The Impediments to Child Trafficking Victim Reintegration in Bangladesh

Abstract

Child trafficking, particularly trafficking of adolescent girls, has been an alarming phenomenon in the border areas of Bangladesh considering the poor socio-economic status, limited education and erroneous social media usage of the habitants as well as inadequate social awareness raising initiatives by the government and other relevant actors. The child trafficking victims from Bangladesh usually end up being involved in sex working, dancing at clubs, modern slavery, organ and drug smuggling, among others in United Arab Emirates, India, Thailand and other luxurious countries. Such adverse lifestyle often makes the trafficking victims reluctant towards their normal life in case they are fortunate enough to be rescued. Diversified social stigma, habituation with drug addiction, loopholes in government policies, limited social acceptance and reintegration initiatives by the government and humanitarian organizations are some of the major disablers for the victims to restart their life after being rescued. The government as well as the development organizations need to revisit their policies and support services with the victim reintegration process to address these gaps and improve the rehabilitation journey of the trafficking victims.