2006; IOM Jimma-Addis Ababa-Jigjiga-Somali Land-Yemen or Kenya-via Middle East or South Africa, Jimma-Addis Ababa-Gonder-Humera-Sudan-vi Middle East and other areas, Jimma-Gambella-South Sudan, and Jimma-Addis Ababa/Hossana/ Shasham ane/Hawasa-Borena-Kenya-Tanzania-South Africa. Traffickers change their travel route within the country or abroad on foot on the basis of information about security to avoid detention. # Volume XIV Issue VII Version I ( C ) Exploring Human Trafficking in Four Selected Woredas of Jimma Zone, Ethiopia 2012). For instance, IOM offered assistance to 5498 trafficked persons worldwide in 2011 of which females and males constitute 62%) and 37% respectively (IOM, 2012). The findings of this research come up with similar findings. Traffickers target poor, women and youth more than other categories of the population. This is to avoid the probability of detention and reduce efforts to persuade them. The most important thing in this research is they way traffickers designed to transfer money and payment mechanisms. They open small shops and seen by government as retail traders/merchants. However, they are known by victims as 'hawalas', a term used to represent companies that transfer money from one part of the world to another or country to country or within country. The victims are not allowed to travel in the city of transit areas in groups and even sometimes individually. The other issue that is seen is measures taken to combat human trafficking. Survey result reveals that government has been taking measures that range from awareness raising to detention and prosecution. However, there is question on sustainability of measures and inability of government to change strategies with the changing strategies of traffickers. In addition, although the constitution and criminal code of the country criminalizes human trafficking, specific police is lacked to deal with the problem. # XVI. Conclusions and Recommendations a) Conclusions From the study it is concluded that human trafficking is widely practiced in the study area and people are aware of the fact that many people have become victims. It is the major challenging social problem of the study area as many people have also the intention to move in this way despite its negative consequences and government's attempts to stop it . Females and the poor are the major targets and more vulnerable to the problem than anybody else. The majority of the people are moved by brokers crossing long deserts on foot via Gonder/Umera to Sudan, Diredawa to Djibouti and then to Yeman/Saud Arabia, as well as to other Arab countries and south Africa. Unemployment, limited employment opportunity, high population growth and associated land shortage, poverty/low living conditions, hopelessness to work and be improved in place of origin, family's/relatives' and friends' influence, brokers' initiation, rumors about the success histories of those arrived at the place of destination, long process and high costs required to migrate to abroad legally and the bureaucracy of legal conditions and restrictions from destination countries are the major factors identified to force many people especially youths to become victims of human trafficking and illegal migration. # XVII. # Recommendations Poverty, unemployment, increase in population and decrease in farm land size from time to time, and lack of confidence to work and improve their socioeconomic status are the major reasons for many people particularly the youths to become victims of human trafficking. Therefore, it is important to focus on provision of marketable skill trainings on off-farm activities and facilitating conditions so that they can get access to credits and saving facilities. Availability of credit service by itself is not sufficient. Accessibility to women and poor with entrepreneurial skill is necessary. The police have been taking some measures for long period of time although it lacks consistence and sustainability. For instance, sometimes they inspect people who are ready to travel from Jjmma bus station to either Nekemte or Addis Ababa and hold the travelling of mostly females. However, this cannot be undertaken each day and time and outside the city of Jimma. Thus, regular follow up is required. According to the Ethiopian constitution and law, human trafficking is crime and forbidden. Violating the law has a consequence of punishment in either imprisonment or fine. However, there is no specific policy adopted to deal with the growing problem. The government started kind of operation at central level and imprison some individuals suspected of trafficking people. A technical committee was also established at various levels starting from the federal to the grass-root levels. However, measures ever taken on traffickers and brokers up to now are not adequate due to lack of evidences as they operate in hidden ways. Therefore, it is important to design strategies and techniques of investigating and detecting these traffickers and brokers. In addition, a separate institutions/department that works purely on trafficking and that coordinate activities is essential in dealing with the problem. ![The specific objectives of the research are: ? To identify the awareness of the source community about the existence of human trafficking ? To investigate the process/mechanisms of human trafficking; ? To identify the socio-economic factors that make people to become vulnerable to human trafficking; ? To point out the consequences of human trafficking on victims ? To explore the cultural outlook of people towards human trafficking and perception of place of destination; ? To assess the attempts made by governmental and non-governmental organizations to overcome the problem of human trafficking; ? To offer policy recommendation on how to alleviate human trafficking study was conducted from June 2013 to July 2013 in the four selected woredas in Jimma zone. The researchers employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Qualitative research method was used to collect the process of human trafficking and opinions about human trafficking. Quantitative data were collected to know the extent of young people's trafficking and knowledge of residents about human trafficking.](image-2.png "?") 1Respondent's awareness about the existence of human traffickingFrequencyPercentValid PercentCumulative PercentYes37798.798.798.7ValidNo51.31.3100.0Total382100.0100.0Source: Own survey, 2013 3FrequencyPercentValid PercentCumulative PercentYes4612.012.012.0ValidNo33688.088.0100.0Total382100.0100.0Source: Own survey, 2013 2Volume XIV Issue VII Version I( C )Global Journal of Human Social Science© 2014 Global Journals Inc. (US) - 4FrequencyPercentValid PercentCumulative PercentYes29878.078.078.0ValidNo8422.022.0100.0Total382100.0100.0Source: Own survey, 2013 5FrequencyPercentValid PercentCumulative PercentYes15540.640.640.6ValidNo22759.459.4100.0Total382100.0100.0Source: Own survey, 2013X. 6FrequencyPercentValid PercentCumulativePercent 7FrequencyPercentValid PercentCumulativePercentPoor26970.470.470.4Middle income groups6416.816.887.2ValidUpper income groups All income groups10 342.6 8.92.6 8.989.8 98.7Poor and middle class51.31.3100.0Total382100.0100.0Source: Own survey, 2013 8FrequencyPercentValid PercentCumulative PercentYes35292.192.192.1ValidNo307.97.9100.0Total382100.0100.0Source: Own survey, 2013 9FrequencyPercentValid PercentCumulative PercentYes23962.662.662.6ValidNo14337.437.4100.0Total382100.0100.0Source: Own survey, 2013 © 2014 Global Journals Inc. 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