Poster presented at the 4th Refugee Law Initiative, 3-5 June 2019, London.

1. Forced displacement & Human Trafficking:
Anouk Malboeuf
MA Refugee Protection & Forced Migration
Contact: m.anouk@outlook.com
University of London
Refugee Law Initiative
4th annual conference
3-5 June 2019
Exploration of a
resettlement-migration–trafficking nexus
This research is located at the convergence of two phenomena; the rapid development of
hydropower infrastructure in Laos and the country's location at the center of a human trafficking hub.
Research objectives
How Development-Induced-Displacement and Resettlement (DIDR) places affected
communities at an increased risk of human trafficking in the region?
• How can resettlement aggravate existing vulnerabilities of impacted communities?
• How does DIDR influence drivers of migration?
• Which of these vulnerabilities and drivers increases the risk of human trafficking?
The case of
Hydropower
development
in Laos
Recommendations
• Mainstream policies and programs facilitating safe migration within resettlement plans;
• Improve and create education and attractive livelihood opportunities for youth displaced;
• Increase the role of private sector and “NGOs” in prevention and protection in resettlement sites;
• Support the acquisition of identification papers for displaced communities;
• Use more precise and comprehensive indicators to monitor migration patterns of displaced communities;
• Provide awareness and access to information on safe migration for displaced communities.
Possible links: Displacement-Migration-Trafficking
Fragile
food/water
security
New livelihood
Difficult
adaptation &
insecurity
Survival &
risky migration
Subsistence
agriculture
Cash
compensation
/ cash based
economy
New financial
capacities
Capacity to
pay
smugglers/
false sense of
security
Isolated rural
settlement
Improved road
access, contact
with foreigners
+camp
followers
Attraction to
modern life,
access to
borders
/network
Increase
marriage with
foreigners,
mobility
1 Village =
1 ethic group
Imposed
cohabitation
of ethnic
groups
Norms & roles
compromised,
power
asymmetries &
land access
issues
Marginalizatio
n, lack of
support,
discrimination
Gender –
unequal
opportunities
Bias
compensation
process, limited
access to
informal act.
Poverty,
domestic
violence,
discrimination
Woman or
children seek
additional
revenue or
support
Prior
resettlement
Post
resettlement
Drivers of
migration
Determinants
of trafficking
Key results
• The resettlement process influences
the migration flux by acting on specific
drivers;
• The resettlement process generally
exacerbates existing vulnerabilities;
• Resettled communities are placed at an
increased risk of exploitation and
trafficking when they decide to use
migration as an adaptation strategy.
Drivers of Migration Framework (Adaptation
7
)
Facts & figures1
• ± 100 hydropower plants operational
or under construction in Laos.
• 280,000 peoples could be resettled.
• For the Nam Man 3 project, 100% of
the resettled household used migration
as a coping strategy.
• ± 44,000 migrants smuggled from Laos
to Thailand annually.
• ± 13,000-40,000 individuals in
prostitution in Laos
• 200,000-450,000 trafficked persons in
the region / year.
Asian News Network
Li Fan
Sources:
1. Malboeuf A. (2019) Forced displacement and Human Trafficking: The case of Hydropower
development in Laos. MA dissertation. (Under review) University of London.
2. Asian News Network (2019) Feature: Families resettled by Nam Tha 1 hydropower project
need further aid by News Desk : 28 Mars 2019 < httpannx.asianews.network/content/feature-
families-resettled-nam-tha-1-hydropower-project-need-further-aid-94044> Accessed online
26/05/2019.
3. Foreningen for Internasjonale Vannstudier (FIVAS) (2005), Laos and the Nam Theun 2
project fails its human rights obligations, Blog Picture of the Nam Theun 2 reservoir from Li
Fan. <https://fivas.org/en/frontsak-en/laos-and-the-nam-theun-2-project-fails-its-human-rights-
obligations/> Accessed 27/05/2019.
4. Village Focus International (ND), Trafficking stories, Picture of girls in a Lao shelter.
<http://villagefocus.org/traffickingstories.htm> Accessed 26/05/2019.
5. The Lily (ND) Blog. Picture of family impacted by human trafficking.
<https://www.thelily.com/im-too-tired-to-cry-the-laotian-girls-who-are-kidnapped-to-become-
child-brides/ > Accessed 25/05/2019.
6. UNICEF (2011) Map of trafficking route in “Broken promises shattered dreams. A profile of
child trafficking in the Lao PDR. Vientiane Laos”, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Lao
People’s Democratic Republic.
7. The government office for science (2011), Foresight: Migration and global environmental
change, Final Project Report. London, UK.
Francesco Brembati (The Lily)Village Focus International
Li Fan
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