Intergenerational transmission of trauma in (West) African victims of international human trafficking

Human traffickers abuse the vulnerable position of their victims. At Fier (an expertise and treatment centre for victims, perpetrators and witnesses of violence within relationships) some of the most vulnerable victims find... [ view full abstract ]

Human traffickers abuse the vulnerable position of their victims. At Fier (an expertise and treatment centre for victims, perpetrators and witnesses of violence within relationships) some of the most vulnerable victims find shelter and have access to psychological treatment. This study has the following aims: 1) to gather information on the background characteristics of (West) African victims of international human trafficking and 2) to examine the effects of traumatic events on the parenting skills of the victims. 

To accomplish the first goal, medical files of (West) African victims of international human trafficking who stayed at Fier from December 2010 till September 2015 (n=32) were studied. Findings suggest that a majority of the women lost one of the parents during childhood, were traumatised at a young age due to sexual, physical or emotional violence and fled their homes from an arranged marriage, for fear of female genital mutilation (FGM) or for other reasons. The young women (almost 60 percent were below the age of 21 when recruited) are trafficked to and sexually exploited in the Netherlands. These adverse experiences during childhood and adolescence culminated into severe psychological problems in adulthood, often complex PTSD.    

Since a large part of these women are mothers, the second part of this study will examine the parenting role of the victims. With this goal in mind, the research has additionally selected cases of which biographic time lines were produced. These extensive timelines incorporate information on the background of the parent, the conception of the child and the treatment at Fier and therefore offer insight into the role of violence in the life of mother and child. Time lines will be presented at ISCPAN and will provide further knowledge on the intergenerational transmission of trauma.