Digital Realities in Human Trafficking: Bringing Safety to Refugee Camps

This is an output from a project that was part of the fifth Applied Research Fund (ARF) on mixed migration flows. The ARF is executed by NWO-WOTRO in close collaboration with the Platform. The call aims to strengthen the evidence-base for security and rule of law policies and programming, addressing the root causes, and the dynamics and consequences of mixed migration flows within and from fragile and conflict-affected settings.

This policy brief focuses the dynamics of migratory trajectories. The research looks at two issues. Firstly, the modus operandi of human traffickers along the route. Secondly, the unaccompanied minors and youth in the refugee camps and their strategies to be resilient and maintain contact with relatives abroad.

The conclusions are that ICTs are used as a method by human traffickers and criminals for extortion, but on the other hand play an important role for refugees, since it is the only way to stay in contact with their beloved ones and because it is a means to send or receive long-distance money-transfers. The methods how to use mobile phones in an environment where electricity and connectivity is scarce show creativity and resilience.