Human smuggling, human trafficking and exploitation

Description: Migrants, Applicants for international protection and Refugees are at high risk of sexual violence prior to, during and after their arrival in Europe. Up to 58% and 32% of female and male refugees respectively, have experienced sexual victimization. Although an integrated and holistic approach (encompassing forensic, medical and psychosocial care) from detection to follow-up has been recognized as the best care for all SV victims, access to holistic care for migrant victims is hampered by a broad range of barriers. Frontline professionals working with migrants often lack the specialist knowledge, language skills and tools to provide inclusive and holistic care for victims, or do not know where to refer them. The general aim of the INHeRE project was to improve inclusive, holistic care for migrant victims of sexual violence, regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation and/or legal status by strengthening the capacity of multi-sector frontline professionals.
Website research project: https://www.icrhb.org/nl/projecten/inclusive-holistic-care-for-migrant-victims-of-sexual-violence-inhere
Promoter(s): Ines Keygnaert , Ilse Derluyn
Researcher(s): Leni Linthout , Ines Keygnaert , An Verelst , Nikolett Szelei
Faculty / Faculties: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
Period of time: 2019 - 2021

Description: "Sexual violence is a major public health, judicial and societal concern in Belgium. UN-MENAMAIS aims to: Objective 1) Map how citizens and migrant residents - including applicants of international protection- in Belgium, aged 16 -100 years, with different sexual orientations, frame sexual violence. Objective 2) Explore to what extent the research population has been subjected to sexual violence or has perpetrated sexual violence since childhood. Objective 3) Map indicatory pathways of how this exposure impacted the lives of victims, their family and peers and professionals they contacted for assistance. Objective 4) Evaluate the forensic sexual assault practices performed by professionals. Objective 5) Formulate recommendations for future policies and practices and provide sensitization scripts. UN-MENAMAIS applies a mixed method approach and runs until April 2021. It is funded by BELSPO (BRAIN). "
Promoter(s): Ines Keygnaert, Tom Vanderbeken
Researcher(s): Lotte De Schrijver
Department / Research group: Public Health and Primary Care
Faculty: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Description: Refugees often get labelled as victims and vulnerability is the main concept of this label. In a context of human smuggling or trafficking, this vulnerability can easily be exploited. The risks of this exploitation for the refugee often lead to a passive victim-label in which he is completely deprived of his own agency. This research will look at the victimisation of refugees through the lens of a critical victimological framework. First of all, the instrumentalisation of this label will be examined in the context of European migration policy. This victim-label may serve the purpose of protecting the European identity and safety rather than the claimed purpose of protecting human rights and international compassion. Furthermore, this imposed victim-label will also be compared to the experiences and victim identity of the refugee. The research aims to describe how these refugees cope with their experiences and how it influences their own perception of victimisation.
Promoter(s): Tom Vander Beken, Ilse Derluyn
Researcher(s): Gwen Herkes
Department / Research group: Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law
Faculty: Faculty of Law and Criminology