Anti-Human Trafficking Measures in Tigray, Ethiopia: A Human Rights-Based Perspective

Human trafficking is the cause and consequence of human rights violation. This paper deals with measures of human trafficking undertaken in Sase’a Tsaedaemba and Atsibi Wonberta woredas in Tigray region, Ethiopia. These woredas are more affected by human trafficking than the other woredas of the region. The measures undertaken by the duty bearers to prevent human trafficking were analysed in light of the human rights-based perspective. The human rights-based principles empowerment, accountability and rule of law, non-discrimination and participation have been used as both a theoretical framework and a methodology in this paper. Most of the participants in the study agreed that peer pressure and unemployment are major causes of human trafficking in the studied woredas. Consequently, many young people are flooding into the Middle East and Gulf States where they face human rights violations such as torture, forced labour, imprisonment, disappearance, death and psychological and physical injury. A human rights-based perspective on measures against human trafficking recognizes victims of human trafficking as right holders who require support and assistance from the relevant duty bearers. In the case of Sase’a Tsaedaemba and Atsibi Wonberta woredas, the state fails to implement the international human rights principles and values relevant to victims of human trafficking. This is due to lack of capacity, commitment and good quality governance. The study results reveal that a human rights-based perspective against human trafficking is not well developed and practiced in Ethiopia. This research explains that a human rights-based perspective to human trafficking is required to address the major causes and consequences of human trafficking and to protect and empower victims and vulnerable groups.