After a notable decline in detections during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of identified victims surged in 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels with a 25% increase compared to 2019.
This trend may reflect improvements in detection capabilities, but it also exposes the persistent vulnerabilities worldwide.
The report points out that climate crises, conflicts, and population displacement exacerbate these vulnerabilities, pushing many individuals into exploitation.
Vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls, remain prime targets, with 61% of victims in 2022 being female, primarily exploited for sexual purposes.
Alarmingly, the number of child victims has risen by a third in just three years, with girls representing 38% of this increase.
The nature of human trafficking is also becoming more global and transnational, involving a broader range of nationalities and destinations. A third of transnational trafficking flows involve African citizens, with the ongoing crises in the region exacerbating the risks.
Forced labor victims now constitute the majority globally, surpassing those trafficked for sexual exploitation, although legal responses still predominantly focus on the latter. Organized crime groups play a crucial role in trafficking, with many operating as structured networks that exploit large numbers of victims.
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