Shimazaki presents a thorough overview of [human trafficking] in Cambodia and details the personal stories of several victims. Employing the Cambodian example to demonstrate the patterns of trafficking worldwide, she concludes with a plea for understanding the horror and futility of the malicious downward spiral of poverty and violence at the root of trafficking. Though some minor improvements have occurred with the erratic help of NGOs and spotty government programs, the problem remains overwhelming. Shimazaki's hope is that promoting self-awareness and unity among the victims can help them achieve some sustainable independence, but the outlook remains bleak. Recommended.
— Choice Reviews
This moving book takes the reader deep into the Cambodian countryside to help us understand the forces and mechanisms that propel some of the world’s most vulnerable people into modern forms of slavery. Deeply rooted in an analysis of the Cambodian social structure and the transnational economic forces that dispossess peasants and dislodge them from their communities, Yuko Shimazaki’s important work combines social and economic analysis with a detailed presentation of the almost unbearable stories of the victims. Shimazaki shows that it is especially women who suffer from the often lethal combination of age-old patriarchy with a dynamic capitalism. If you want to understand the ‘third slavery,’ read this book.
— Sven Beckert, Harvard University
Dr. Yuko Shimazaki has spent many years researching the issue of human trafficking in Cambodia, and this book, Human Trafficking and the Feminization of Poverty, ties together in a compelling way the relationship between poverty and trafficking as discovered in her research. Shimazaki’s serious and sincere research work reflects her ability to create a strong and warm network with local people. Readers will find this book to be an opportunity to understand the importance of safety in daily life, as created by peace in society.
— Mitsuru Yamada, Waseda University
Human trafficking is a well-recognized serious global issue. However, it is hard to know what actually happened to the victimized persons and it is even harder to understand this issue in theoretical contexts. If you want to know the reality of human trafficking and to think about it more deeply, this book is a definitive resource.
— Kazuo Kuroda, Waseda University
Trafficking in persons (TIP) is characterized as modern slavery. To combat TIP, many states signed and ratified the Palermo Protocol (2000), and adopted the UN Global Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons (2010). The current legislation in Cambodia covers all forms of trafficking indicated in the Palermo Protocol. Nevertheless, in Cambodia, many TIP victims repatriated from Thailand, Malaysia, and China are reported. Indeed, TIP victims become visible only when they are rescued either in transit or destination countries. Dr. Yuko Shimazaki, however, keeps visiting source locations in rural Cambodia and analyzes the ‘push’ effects, giving new insights into poverty.
— Yasushi Katsuma, Waseda University