The migration of economically and socially vulnerable Ethiopian men, women and children has become a mounting phenomenon. Although their exodus initially seems voluntary labor migration, their vulnerable position gradually makes them victims of human trafficking. This study scrutinized the pre departure vulnerability context to human trafficking in North Wollo, Ethiopia, given primacy to context specific sociocultural etiology of human trafficking. The study was based on mixed research approach. In-depth interview, key informant interview, survey, FGDs and documentary review were used as the principal means of generating data. Information was gathered from various groups of informants: returnees, law enforcing agents, knowledgeable key informants and prosecuted local traffickers. As per the finding of the study there are various social, cultural and economic forces that make the local youth vulnerable for human trafficking by creating a massive lure for over sea migration; poverty, the dynamic interaction between the traditional patriarchy social structure and the changing women's aspiration, failure in education and peoples growing pessimism on culturally legitimated means of success (i.e. education), excessive social pressure for financial success and people's erroneous attitude about migration 'Better Life Syndrome, and the culture of migration. The interactions among these socio cultural forces and their cumulative effects expose the local people for human trafficking through creating a massive lure for migration. © 2018, QuiEdit.

culture of migration Vulnerability context Patriarchy Better life syndrome Human trafficking

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