Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking Worldwide

MODERN SLAVERY ON THE RISE:
Over the last 5 years, the number of people in modern slavery rose significantly. 50 million people were living in modern slavery in 2021, compared to 2016 global estimates of 40 million. Women and children remain disproportionately vulnerable.

• 28 million people are in forced labor.
• 22 million people are trapped in forced marriage.
• Modern slavery occurs in almost every country in the world, and cuts across ethnic, cultural, and religious lines.
• More than half (52%) of all forced labor and a quarter of all forced marriages are found in upper-middle or high-income countries.

• Forced commercial sexual exploitation represents 23% of all forced labor.
• Almost 4 out of 5 of those in forced commercial sexual exploitation are women or girls.
• Almost 1 in 8 of all those in forced labor are children (3.3 million).
• More than half 52% of all forced labor and a quarter of all forced marriages are found in upper-middle or high-income countries.

• An estimated 22 million people are living in forced marriage on any given day in 2021.
• This indicates an increase of 6.6 million since the 2016 global estimates, mostly girls.
• The true incidence of forced marriage, particularly involving children aged 16 and younger, is far greater than current estimates.
• Forced marriage is closely linked to long-established patriarchal attitudes and practices.
• The overwhelming majority of forced marriages are driven by family pressure.

• Human trafficking affects every continent and every type of economy.
• 161 countries are reported to be either source, transition, or destination countries for human trafficking.
• 95% of victims experience physical or sexual violence during trafficking.

• Girls aged 12 and under are highly valued by traffickers because they're more impressionable and easier to train.
• Many of these girls lack family support and are not educated.
• Many have histories of physical and sexual abuse.
• Traffickers know that younger girls struggle less and are more open to their new family unit, especially those who come from broken families.
• For many clients around the world, virginity is highly valued and cost more.
• Victims are often forced through physical violence to engage in sex acts.
• Such force includes rape, imprisonment, starvation, torture, threats, and psychological abuse.
• Using false identification, the trafficker can make his victim older if it helps with the authorities.

"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness..."

- Eleanor Roosevelt