UN: global human trafficking has increased by 25%

In its report on human trafficking, published on Wednesday, December 11, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime noted that the escalation of conflicts, international crises, and climate-related natural disasters has led to a significant rise in crime.

The aforementioned report states that there were roughly 25% more victims of human trafficking in 2022 (the most recent year for which data is available) than in 2019.

The report claims that while women and girls are at risk of sexual exploitation and violence, criminals are increasingly trafficking people for forced labor and to coerce them into engaging in sophisticated online and cyber fraud. Children comprise 38% of the identified victims, up from 35% in 2020, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime report.

According to the most recent UN report, adult women account for 39% of all victims, followed by men (23%), girls (22%), and boys (16%).

The total number of victims of human trafficking in 2022 was over 69,600; however, sexual exploitation accounted for 60% or more of trafficking in women and girls, followed by forced labor for men.

According to the report, the rise in the number of unaccompanied minors entering North America and Europe may be related to the growing number of boys who have been identified as trafficking victims.

 Despite the abundance of trafficking routes, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest percentage of human trafficking victims (26%). The report states that North America, Western and Southern Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa have seen the biggest increases in cases, with migration playing a major role in the latter two.