Has anything changed in the data collection process over the years that could affect the changes you observed in the report?
There are a number of factors that might have affected the changes visible in this report. For instance, it is apparent that unlike before, immigrants can exist in two forms. One involves the short term migrant who is a person that moves into a region for a duration of three months to one year (United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, 2016). The other classification comprises of the long term migrants who stay within a location for a period of more than one year (United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, 2016). In addition to this, the methods of data collection being utilized currently vary from those which were previously used and thus this is a contributing factor that could affect changes detected in the report. It is also apparent that the current application of administrative crime statistics could limit research as a result of the idea that not all of the crimes committed are identifiable (United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, 2016). Based on the report, it is also evident that comprehensive data for a majority of countries in Western and Central Europe is now available (United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, 2016). In other nations, such as Brazil, the enactment of Brazilian legislation in 2016 had a great impact on the alteration of data collection practices being used (United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, 2016). Other elements such as the inclusion of domestic trafficking as a form of crime involving trafficking of individuals also contributed to the changes detected (United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, 2016). Besides, the substantial increase in the incidences of trafficking has made it necessary to devise new and better means of data collection in order for each detail to be captured and recorded.
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Are these changes “real” or are they affected by new/altered data collection strategies, changes in policing, shifts in policy priorities, and emergence of new definitions, availability (or cuts) in funding, and so on?
Mainly these changes are affected by newly acquired methods of data collection. As formerly mentioned, the idea of considering crimes that have being committed yet some have not actually been observed is one of the reasons why the data obtained could be inconsistent with the one collected in the past. Moreover, the emergence of new transnational groups of individuals recruiting people from across the world has also contributed to this effect (United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, 2016). Also, the lack of a clear definition distinguishing migrants from traffickers has resulted in confusion. Inconsistencies in funding in the past could also have affected the nature in which data was collected. Further still, the legal definitions on trafficking of individuals have further been simplified in order to offer a clearer understanding, and this may have impacted on the changes encountered (United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, 2016). Currently, most of the research on subjects such as trafficking receives adequate funding, and as a result, it is easier for researchers to come up with more viable data results that differ from those formerly obtained.
Reference
United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (2016). Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. Vienna.
