In recent years, migration has been subject to intense securitisation, which can especially be observed when analysing the development of the European borderscape. Extreme measures such as barbed...Show moreIn recent years, migration has been subject to intense securitisation, which can especially be observed when analysing the development of the European borderscape. Extreme measures such as barbed fences, illegal pushbacks and militarised borders have contributed to poor conditions and many casualties on and around the EU’s external borders. Additionally, human trafficking rates have increased significantly over the past decade and is globally prioritized among the most pressing human rights issues. Research in the field of development and border studies has shown that strict borders negatively impact human trafficking dynamics. Moreover, feminist security research observes a forced protection rhetoric fuelled by a masculine hegemony, that has significant negative impact on the living experience of female trafficked sex workers. To test this hypothesis, a critical discourse is conducted on discourse published by the EU, Frontex and Europol in order to analyse how the EU mediates the two incompatible goals of border control and human trafficking. The results showed two distinctive narratives based on xenophobic and exclusionary securitisation politics and the social construct of masculine protection. These results suggest that a new intersectional approach should be adopted in order to ensure safe migration, human rights and female agency.Show less
“Human trafficking is an increasingly well-recognized human rights violation that is estimated to involve more than 2 million victims worldwide each year” (Ahn et al. 2018, 283). Nigeria in...Show more“Human trafficking is an increasingly well-recognized human rights violation that is estimated to involve more than 2 million victims worldwide each year” (Ahn et al. 2018, 283). Nigeria in particular has high numbers of human trafficking victims. After economic fraud and drug trade, human trafficking is known as the biggest crime in Nigeria, which includes both internal and transnational trafficking of human beings (Olagbegi 2006, 11).In order to combat this type of crime, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has set up special anti-trafficking programs which are mostly aimed at providing aid to the victims of human trafficking (VoT’s) by helping them to return home and to reintegrate in society, both socially and economically. However, while the IOM known to be very successful in helping VoT’s to return home, numerous sources show that for many Nigerian victims of trafficking (VoT’s) the suffering continues after they have returned to Nigeria. VoT’s face challenges reintegrating in society which sometimes causes them to become retrafficked. This thesis will examine the anti-trafficking and reintegration programs designed by the IOM and analyze reports and primary sources to investigate the following research question: How do the measures taken against human trafficking by the IOM affect Nigerian victims of trafficking (VoT’s) after they have returned to Nigeria? In order to answer this question, secondary sources such as the academic literature and reports have been analyzed as well as primary sources such as YouTube videos and short personal stories posted on various online platforms. In addition an interview with a member of the IOM’s national migration project management team in Abuja has been conducted to give specific insights. The final conclusion shows that that the measures taken against human trafficking by the IOM may positively but also negatively affect the lives of Nigerian VoT’s after they have returned home. The main problem behind these negative affects seems to be the IOM’s lack of funding which prevents the IOM from properly offering and executing various anti trafficking measures.Show less
When analyzing anti-trafficking, one has to consider the latency of the crime and the effect of it on a given system. Often, the numbers that are collected can never be representable of the whole...Show moreWhen analyzing anti-trafficking, one has to consider the latency of the crime and the effect of it on a given system. Often, the numbers that are collected can never be representable of the whole situation of trafficking in the EU and elsewhere. Human trafficking is a crime that is very difficult to see and police due to the nature of the lack of information associated with it. Prevention of THB is of key importance due to the fact that mostly, all different key actors in anti-trafficking policy deal with the repercussions of the crime. Similarly, further difficulty arises from the fact that human trafficking cases often involve different countries, jurisdictions and definitions of the crime.Show less
