2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons
The UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons provides a snapshot of trafficking patterns and flows at global, regional and national levels. The 2024 report covers 156 countries and provides an overview of the response to trafficking in persons by analysing trafficking cases detected between 2019 and 2023. The report indicates that child trafficking, trafficking for forced labour and forced criminality are rising as poverty, conflict and climate chnage leave more people vulnerable to exploitation.
Key finding of the research behind the report include:
- 202,478 victims were detected between 2020 and 2023
- 39% of detected victims were women, 22% were girls, 16% were boys and 23% were men
- 42% of detected victims were trafficked for forced labour, a 42% surge in the number of detected forced labour victims
- 38% of detected victims were trafficked for sexual exploitation
- Trafficking for forced criminality, including into online scams, ranks third in the number of victims detected
In a UNODC press release UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly said:
“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. 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.”
While the UNODC Global Report provides significant data on global trafficking in persons it is important to note the statistics refer to detected victims. Human trafficking and modern slavery are under reported crime and many victims are not detected.
Access a copy of the 2024 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons Report here.
