Human Trafficking within Migration Flows: A Human Security Approach in Southeast Asia

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the relationship between human trafficking and cross-border migration in Southeast Asia from a human security perspective. This issue is crucial given the high levels of undocumented migration and weak protection for vulnerable groups. A qualitative approach with a case study design explored the structural dynamics, policies, and informal networks influencing migrant vulnerability. Data was collected through document analysis, secondary interviews from international agency reports (UNODC, IOM, AICHR), and various relevant official sources triangulation. The findings reveal that human trafficking in the region is systemic, driven by development disparities, fragmented cross-border policies, and securitization practices that view migration as a national security threat. Informal recruitment networks, institutional corruption, and the absence of legal migration channels reinforce exploitation, particularly of women and children. Integrating human security, securitization, and migration systems theory provides a multidimensional analytical framework explaining the relationship between policy structures, labor market dynamics, and exploitative practices. These findings imply the need for ASEAN migration policy reforms grounded in human security, the establishment of effective cross-border protection mechanisms, and the involvement of non-state actors in policy formulation. Further studies are recommended to explore victims' experiences ethnographically to enrich prevention and protection strategies.