La Strada Documentation Center

Trafficking of men – a trend less considered. The case of Belarus and Ukraine

Document number
1946
Date
2008
Title
Trafficking of men – a trend less considered. The case of Belarus and Ukraine
Author/publisher
International Organization for Migration (IOM), Rebecca Surtees, Nexus Institute
Availability
View/save PDF version of this document
Document type(s)
Research/Study/Analysis,
Keywords
Migration Research Series No 36; La strada Belarus, La strada Moldova, La strada Ukraine,
Summary
To date, trafficking in males has been underconsidered in research despite noteworthy signals that it is a violation faced by many males, adult and minors. Often severely exploited male migrants are overlooked as victims of trafficking (VoT). The noteworthy number of men exposed to trafficking necessitates assistance tailored to their specific needs and interests. Tailoring of services is required to the specific profile of male victim, not least according to their trafficking experience, whether they are a minor or adult and the family and social conditions to which they will return.

Through the lens of trafficking in males (primarily adult men) from Belarus and Ukraine, this study considers male victim’s pre-trafficking life (namely their personal, family and socioeconomic background), trafficking experience (from recruitment, through transportation and during exploitation) and post trafficking experience (including assistance and protection needs). We examine, on the one hand, what is known about this less considered profile of trafficked persons and, on the other hand, what can be done to meet their needs, both as a means of assistance and protection. The study draws on primary data collected about 685 trafficked males assisted by IOM and its partners, through IOM’s Counter-Trafficking Module Database (CTM) in Geneva as well as qualitative information from interviews with and case files of assisted men.

The specific experiences of trafficked males of Belarusian and Ukrainian nationality highlight some general patterns in terms of how trafficking takes place from these countries and, equally, some of the needs and interests of this specific target group. Attention to the gender dimensions of trafficking must be increasingly considered in research and anti-trafficking interventions.
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