Meredith Dank Awarded Funding
to Combat Human Trafficking Due to Climate Change
Climate change is a driver of displacement and forced migration, particularly for vulnerable populations at high risk of human trafficking, other forms of violence, exploitation, and abuse. These links, however, are poorly understood, and few resources are devoted to providing victims with knowledge and access to safe, alternative livelihood options. Research Professor Meredith Dank has been awarded funding from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to assist with its project, “Prevent Trafficking in Persons in Climate Change Affected Communities in Kenya,” supported by the Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, under the Program to End Modern Slavery. This project will focus on two climate-change-impacted Kenyan counties, where Dank and IOM will implement community-, household-, and individual-based randomized interventions in an effort to reduce human trafficking.