Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking at the University of Nebraska
Date of this Version
10-2012
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Abstract
This study, done in Ukraine, tested the relationship between various methods of encouraging victims of trafficking to visit rehabilitation centers and ask for help, and the number of such victims that, in fact, asked for help. Using governmental administrative units (oblasts) as the unit of analysis, secondary data regarding the intensity of various types of publicity efforts over several years was collected. These effort intensities were such things as the number of persons reached by speeches to community groups, the number reached by radio ads, the number reached by outdoor advertising, and so forth. In addition, the number of victims coming forward for help in each oblast in each of those years was collected. Statistical models incorporating the intensity of various effort intensities were used to predict the number of victims coming forward. Radio advertising was shown to be the most effective method at bringing victims forward. It was also shown that the first year’s use of heavy use of radio public service advertising would be likely to bring forward a large “backlog” of victims, more than 10 times the number that normally come forward in a year. Continuing to make heavy use would probably bring forward about 3 times the usual number in years after that. This research can provide a method for determining how to spend public service dollars in bringing victims forward for rehabilitation.
Comments
Presented October 13, 2012 at Fourth Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking, Lincoln, NE