She said this might be God’s way of taking care of us Family involvement in human trafficking

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the role of family members in human trafficking and how their roles impact and are perceived by their children and wards. 

Design/methodology/approach: This paper uses data collected through a longitudinal, cross-country study. The study was conducted among 31 female, Nigerian victims of trafficking in Italy. 

Findings: The authors argue that family members play important, howbeit diverse roles across space and time, in the different stages of the trafficking process, echoing a relational approach of their geographies. 

Originality/value: This paper discusses the under-researched role of how family members may (wilfully or unknowingly) facilitate and aid the trafficking of their dependents and the consequences of their involvement on their children and wards.