Child Trafficking from the Gurage Zone to Addis Ababa: The Case Gumer Woreda
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Date
2010-07
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Publisher
AAU
Abstract
The SNNP is considered to be the most vulnerable region in terms of the hi gh prevalence of
trafficked children from the region to different towns of the country. The Gurage Zone is located
in the SNNP region which takes the lion's share of the high magnitude of child trafficking. It is a
place where trafficking children is considered as a workable traditional shortcut for the survival
or success of a family. Nevertheless, very few researches have been conducted on the issue in
spite of the fact that some researches pointed out the set back involving the causes and
consequences of child trafficking in some parts of the Gurage Zone. The Gumer Woreda is part
of the Gurage Zone which is the major focus area of this study. In this district of the Gurage Zone
children are highly vulnerable to trafficking which in most cases puts their lives at risk. A
comprehensive study of the problem in Gumer Woreda is not yet carried out. This study aims at
bridging the perception gap on child trafficking issues involving the Gumer Woreda.
To collect the necessary data a small town, Arekit and a PA named Zizencho and Teredo were
selected from the Gumer Woreda. On the other hand Addis Ketema and Kolfe Keranyo sub-cities
in Addis Ababa were purposely chose to physica lly observe the on go ings concerning tra fficked
children in the city. Combined qualitative methods of data gathering have been employed
including key informants interview, observation, focus group discussions, case studi es and
photography. Various secondary sources have been consulted including fi gures, facts, maps and
published and unpublished reports.
The study reveals that several factors contribute to the vulnerability of children to traffick ing.
These factors are majorly viewed in two categories as push and pull factors. The ones identified
as push factors include: poverty, shortage of social services and infrastructure, lack of vocational
and economic opportunities, societal and cultural violence on girls, family dysfunctions such as
child maltreatment, parental divorce and death. The pull factors are high demand for cheap labor,
socio-cultural factors associated with pull factors include: perception of a life better elsewhere
and poor information about risks, migratory mentality of children, extended social networks and
family ties and 'MeskeI' and' Arefa' holidays. The research has concluded that the push fac tors
mostly fuel child trafficking.
This study also focuses on presenting facts related to the forms and process of child trafficking,
especially in Gumer Woreda. These include recruitment of children, actors in vo lved ,
transportation, cost and the purposes of trafficking in children, gender issues etc. The research
also integrated various fonns of effects posed on children and the local community. Some of the
impacts on children identified in this research are psychological, emotional, physical, health and
soc ial.