The 2024 Global Report on Human Trafficking states that a 25 percent increase is recorded between 2022 and 2019. The main reason for this is the growing vulnerability to poverty, conflict and climate crisis, which leads to an increase in child exploitation and forced labour.
UNODC Executive Director Ghada Wali said, “Criminals turn to human trafficking to force people into forced labour. This includes forcing them to commit crimes such as online scams and cyber fraud. They are at risk of exploitation and gender-based violence.”
“The judicial response to crime must be stepped up to hold those at the top of the criminal chain accountable,” he said, “and steps must be taken on both sides of the border to protect victims, and ensure that survivors receive appropriate help and support.”
Unaccompanied children are at risk
According to the report, the number of victims of human trafficking for forced labor worldwide is expected to increase by 47 percent between 2019 and 2022. The number of child victims increased by 31 percent in 2022 compared to 2019, while girls recorded a 38 percent increase.
According to the report, in areas where children were alone or separated from their families, the number of victims was higher among boys. Child trafficking has also increased in high-income countries.
Among them, the cases of trafficking of girls for sexual exploitation have occurred more.
Most of the victims are women
The study also revealed that the majority of victims identified globally, i.e. 61 percent, are women and girls. Most of these girls (ie 60 percent) are trafficked for sexual exploitation. As for boys, about 45 percent of them are trafficked for forced labor. Additionally, another 47 percent are exploited, forced into criminal activities or beggars.
Meanwhile, the number of victims of trafficking involved in forced criminal activities, including online scams, ranks third. This has increased from one percent of the catch in 2016 to eight percent in 2022.
Special focus on Africa
The report includes a special chapter on Africa. UNODC says the region is often neglected in human trafficking studies due to difficulties in obtaining data.
The organization has made strong efforts to collect data from all regions of the continent. For this, assistance was sought from UNODC and the United Nations Organization for Migration (IOM), African Union Statistical Institute (STATAFRIC), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and regional offices of various national organizations. Authority
The report also states that the highest number of victims are African people who reach other countries through trafficking. In 2022, 162 people of different nationalities were trafficked to 128 countries.
31 percent of those taken across the border are citizens of African countries.
In African countries facing displacement, insecurity and climate change, the majority of victims are trafficked internally within the continent. UNODC warns that children are more likely to be trafficked than adults in much of Africa, particularly for forced labour, sexual exploitation and begging.
The agency said human trafficking has increased dramatically in sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to the rise in child trafficking statistics worldwide.