Human trafficking of women : a pastoral challenge

Abstract

Human trafficking or Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is a global problem and a significant human rights crisis. A large body of scholarship agrees that human trafficking is modern day slavery and a gross infringement on the human rights of the trafficked individual. While it is acknowledged that human trafficking takes place in a variety of forms, the focus of the current study is that of sex trafficking or trafficking for sexual exploitation. The phenomenon of human trafficking, especially recruitment into the commercial sex trade for prostitution, is a thriving industry globally and particularly in South Africa where the most vulnerable prey are women and girls. The current study develops the researcher’s work in fulfilment of his Master’s degree which focused on blesser-blessee relationships, and which demonstrated a connection between the blesser phenomenon and human trafficking. The Qualitative research method will be used where structured interviews will be conducted with females over the age of 18. Within the Qualitative method, the Narrative approach will be followed to enable the women to share their experiences. The principles of Narrative therapy will be integrated with those of Positive Deconstruction theory to help the female survivors of sex trafficking to reconstruct narratives that are life-giving and filled with hope. As part of the formulation of a pastoral care and healing methodology, this study will adopt the Appreciative Inquiry approach, shown to be a philosophy which has incarnational and resurrection aspects. The thesis or central argument of this doctoral study is that Human Trafficking is a modern form of slavery and gender-based violence that results in shame which diminishes the full humanity of women made in the image of God. The researcher asserts that this calls forth from the Church a pastoral approach to journey with our sisters in Christ on the path to healing from trauma.