An inquiry into the experiences of female victims of human trafficking in Ethiopia

The purpose of this study is to tell the story of female victims of human trafficking from Ethiopia. It relates to the cause of trafficking and how it affects their social and emotional wellbeing. The study is conducted in light of constructivist framework and involves in-depth interviews with five returnees whose experiences as victims are explored. This is done to get insight into the challenges faced by the wider population. Themes evident in the stories are discussed in line with relevant literature. The study shows lack of job opportunities, limited income and false promises made by brokers as the major factors drawing women into human trafficking. The findings also show that even after return, the victims experience further difficulties due to post-traumatic psychological factors.  Looking at the significance of the research outcome, the gleaned information could be of value for organizations working on migration, Rehabilitating trafficking survivors and countering human trafficking.

Keywords: Female, Human trafficking, Migration, Migrant workers, Psychosocial and victims of trafficking.

Prof. Assefach Haileselassie Redda

Asefach Haileselassie is a Psychologist, Certified Management Consultant and an expert on Migration & Human Trafficking & psychosocial support. She focuses on Psycho-educating her society through various media outlets, Training, Counseling and writing books and articles. She is the Author of two books in Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia and the books focused on parenting and family life. She is currently working on preparing her two books in English language to address African and the global audience at large. Asefach has served as a President and Vice President of the Ethiopian Psychology Association (EPA) in different times and she is the founding member of the Executive Board of the Pan African Psychology Union (PAPU). Asefach is married and a mother of 3, one daughter and two sons and one granddaughter.

Transformative Change through Clinical Supervision with Cultural Humility

Mental health needs in South Africa are significant.  An estimated one out of  every eight people currently have a diagnosable mental health condition (Sorsdahl et al., 2023); one in six adults met diagnostic criteria for depression, anxiety, or substance use in a 12-month period (Herman et al., 2009; Sorsdahl et al., 2023).  In addition, there is a significant and severe shortage of providers:  .97 public sector psychologists and .31 public sector psychiatrists per 100,000 uninsured in the population who include a historically marginalized, culturally, racially and linguistically diverse client population.  As Pillay and Nyandini (2020) concluded in their follow-up to a study by Pillay and Siyothula (2008), no increase in admissions of black students had occurred even though the Health Professions Council of South Africa had set a target for increasing training numbers of black African students two decades prior.

In their study of South African clinical and counseling supervisors’ perceptions, Hendricks, Cartwright, and Cowden (2021) concluded that currently, individuals begin supervising prematurely, without formal training or readiness.  This impacts quality of care, attitudes towards psychological intervention.

Addressing this crisis, clinical supervision through a frame of cultural humility has potential to be an agent of change.  In South Africa, data on admissions and completion of graduate training indicate critical need for attention to multicultural diversity recruitment, familiarity and comfort with cultural diversity in mental health, and availability of services, distinct needs of the client population, and demographics generally.  Introducing the study of psychology early in elementary school curriculum is a good entry point.

Mental health needs in South Africa are significant. An estimated one out of every eight people currently have a diagnosable mental health condition (Sorsdahl et al., 2023); one in six adults met diagnostic criteria for depression, anxiety, or substance use disorders in a 12-month period (Herman et al., 2009; Sorsdahl et al., 2023). However, there is a severe shortage of mental health providers: only 0.97 public sector psychologists and 0.31 public sector psychiatrists per 100,000 uninsured individuals in the population, which includes a historically marginalized, culturally, racially, and linguistically diverse client population (Pillay & Nyandini, 2020). Despite the Health Professions Council of South Africa setting a target to increase the training of Black African students two decades prior, Pillay and Siyothula (2008) found no increase in admissions of Black students.

Hendricks, Cartwright, and Cowden (2021) concluded that in South Africa, clinical and counseling supervisors often begin supervising prematurely, without formal training or readiness, impacting the quality of care and attitudes toward psychological intervention. Addressing this crisis, clinical supervision through a frame of cultural humility has the potential to be an agent of change. Data on admissions and completion of graduate training in South Africa indicate a critical need for attention to multicultural diversity recruitment, familiarity and comfort with mental health, availability of services distinct to the client population’s needs, and demographics generally, including introducing the study of psychology early in the elementary school curriculum.

Strategies to address interest in psychology training through use of a competency-based supervision model in the frame of cultural humility are presented to enhance accessibility, value attached, and perceived relevance of mental health treatment and career development.

Carol Falender, Ph.D. is co-author/editor of seven books on clinical supervision and consultation, has presented workshops on clinical supervision, the competency-based model, multicultural supervision, and ethics and regulatory issues in supervision in the U.S., Canada, and internationally. She received the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy Distinguished Award for International Advancement of Psychotherapy in 2023.

Changing mindsets: Psychological assessment futures in South Africa

Psychological assessment has been integral to psychology but its applicability has often been debated, especially when assessments developed in the Global North are used globally. The universalist assumptions of these assessments have been challenged, recognizing the impact of cultural differences influenced by individual, community, and broader social and political conditions on assessment. In South Africa, the history of psychological assessment reflects not only Western influence but also complicity in apartheid. Despite the significant changes that occurred in the 1990s in assessment, issues of access and distribution persist. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a swift transition to online assessments, which increased access but also highlighted and perpetuated existing inequalities. After three decades of democracy, it is crucial to reconsider the role of assessment in South Africa. This paper draws on peer-reviewed research and personal experiences to provide a historical overview of both global and local assessment practices, focusing on South Africa’s unique journey. It discusses current challenges and progress in psychological assessment, emphasizing the need for inclusion, indigenization, and innovation. The paper advocates for an agenda that prioritizes accessibility, relevance, and responsiveness to societal needs in South African psychological assessment, aiming to create a more equitable and effective system.

Prof. Sumaya Laher

Prof. Sumaya Laher is a psychologist specializing in psychometrics, cultural psychology, and mental health. Based at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa,  Prof. Laher’s research focuses on the intersection of culture and psychological assessment, advocating for culturally relevant psychometric practices. She is the Editor of the African Journal of Psychological Assessment and Past President of the Psychological Society of South Africa.