Internal Migration, Social Capital and Subjective Wellbeing in Albania: The Case of Kamza Town

This study assessed the relationship between internal migration, various types of social capital (i.e., trust, solidarity, bonding social ties, and bridging social ties) and subjective wellbeing (life satisfaction and happiness) among a sample of 468 first-generation adult internal migrants and locals aged 18-75 years in Kamza town in Albania. Social capital and subjective wellbeing are two terms frequently used in the literature to describe people’s connections and to evaluate their life in various contexts including migration. Although these concepts are featured in academic literature, research, and global policy agendas, they are under-studied and rarely examined in the context of internal migration. By bringing together the literature about social capital, subjective wellbeing, and internal migration, this study traced associations among internal migrants and locals and contributes to an understanding of their relationship in under-researched areas such as Albania. This cross-sectional quantitative study used primary data collected through face-to-face structured individual surveys to capture differences in social capital and subjective wellbeing of first-generation adult internal migrants compared to locals as well as to assess the relationships among social capital and subjective wellbeing. Utilizing multiple ordinal regression and hierarchical multiple regression analyses, findings demonstrated that internal migrants are at a disadvantageous position compared to locals in both social capital and subjective wellbeing, after controlling for relevant socio-demographic variables. Using ordinal regression analyses, findings revealed the importance of various types of social capital for subjective wellbeing of both groups, thus answering some of the previously unanswered questions from the literature. Finally, results of this study showed that except for employment status, all other controlling variables (gender, age, education level, and marital status) made statistically significant contributions to the model. Although this study is valuable to researchers and policy makers, it also reveals the need for more comprehensive research to gain a better understanding of the relationship between social capital and subjective wellbeing in the context of internal migration

Irregular Migration flows and human trafficking in the Western Balkan countries: challenges of the covergence of counter-trafficking response

Irregular migration on the Western Balkan route has marked an unprecedented number during the last five years. Evidence indicates that both, non-European nationals and Western Balkan citizens have been involved in this complex migratory flow being exposed to various risks of human trafficking. But Western Balkan countries are source, transit and destination countries of human trafficking while their states are not well organized to implement a comprehensive and well-coordinated regional response to combat it. This paper aims at examining challenges faced by the Western Balkan countries to converge anti-trafficking response while facing increased irregular migratory waves. Using secondary data it illustrates various disparities and differences among them concluding that a well-coordinated, multi-faceted and integrated regional response is needed to combat this humanitarian problem. (author's abstract

Preventing Human Trafficking In Indonesia: The Role Of Legal Empowerment Programs

Trafficking in persons or human trafficking, especially women and children, must be eradicated because it violates human dignity and human rights. This article examines and explores the root causes of human trafficking, the criminal sanctions, and the decisions of judges/trials on trafficking in persons in Indonesia to prevent trafficking in persons through legal empowerment. It is based on normative legal research, that is, legal research conducted by examining literature or secondary data. The study reveals that there are at least 10 (ten) root causes of trafficking in persons, which occur in various places in the world, including in Indonesia, namely poverty, lack or low level of education, demand for cheap labor/demand for sex, lack of the implementation of the human rights laws for vulnerable groups, lack of legitimate economic opportunities, Social factors and cultural practices, conflict and natural disaster, trafficking market as a business that generates a large profit, lack of safe migration options, traffickers. There are criminal sanctions against trafficking in persons in Indonesian legislation. This article highlights the importance of the use of legal empowerment in Indonesia to prevent trafficking in persons and address its root causes

IRREGULAR MIGRATION FLOWS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES: CHALLENGES OF THE CONVERGENCE OF COUNTER-TRAFFICKING RESPONSE

Irregular migration on the Western Balkan route has marked an unprecedented number during the last five years. Evidence indicates that both, non-European nationals and Western Balkan citizens have been involved in this complex migratory flow being exposed to various risks of human trafficking. But Western Balkan countries are the source, transit, and destination countries of human trafficking while their states are not well organized to implement a comprehensive and well-coordinated regional response to combat it. This paper aims at examining challenges faced by the Western Balkan countries to converge anti-trafficking responses while facing increased irregular migratory waves. Using secondary data it illustrates various disparities and differences among them concluding that a well-coordinated, multi-faceted, and integrated regional response is needed to combat this humanitarian problem