An extensive literature review of articles from 2001-2011 on the topic of social determinants mitigating or facilitating trafficking of women and children in Southeast Asia and the recommendations for combating trafficking via these social determinants. Key social determinants that facilitate trafficking include poverty, female gender, lack of policy and policy enforcement, age, migration, displacement and conflict, ethnicity, culture, ignorance of trafficking methods and class status. Protective determinants that mitigate trafficking include formal education, citizenship, maternal education, higher class status and birth order. Recommendations relating to these determinants are identified and discussed in detail, particularly the facilitation of education and empowerment, along with creation and enforcement of effective policies, which could lessen the vulnerability of women and children to modern-day slavery.