Limitations in Research on Human Trafficking*

Abstract

In this article I point to some common pitfalls and particular challenges in research on human trafficking. I start out by presenting some of the challenges in identifying observable populations and behaviours, arguing that primary data collection in the trafficking field should focus on former victims, and not current victims or persons at risk. Thereafter I discuss some of the factors that have inhibited the development and use of explicit operational definitions of trafficking. Third, I present some of the challenges in identification of trafficking victims, when the victims themselves do not want to identify with the trafficking label. Finally, the usefulness of different research strategies in the trafficking fields for the current knowledgeneeds is discussed.The article concludes that there will always be some limitations and biases in empirical research in the trafficking field. However, as long as we acknowledge these limitations and make them explicit in our research, sound empirical research that enhances our knowledge in this field is possible. The best potential for good quality research lies in small-scale, thematically focused empirical studies, while attempts to describe worldwide trafficking across regions and arenas is less likely to be successful.

Is there such thing as ‘global sex trafficking’? A patchwork tale on useful (mis)understandings

“…Current notions of human trafficking for sexual exploitation suffer from several biases, according to recent studies on the phenomenon [e.g., 11,12,29,31,38,40]. The amplitude of the phenomenon is assessed in unverifiable numbers of trafficking victims 'flooding' (or at least putting pressure on) national borders [21,27]; 'victims' and 'perpetrators' are stereotypically imagined whereas their experiences are diverse and their roles more complex [e.g., 3,27,29] and criminal networks are imagined as being omnipotent, spanning the globe and operating swiftly and fluidly, notwithstanding the fact that there is empirical evidence of 'small-time operators […] based upon personal and sometimes familial sets of relationships' [31: page 16].…”

Mobility of Sex Workers in European Cities

“…Various authors recognize the limitations of the prevailing research methods (Tyldum 2010;Zhang 2009) and call for more innovative methodologies in research (Brunovskis and Surtees 2010;van der Pijl, Oude Breuil et al 2011). The data used in this article are derived from my ongoing research on human trafficking and prostitution in western and eastern Europe carried out through participant observation among migrant prostitutes, interviews, content analysis of media reports in several countries, and analysis of court files.…”

Population geography I

“…It is noteworthy that trafficked migrants/victims and traffickers are not reported in national datasets (Tyldum, 2010), since such individuals and social groups will not be recorded in the gathering of primary data on census forms, for example. Of course, this is to be expected given trafficking is a 'clandestine activity', whereby 'hidden populations' are often kept out of sight' or controlled when 'publicly visible' by traffickers and organised crime (Hepburn and Simon, 2013).…”