Human Trafficking Cases Surge Globally by 25%

Source: UN / Image: UN NODC/Laura Gil

The 2024 Global Report on Human Trafficking reveals a 25% increase in trafficking cases between 2019 and 2022. This rise is attributed to vulnerabilities created by poverty, conflict, and climate crises, which have led to an upsurge in child exploitation and forced labor.

UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly stated, “Criminal networks are exploiting people for forced labor through trafficking. This includes coercion into online scams and cyber fraud. Women and girls remain at heightened risk of sexual exploitation and gender-based violence.”

She emphasized the need to hold top-level perpetrators accountable, enhance judicial responses, and provide support for survivors on both sides of borders.

Key Findings of the Report

• Forced Labor: The number of trafficking victims subjected to forced labor rose by 47% globally between 2019 and 2022.
• Child Victims: Cases involving children increased by 31%, with girls experiencing a 38% rise in trafficking. Boys were primarily exploited in regions where they were separated from families, with high-income countries also reporting an increase in child trafficking.
• Women and Girls: Women and girls made up 61% of all identified victims globally. Among trafficked girls, 60% were exploited for sexual purposes, while 45% of trafficked boys were forced into labor. Another 47% of boys were coerced into criminal activities or forced begging.

The report also noted a sharp rise in trafficking for online scams and other forced criminal activities. Victims in this category grew from 1% in 2016 to 8% in 2022.

Focus on Africa

The report includes a dedicated chapter on Africa, highlighting significant gaps in data collection that have led to underrepresentation in previous studies. UNODC made extensive efforts to gather data from across the continent.

Key findings for Africa include:

• High Victim Count: African nationals represented the largest group among victims trafficked to other countries. Of the 162 individuals trafficked across 128 countries in 2022, 31% were African.
• Internal Trafficking: Most trafficking within African nations occurs domestically, driven by displacement, insecurity, and climate change impacts.
• Child Trafficking: Children are trafficked more frequently than adults in Africa, especially for forced labor, sexual exploitation, and forced begging. Sub-Saharan Africa has seen a significant rise in cases, contributing to the global increase in child trafficking figures.

Call to Action

The UNODC has called for stronger measures to combat trafficking, emphasizing the need for international cooperation, enhanced judicial systems, and survivor support programs to address this growing crisis.