According to the latest report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the number of human trafficking victims worldwide is climbing again, reversing the brief decline seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, which spans data from 156 countries, reveals a troubling 25% surge in detected cases between 2019 and 2022. Vulnerable populations, particularly children, are bearing the brunt of this increase, as poverty, conflict, and the climate crisis exacerbate exploitation.
The report underscores the need for robust cross-border collaboration and enhanced criminal justice efforts to dismantle trafficking networks.
“Criminals are increasingly trafficking people into forced labour, including to coerce them into running sophisticated online scams and cyberfraud, while women and girls face the risk of sexual exploitation and gender-based violence.
“We need to step up criminal justice responses to hold those at the top of the criminal chain accountable, work across borders to rescue victims and ensure survivors receive the support they need.”
Ghada Waly, UNODC’s Executive Director
The study highlights an alarming 47% increase in trafficking for forced labour globally from 2019 to 2022. This surge has disproportionately affected children, with a 31% rise in child victims detected during the same period. Girls are particularly vulnerable, experiencing a 38% increase in cases.
Unaccompanied children are especially at risk, with many boys exploited in forced labour, criminality, or begging. The report notes that in high-income countries, girls are often trafficked for sexual exploitation, which remains the primary purpose for trafficking women and girls globally.
An estimated 60% of trafficked girls are exploited sexually, while nearly half of trafficked boys endure forced labour.
Trafficking for criminal activities, such as running online scams, has also surged significantly, rising from 1% of total cases in 2016 to 8% in 2022.
Focus on Africa, A Trafficking Hotspot
The report dedicates a chapter to Africa, a region often underrepresented in trafficking studies due to challenges in data collection.
UNODC collaborated extensively with regional organizations, including the African Union Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to compile comprehensive data.
Africa accounted for the highest number of trafficking destinations worldwide in 2022, with African nationals trafficked to 128 countries. Intra-continental trafficking is prevalent, driven by displacement, insecurity, and climate-related crises that heighten vulnerabilities.
Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, has seen a significant rise in child trafficking cases, contributing to the global increase in child victims.
Children in Africa are primarily trafficked for forced labour, sexual exploitation, and begging. The report warns that children are detected as trafficking victims more frequently than adults in most parts of the continent.
The UNODC’s findings signal an urgent need for international cooperation to combat human trafficking.
Strengthening justice systems, addressing root causes such as poverty and displacement, and ensuring comprehensive victim support are critical components of the global response.
Trafficking networks have adapted to exploit new vulnerabilities, particularly in the digital sphere. Combating these crimes requires innovative strategies, increased funding for prevention programs, and robust law enforcement training to identify and dismantle complex trafficking operations.
The UNODC’s report is a sobering reminder of the persistent and evolving nature of human trafficking. It calls for collective efforts to address this global crisis and protect the most vulnerable populations from exploitation.
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