Trafficking in persons is a grave violation of human rights that continues to affect millions globally. The number of t
rafficking 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.
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.