Understanding human trafficking
Trafficking in persons is a grave violation of human rights that continues to affect millions globally. The number of trafficking victims has seen a troubling rise since the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 25 per cent increase in global detections between 2019 and 2022, according to the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2024. This uptick in cases reflects the increasing visibility of trafficking victims across various regions particularly among the vulnerable population–including women, children, and migrants–who are disproportionately targeted, often falling victim to sophisticated organized criminal networks.
Among the rising concerns is the growing number of child trafficking victims with a significant increase in the proportion of girls affected–rising from 31 per cent to 38 per cent. This surge is particularly evident in the Americas as well as in other regions including Europe. Girls are predominantly targeted for sexual exploitation, while boys are more often exploited for forced labour and other forms of exploitation such as forced criminality and begging.
Moreover, global trafficking patterns have become increasingly transnational, with African victims representing a significant portion of international trafficking flows, especially to Europe and the Middle East. Factors such as armed conflict, displacement, and climate change have exacerbated vulnerabilities, particularly in Africa, where trafficking for both labour and sexual exploitation remains a significant issue.
Shifting nature in trafficking
A critical issue highlighted in the recent report is the shift in the nature of trafficking. Between 2019 and 2022, trafficking for forced labour surged by 47 per cent, surpassing trafficking for sexual exploitation as the leading form of trafficking. Despite this shift, the criminal justice response remains slow, with convictions for forced labour still lagging behind those for sexual exploitation. Women and girls continue to make up the majority of trafficking victims at 61 per cent. While women are trafficked predominantly for sexual exploitation, many are also exploited for forced labour, especially in domestic work.
What does trafficking in persons mean?
Human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of individuals. This is achieved through exploitative means such as force, coercion, fraud, or deception. Common forms of exploitation include forced labour, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, forced begging, organ removal, and other mixed and emerging threats.
Trafficking takes many forms, often overlapping. In 2022, 8 per cent of victims of trafficking in North America faced both sexual and labour exploitation. Southeast Asia has seen a rise in trafficking for online scams, targeting youth and adults through deception. These trends highlight traffickers’ adaptability and the need for robust prevention and enforcement both offline and online.
What are some of the common forms of trafficking in persons?
Forced Labour
Forced labour is the most common form of human trafficking, accounting for 42 per cent of victims globally in 2022. This type of trafficking often targets individuals for exploitation in industries such as construction, agriculture, domestic servitude, mining, and fishing. Men make up nearly 70 per cent of forced labour victims, while women and girls also face exploitation, particularly in domestic work. Regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East reported a significant prevalence of forced labour, reflecting vulnerabilities in low-income and conflict-affected areas. Despite its scale, forced labour accounts for only 17 per cent of trafficking convictions globally, stressing challenges in addressing these crimes within legal systems across regions.
Sexual Exploitation
Sexual exploitation remains a major form of trafficking, involving 36 per cent of victims in 2022. Women and girls dominate this category, representing over 90 per cent of victims, with girls accounting for 28 per cent. This exploitation often occurs in tourist hubs such as hotels and resorts as well as in massage parlours, nightclubs, and increasingly through online platforms. Countries in North America, Central America, and Europe report high numbers of girls trafficked for sexual purposes, with a sharp rise in cases since 2019. Court cases frequently document victims being forced into prostitution or used to produce sexual abuse material. Traffickers, often preying on vulnerability, deceive individuals with false promises of well-paying jobs, only to coerce them into performing sexual acts, underscoring the severe risks and exploitation inherent in trafficking for sexual purposes.
Forced Criminality
Trafficking for forced criminality is an emerging concern, with victims coerced into illegal activities like drug trafficking, theft, fraud, and online scams. This form of trafficking primarily affects boys and men, with about 22 per cent of the total victims identified in just Western and Southern Europe. According to the report, unaccompanied children are often exploited by organized crime groups to distribute drugs or carry out petty crimes in Western Europe. Meanwhile, Southeast Asia reports a rise in trafficking for cyber fraud, where victims are lured under false pretences and forced to engage in online scams. This area of trafficking underscores the growing role of digital technology in criminal operations.
Forced Marriage
Forced marriage, while less frequently detected, remains a serious form of exploitation, particularly affecting women and girls. Cases are most prevalent in South Asia (about 200 victims) and parts of Africa, where cultural and socio-economic pressures contribute to trafficking for this purpose. Victims of forced marriage often faced overlapping forms of exploitation, including domestic servitude and sexual abuse.
Forced Begging
Forced begging involves traffickers exploiting vulnerable individuals, primarily children, to solicit money in public spaces. In 2022, North Africa and the Middle East recorded the highest prevalence, with children making up for all the detected cases of forced begging in North Africa. Girls and boys are trafficked equally for this purpose, often coerced through threats or violence including by their teachers. Despite its visibility, forced begging remains underreported in many regions due to its informal nature and lack of systematic enforcement.
Organ Removal
Trafficking for organ removal is one of the rarest but most harrowing forms of exploitation, with at least 175 cases reported globally by some 25 countries between 2017 and 2023. Most victims are adults, with men comprising 63 per cent of those trafficked for this purpose. North Africa and the Middle East reported the highest numbers, followed by Europe and Central Asia as well as East Asia and South Asia. Traffickers exploit individuals in desperate economic or humanitarian situations, targeting them with promises of payment in exchange for their organs. This form of trafficking often involves complex, transnational criminal networks, complicating prosecution efforts.
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons
The adoption of the by the UN General Assembly in 2000 marked a pivotal moment in the global fight against human trafficking. Recognizing the need for a universal framework, the Protocol, which is part of the , established a comprehensive international approach encompassing prevention, prosecution, and victim protection.
Despite the existence of a comprehensive international legal framework, millions of people continue to be trafficked each year, in all regions and in most countries of the world. With trafficking patterns becoming increasingly sophisticated, targeted solutions are critical to combat the rising prevalence of forced labour, sexual exploitation, and emerging forms of trafficking, including forced criminality and online scams. The report highlights the need for multi-layered approaches that address both the immediate vulnerabilities of victims and the systemic drivers of exploitation, such as poverty, displacement, and gender inequality.
Further, it emphasizes the urgency of harmonizing data collection and analysis across countries, enhancing international cooperation, and investing in proactive law enforcement strategies that prioritize victim protection. Integrating anti-trafficking measures into broader social, economic, and environmental policies is equally critical, particularly as climate change and conflict exacerbate vulnerabilities in affected regions.
Civil society organizations, the private sector, and communities have a pivotal role in this fight. From raising awareness and providing direct support services to advocating for policy reforms and engaging with survivors. Their efforts, coupled with strengthened public-private partnerships, can amplify prevention initiatives, enhance digital safety measures, and disrupt the infrastructure traffickers rely on. As trafficking adapts to the complexities of modern global challenges, the collective resolve of the international community must remain steadfast in safeguarding human dignity and promoting equitable solutions for all affected individuals.
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