Migrant Smuggling Data and Research

on aspects of migrant smuggling, including in specific (sub)regions
or in relation to particular groups of migrants or at-risk migrants
(such as unaccompanied minors), including those who have
experienced abuse and exploitation.
• Employing partnerships and multi-disciplinary research methods
to further explore the complex dynamics between irregular
migration, migrant smuggling and human trafficking – the sharp
distinction drawn in international and national laws risks masking
the blurring that occurs across all three overlapping forms of
migration.
• Encouraging greater access to data to facilitate deeper analysis of
existing statistical data and other information that may be held
by States, either through trusted partnership arrangements or
through open access.
2. Supporting capacity-building
• Much of the research undertaken and highlighted in the report was
conducted by people from outside the actual region, and there
is recognition that much more needs to be done to strengthen
research capacity and institutions within regions, such as West
Africa, Central Africa and South-East Asia. The establishment
of regional monitoring and analysis units or hubs focusing on
smuggling within the broader context of irregular migration could
play a useful part in regional capacity-building approach while
enhancing data collection efforts.
• A greater focus on smuggling from transit and origin country
perspectives, including on the role of corruption in facilitating
movement and shaping the experiences of smuggled migrants.
Assisting transit countries better manage the entry and stay of
people, including through the development of effective migration
policies and practices underpins counter migrant smuggling efforts.
• Broader and more consistent use of transnational data reporting
tools such as UNODC’s VRS-MSRC and IOM’s Displacement
Tracking Matrix (DTM). By gathering data through large-scale
rapid surveys of migrants on the move, the DTM has been able
to gather a considerable amount of information about migrant
smuggling in real time. However, this information sometimes has
to be interpreted with care, as it is often very difficult to draw a
representative sample of irregular migrants. Further enhancement
of DTM offers the potential for a unique data set to be built over
Migrant Smuggling Data and Research:
A global review of the emerging evidence base
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