Why They Stopped: What Former Human Traffickers in Indonesia Taught Me About Change - Alyssa Siregar

Columbia University
2026
Human Trafficking
Indonesia
Crime Prevention
Criminal Rehabilitation
sociology
Criminology
Family Studies
Parenthood
Marriage
Moral Psychology
social change
Poverty
Exploitation
Gender Violence
human rights
Social Pressure
ethics
Organized Crime
Victimization
qualitative research
interviews
Behavioral Change
social policy
Family dynamics
empathy
trauma
social justice
cultural studies
Southeast Asia
Illegal Networks
Community Intervention
violence against women
Child Exploitation
Criminal Desistance
Poverty And Crime
Social Norms
anthropology
Development Studies
prevention strategies
gender studies
Migration
vulnerability
Social Research
Moral Transformation
public policy
rehabilitation
family support
Structural Inequality
human behavior
social responsibility

This research explores why former human traffickers in Indonesia stopped offending. Through interviews with ten ex-traffickers, the study found that marriage and parenthood often triggered moral transformation by creating empathy and shame. The findings suggest trafficking prevention should focus not only on punishment, but also on strengthening families and social bonds.

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