Despite considerable evidence and reports of exploitation, Ethiopia continues to be a significant source of female domestic workers for the Middle East and Gulf States. The study Learning from returnee Ethiopian migrant domestic workers: a qualitative assessment to reduce the risk of human trafficking was commissioned by The Freedom Fund to the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. It aimed to identify practical measures prospective migrants could adopt for self-protection, based on returnees’ collective experiences and insights. Researchers gathered insights from 35 returnees in the Amhara Region through interviews and focus groups.
Returnees imparted lessons on preparing for migration, highlighting the importance of cultural adaptation, language proficiency, and safety precautions such as carrying a mobile phone for emergencies. They emphasised the role of confidence and assertiveness in influencing their treatment and underscored the necessity of having access to external communication. These findings inform a community-based program in Amhara that enhances migrants’ preparedness and decision-making, potentially offering insights for safer migration strategies globally amid heightened attention to human trafficking and interventions before migration.
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