Abstract:
Trafficking in persons is an illicit trade in living human beings, where people are recruited in their
country of origin and transported to destination countries for the purposes of different exploitations. This
study is conducted in Metema town. The study used qualitative approach in terms of understanding children
trafficking. Depicting the multifaceted challenges being faced by trafficked children based the account of
children trafficking in the study area was the major objectives of the study. To accomplish the above
objectives, the study data was collected from primary and qualitative data from different informants in
Metema town by employing such qualitative data collection techniques such as key informant interview, in depth interview and focus group discussions. A total number of 16 informants were participated in the study
for Key-informant and in-depth interview and 12 participants were participated for FGD in 2 FGDs
sessions. The collected data was analyzed thematically involving series of steps to organize and present the
qualitative data meaningfully. The findings of the study obtained from the interview conducted for this
report, corroborating information and testimonies from other sources indicated that increasingly abusive
environment trafficked children. Contributing factors for children trafficking are economic problems, lack
of education and ignorance, early marriage, family causalities like death of family member and divorce,
peer pressure, lack of job opportunities, fostering practices, unwanted teenage pregnancy and law
enforcement problems. The main actors who are actively involved in the process of child trafficking are their
relatives or friends, their family itself, and agents and or Delala and violence experienced by trafficked
children are deception, withholding of wages, restriction movement, verbal, physical abuse and sexual
harassment, social educational and emotional problems. The details of the brutality are shocking as per the
data collected. The study will have relevant implications for social work practices with vulnerable children
experiencing violence of various types due to child trafficking in Ethiopia.
