Child Victims Of Human Trafficking: An Ecological Overview In Chile.

Abstract

Recognized as the third largest criminal industry in the world, human trafficking of children is one of the most profitable illegal businesses worldwide. For decades, efforts to stop this form of modern-day slavery have concentrated on apprehending perpetrators rather than understanding the social and psychological needs of the victims. Using a mixed methods design, this study proposes to portray the phenomenon of human trafficking by exploring child human trafficking in Chile from an ecological theory framework. The primary methods used in this formative study were in depth semi-structured interviews with experts who have worked with child victims of human trafficking and other at risk children in Chile, observations of five Chilean cities (Santiago de Chile, Valparaiso, San Antonio, Coquimbo and La Serena) where the vulnerable children were located, and questionnaires to directors of child victim centers from these five cities to assess demographic characteristics and other risk factors of children vulnerable to human trafficking. Results shows that the most important factors were sexual abuse history (73%), maltreatment and neglect (70%; 68%), running away from home, lack of awareness by Chilean institutions, transgenerational vulnerability and chaotic family dynamics.