The 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, covering 156 countries, offers policy recommendations to enhance victim identification and protection, marking the UNODC’s most comprehensive edition since its inception in 2009.
Child trafficking, trafficking for forced labour and forced criminality are rising as poverty, conflict and climate leave more people vulnerable to exploitation, according to the 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons published today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The Report records a 25 per cent increase in the number of trafficking victims detected globally in 2022 compared to 2019 pre-pandemic figures. Between 2019 and 2022, the global number of victims detected for trafficking for forced labour surged by 47 per cent.
The global number of detected child victims increased 31 per cent in 2022 compared to 2019, with a 38 per cent rise recorded for girls. More boy victims have been detected in areas where increasing numbers of unaccompanied and separated children had been recorded. Child trafficking is also on the rise in high-income countries, often involving girls trafficked for sexual exploitation.
“As conflicts, climate-induced disasters and global crises exacerbate vulnerabilities worldwide, we are seeing a resurgence of detected victims of human trafficking, particularly children who now account for 38 per cent of detected victims,” said UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly. “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.”
Women, Girls Most Trafficked
The report finds that women and girls continue to account for the majority of victims detected worldwide (61 per cent in 2022). The majority of girl victims (60 per cent) detected continue to be trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
Some 45 per cent of detected boys are trafficked for forced labour and another 47 per cent are exploited for other purposes, including forced criminality and begging.
Trafficking for forced criminality, including into online scams, ranks third in the number of victims detected, and has gone from accounting for one per cent of total victims detected in 2016 to 8 per cent in 2022.
Trafficking in South Asia: A Regional Crisis
Trafficking in persons, particularly for forced labour, remains a significant issue in South Asia, a region characterized by poverty, inequality, and limited economic opportunities. According to the 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), South Asia consistently reports high levels of trafficking for forced labour, surpassing sexual exploitation in prevalence. Victims often originate from impoverished communities and are trafficked within or between countries in the region, driven by economic disparities and limited safeguards.
The report highlights the region’s dominant role as both a source and destination for trafficking. Most cases involve intraregional flows, with traffickers exploiting victims’ economic vulnerabilities. While forced labour is prominent, the trafficking of children for domestic servitude and the illegal organ trade are emerging concerns. Enhanced detection and legislative measures in the region are helping to address these issues, yet enforcement gaps and corruption continue to undermine progress.
Women and children represent a significant proportion of detected victims, particularly in sectors like agriculture, construction, and domestic work. In South Asia, forced labour detections have risen due to improved legal frameworks and stronger monitoring mechanisms, the report says. However, according to the report, trafficking-related crimes often go unreported, and many victims are left without access to justice or rehabilitation services.
The UNODC emphasizes the need for regional collaboration to combat trafficking networks. Initiatives such as cross-border cooperation, community education, and support for survivors are critical to addressing the root causes and consequences of this crime. The report underscores the urgency of tackling trafficking in South Asia to protect human rights and promote sustainable development. Strengthened efforts at the national and regional levels can make a significant difference in reducing exploitation and fostering safer communities.
