Socioeconomic Causes: 1. Poverty and Economic Vulnerability - Poverty disproportionately affects women and girls in patriarchal societies, where they are often denied access to resources and economic agency. In rural areas of countries like India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, families facing extreme financial desperation become targets for traffickers who exploit these gendered economic vulnerabilities. We have encountered practices such as “thug vivah” (fake marriage), where poor parents are deceived into marrying their daughters to men who demand no dowry, only to sell them into exploitation. These cases starkly reveal how capitalism intersects with patriarchy, commodifying women’s bodies as a means to alleviate familial poverty. 2. Lack of Employment Opportunities- Patriarchal norms frequently restrict women’s access to education and livelihoods, trapping them in cycles of dependency. Women from landless communities, in particular, are vulnerable, as they often lack income sources to resist exploitative marriage proposals. At Empower People, we challenge these gendered economic structures through livelihood programs like lemongrass farming and tailoring, empowering women economically and reducing their susceptibility to trafficking. 3. Dowry Practices- The dowry system, deeply ingrained in patriarchal traditions, imposes a financial burden on families of girls and reinforces their perceived inferiority. Families unable to afford dowry may unwittingly accept fraudulent marriage offers, not realizing the hidden risks of trafficking. We have seen firsthand how this practice ties women’s worth to economic transactions dictated by men, perpetuating exploitation. Cultural and Social Factors: 1. Gender Inequality and Devaluation of Girls- Patriarchal societies devalue girls, viewing them as burdens rather than individuals with agency. This systemic bias fuels bride trafficking by creating demand for women in regions with skewed sex ratios, often caused by practices like sex-selective abortion. We see sex-selective abortion as a violent expression of son preference, reducing the number of women and pushing men to “purchase” brides from poorer areas. At Empower People, we are committed to challenging this systemic devaluation by advocating for gender equality and promoting the inherent dignity of all girls and women. 2. Social Normalization of Exploitation- In many communities, violence against women, including bride trafficking, is normalized and even disguised as marriage. We have observed how trafficked brides are sometimes registered in government records, concealing the crime and masking it as a legitimate marital arrangement. This normalization reflects the broader cultural acceptance of women’s subordination, where their consent is often ignored. 3. Illiteracy and Lack of Awareness- Illiteracy among women, fueled by deliberate patriarchal exclusion from education, increases their vulnerability to trafficking. Communities with limited awareness about trafficking risks are easily deceived by exploitative practices. Through our education initiatives, we aim to empower women and families to recognize and resist trafficking schemes. By training NGOs, forming survivor collectives, and spreading knowledge, we are fostering agency and resilience within communities. Structural and Legal Gaps: 1. Inadequate Legislation and Enforcement- While legal frameworks exist to address trafficking, many cases of bride trafficking do not fit neatly into predefined categories of forced labor or prostitution. We advocate for integrating bride trafficking into local government schemes to strengthen laws and their enforcement. 2. Political and Regional Instability- Conflict and displacement in regions like northern Myanmar exacerbate vulnerability to trafficking. Cross-border trafficking remains a significant challenge, requiring coordinated efforts to tackle. Intersections with Related Issues: 1. Child Marriage- Bride trafficking often overlaps with child marriage, as young girls are married off to alleviate family poverty or secure alliances. We see Child marriage as a theft of girls’ autonomy, denying them education and bodily sovereignty. Empower People notes that child brides are particularly vulnerable to trafficking, as their youth makes them easier to manipulate. The organization’s survivor-led communes provide safe spaces for young girls to reclaim their futures. 2. Forced Marriage- Bride trafficking is inherently a form of forced marriage, where women’s consent is coerced or absent. Patriarchy justifies forced marriage by prioritizing family honour or economic gain over women’s agency. Empower People’s rescue operations with police and community arbitration aim to free women from these coercive unions, affirming their right to choose. 3. Trafficking- Bride trafficking is a subset of human trafficking, but its gendered nature demands specific attention. Women and girls are trafficked not only for marriage but also for sexual exploitation and forced labor. A feminist perspective highlights how trafficking exploits women’s bodies for profit, rooted in the patriarchal view of women as property. Empower People’s cross-border efforts address trafficking from Nepal and Bangladesh, recognizing its global, gendered dimensions. 4. Sex-Selective Abortion- The preference for male children leads to sex-selective abortion, creating imbalanced sex ratios in states like Haryana, India. This scarcity fuels bride trafficking, as men seek wives from marginalized regions. This practice is a form of gendercide, erasing women before birth and perpetuating their commodification post-birth. Empower People’s work indirectly challenges this by empowering women in source communities. 5. Sexual Abuse- Trafficked brides often endure sexual abuse, both within forced marriages and in transit. Patriarchy normalizes sexual violence as an entitlement of men, particularly over “purchased” wives. Empower People’s counseling services address the trauma of sexual abuse, offering survivors a path to healing and self-determination. 6. Bonded Labor- Many trafficked brides are subjected to bonded labor, forced into domestic servitude or agricultural work without pay. A feminist perspective sees this as an extension of women’s unpaid labor under patriarchy, where their bodies and work are exploited for male benefit. Empower People’s skill development programs, like LED bulb manufacturing, aim to break this cycle by providing women with economic independence. 7. Honor Killings- In extreme cases, women who resist trafficking or forced marriage face honor killings, where families murder them to preserve patriarchal notions of honor. This violent enforcement of gender roles underscores the lethal consequences of defying male authority. Empower People’s community-based rehabilitation helps survivors navigate social stigma, protecting them from such retribution. Empower People’s Comprehensive Response: As an organization committed to eradicating bride trafficking, we adopt a survivor-centric, rights-based approach through: •Prevention- Addressing root causes through poverty alleviation, employment creation, and awareness campaigns. •Intervention- Conducting rescue operations in collaboration with authorities and community leaders, alongside legal aid for survivors. •Rehabilitation- Establishing survivor-led communes and skill-development programs, including organic farming, LED bulb manufacturing, and tailoring. •Empowerment- Forming survivor-led collectives and fostering economic self-reliance through social enterprises. •Advocacy- Engaging policymakers, local governments, and stakeholders to integrate anti-trafficking measures into policy frameworks.