Increased vulnerability to human trafficking of migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic in the IGAD–North Africa region

Lumley-Sapanski, Audrey; Schwarz, Katarina

Abstract

This paper employs a gender-responsive lens to explore the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the risk of human trafficking and migrants’ experiences of human trafficking in the IGAD–North Africa region. Findings are based on an extensive review of evidence and a series of interviews held with stakeholders, completed in 2021. A first round of interviews was held with 22 stakeholders working in government, criminal justice, migration governance and humanitarian organizations in March–April, exploring the impact of COVID-19 on human trafficking in and through the Sudan. Analysis of these interviews suggested that (a) the gendered dimension required further analysis, and (b) a regional approach was needed. Thus, a further round of targeted interviews was held in September 2021 with 12 additional stakeholders in Libya, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and the Sudan to elicit further information on the gendered impacts of COVID-19 on migrants.

Citation

Lumley-Sapanski, A., & Schwarz, K. (in press). Increased vulnerability to human trafficking of migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic in the IGAD–North Africa region. In The Impacts of COVID-19 on Migration and Migrants from a Gender Perspective (145-157). Geneva: International Organization for Migration

• Acceptance Date: May 13, 2022
• Online Publication Date: May 14, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jun 27, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 29, 2022
• Publisher: International Organization for Migration
• Pages: 145-157
• Book Title: The Impacts of COVID-19 on Migration and Migrants from a Gender Perspective
• Chapter Number: 10
• ISBN: 9789292682842
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/8762806
• Related Public URLs: https://publications.iom.int/books/impacts-covid-19-migration-and-migrants-gender-perspective
• Additional Information: Ref no.: PUB2022/027/L*