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Browsing by Subject "vulnerability"

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  • Obligations, expectations and neglect : Former human trafficking victims’ experiences of vulnerability and reintegration in Kenya 
    Sillfors, Pauliina (2018)
    Human trafficking is a fast growing crime and a fundamental offense against human rights. Human trafficking is linked, inter alia, to social, economic and cultural factors; and the impact on individuals, societies and nations is destructive. Trafficking has been studied increasingly in the recent years. Though only few primary research has been conducted of human trafficking in Kenya, where trafficking is a widely spread problem. Furthermore, vulnerability towards human trafficking and reintegration of its victims has been studied more extensively on international level, but the research done on Kenyan context is very limited and the main focus stays on economical factors. Only a few studies have focused on experiences of vulnerability and reintegration of trafficking victims. Therefore, the objective of this research is to provide more information and study the complexity of victims’ experiences by the following research question: What factors former victims of trafficking have experienced as causes to their vulnerability towards trafficking and what difficulties former victims of traf- ficking have faced during their reintegration process after trafficking in Kenya? The aim of this research is to provide information that can be utilized in the development of contra human trafficking programmes in Kenya. This study is a qualitative research. The research material, 12 semi-structured interviews with former victims of human trafficking, was collected during a six-month period in 2015- 2016 in Kenya. The method used for analysing the data was qualitative content analysis. In- tersectionality was also used as an analytical tool. The experiences of vulnerability towards trafficking were mainly in relation to social problems within families, financial difficulties and obligations towards family members. The experiences of reintegration were also hampered by financial difficulties, obligations towards family members and social problems; stigmatization, blame and discrimination. This study suggests dynamics within families and communities, when allied with other factors, may become significant intersectional factors, for individuals, of vulnerability and reintegration. The findings were consistent with previous research, even though the findings cannot be generalized to larger populations. However, this research provides important pieces of information that can be utilized in relating research and in the development of contra trafficking programmes in Kenya.
  • Vulnerable homeless or the homeless as vulnerable? : Framing of homelessness in English legislation and the gatekeeping of resources for homelessness eradication 
    Zatina, Beate (2020)
    The impact of political strategies aimed to reduce and eradicate homelessness are shaped by the ways in which we conceptualise the problem itself. This study aims to analyse the framing in which the homeless are considered vulnerable in order to uncover possible ways in which this allows for gatekeeping of solutions for homelessness eradication. Building on existing research, the study aims to highlight the dominant problematisations of homelessness and the limitations that they pose on provision of services by local authorities in England. The study focuses on the changes between the newly introduced legislation of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2018 and the Housing Act of 1996 in order to highlight naturalised narratives on homelessness that have been reinforced, and possible shifts in framing that allow for possible change. Analysis of the accompanying code of guidance policy documents using the What is the problem represented to be? methodology allows to compare the framing of homelessness and the proposed solutions in order to better understand whether policy changes creating increasingly accessible service provision or remains selective in whom it helps. The results indicate that the legislative change has widened the parameters of who is to be considered vulnerable; and there is a shift in focus towards prevention allowing for more people to access services. However, the continued use of categorisation and assessment of the homeless on basis of vulnerability, localisation and focus on intentionality of homelessness ultimately maintains gatekeeping of resources. The results indicate possible narratives which may allow for shifts in problematisation of homelessness especially during the current COVID-19 crisis which has created unprecedented shift in homelessness strategies. Further research is necessary to understand better resilience of the legislation during crisis, and how to shift narratives on homelessness into empowering and inclusive instruments.

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