Database on Human Trafficking Trends documents the trafficking of persons from 127 countries, with exploitation

of domestic victims has increased over the last 15 years. But victims are regularly trafficked to other countries, with

wealthy countries a common destination.

trafficking for forced labour. However, trafficking in persons for forced labour has not been traditionally viewed as a

significant issue in many countries and the identification of victims trafficked for forced labour has been less

successful than that of those that have been trafficked for sexual exploitation.

Most identified victims of human trafficking are women and children. Almost a third of trafficking victims are

children. With regard to reported cases of trafficking involving boys, the trafficking tends to be for forced labour,

while regarding cases involving girls, the purpose is most frequently for sexual exploitation. Notably, the

identification of adult male victims of trafficking is less common, despite the popular perception that it is men who

are more likely to be trafficked for forced labour.

human trafficking but it is not the only way of addressing the criminal practice.

Addressing the underlying issues that give rise to trafficking, such as poverty, gender inequality,

conflict, poor education and a lack of opportunities, is a long-term prevention strategy. Desperate

conditions produce an endless supply of potential victims.

Another way to address trafficking in persons is to identify and target the traffickers and

intermediaries who profit from this criminal practice. This enables law enforcement agencies to

investigate, prosecute and convict offenders.

cooperation of the trafficked person is irrelevant. In many human trafficking cases, there is initial

consent or cooperation between victims and traffickers, before traffickers use coercive, abusive and

exploitive behaviour to control their victims.

Note that a child under the age of 18 cannot give consent in any situation. Even if the child is not threatened,

coerced, abducted or deceived, he or she still cannot legally consent to being trafficked for the purpose of

exploitation. The same applies to the custodian of the child: they cannot give consent for the child in their

custody to be exploited.

rendered meaningless because of the abusive, coercive and deceptive means used by traffickers to

gain it. Furthermore, a child under the age of 18 cannot give consent. The same applies to a

custodial parent or guardian; they cannot give consent for the child in their custody to be exploited.

During times of conflict, there is often a weakened response to crime and lawlessness, and reduced

access to basic services. This leaves people feeling desperate. Armed groups take advantage of the

situation. Women and girls are abducted for sexual slavery or forced marriage. Young people are

trafficked for use as armed combatants or for forced labour.

education. This allows traffickers to deceive the people that they target. For example, traffickers in

persons for the removal of organs may trick their victims by claiming that kidneys grow back after

being removed or that having two kidneys is abnormal.

simultaneous forms of exploitation, such as being exploited for forced labour, forced marriage,

begging and domestic servitude, while experiencing sexual violence from their traffickers as a

method of control.

online world. The Internet allows traffickers to operate on a global basis. They use social media and