The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported on Wednesday that human trafficking increased globally by 25% in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels.
In its “2024 Global Human Trafficking” report, the UNODC noted a significant rise in trafficking for forced labour and criminal exploitation, driven by factors such as poverty, conflict, and climate change.
The report revealed that between 2019 and 2022, the proportion of individuals trafficked for forced labour surged by 47%. Child victims also increased by 31% during this period, with girls accounting for 38% of the total. In developed nations, trafficked children are predominantly exploited.
In 2022 alone, 74,785 individuals were victims of human trafficking, with women and girls making up 61% of the total. Among trafficked boys, 45% were forced into labour, while 47% were coerced into activities like begging and other crimes.
The report also highlighted Africa as having the highest concentration of trafficking victims. Covering 156 countries, the report has been published every two years since 2009.
