Comparative Study of Women Trafficked in the Migration Process

Published in 2002, this 245-page publication details the results of a two-year study funded by the Ford Foundation on sex trafficking, which in this case includes prostitution, sex tourism, mail-order brides, and bonded labor and domestic work that results in sexual exploitation.

The publication describes the patterns, profiles, and health consequences of sex trafficking in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Venezuela, and the United States. The researchers begin by discussing some of the structural factors responsible for the increase in this phenomenon worldwide: economic policies, globalisation of the sex industry, demand on the part of men, and women's inequality. Part I explores the nexus between migration, trafficking, and sexual exploitation in each of the five countries. Migration trends, factors contributing to female migration, the role of the media in gender inequality, and political/socio-economic/legal contexts are some of the issues explored here. Part II details interview findings and data analysis. Part III includes conclusions and recommendations, which focus on both preventative measures and ways to help women who are already involved in the sex industry.