Internal Displacement and Vulnerability to Human Trafficking in Ethiopia: A Critical Assessment of Legal and Institutional Protection Frameworks

A Critical Assessment of Legal and Institutional Protection Frameworks

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between internal displacement and vulnerability to human trafficking in Ethiopia, highlighting how forced displacement driven by conflict, climate shocks, and development-induced evictions heightens vulnerability to exploitation. Furthermore, it assesses the adequacy of Ethiopia’s legal and institutional responses to these intersecting crises. Displaced populations, often lacking legal recognition, secured shelter, or access to livelihoods, are systematically targeted for sexual exploitation, forced labor, and organ removal. Adopting a multidisciplinary human rights framework, this study employs qualitative legal analysis alongside secondary data from international and national monitoring agencies, including the IOM, UNHCR, and the EHRC. It evaluates Ethiopia’s legal landscape and institutional architecture, utilizing judicial antecedents and empirical reports to identify systemic gaps in protection and coordination. Through this approach, the study analyzes the scale, root causes, and human impact of internal displacement, evaluates Ethiopia’s legal and institutional mechanisms for protecting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and trafficking victims, and identifies gaps in enforcement, coordination, and victim-centered approaches. The findings underscore that internal displacement is both a humanitarian and a human rights crisis that significantly increases vulnerability to human trafficking, underscoring the need for integrated, rights-based policies and protection systems to safeguard the dignity, safety, and rights of vulnerable populations.