HUMAN trafficking continues to expand and evolve, often hiding in plain sight. This harsh reality is laid bare in the UNODC’s (United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime’s) Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2024, published at the end of last year. Reports such as this should wake us up to the brutal realities faced by too many and lead us to ask what can be done to stop this crime.
The report says that there was a 25-per-cent increase in detected trafficking victims globally in 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Alarmingly, this includes a 31-per-cent rise in child victims. At International Justice Mission (IJM), a global NGO working to combat trafficking, we witness these harsh realities daily. These are not just statistics, but individuals: sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers who deserve to live in freedom and safety.
The report identifies how climate change, conflict, and displacement are exacerbating trafficking risks. Loss of livelihoods, safety, shelter, and financial security leave vulnerable communities exposed to exploitation. Traffickers prey on those most at risk, taking advantage of crises to further their profits.
A significant shift in trafficking patterns is also evident. For the first time, victims of forced labour now outnumber those trafficked for sexual exploitation — which remains a significant issue, particularly for women and girls, who account for 61 per cent of detected victims.
TIN TIN (not her real name) was trapped in forced labour. Hoping to pay off her mortgage in Myanmar, she travelled to Bangkok for work, only to be forced into 16-hour days in a sweet factory under horrific conditions. With little food, no proper place to sleep, and no way to escape, she lived in fear.
The authorities and the IJM helped Tin Tin and others to escape, and legal proceedings were initiated against their traffickers. Tragically, Tin Tin’s story is not unique: she is one of 49.6 million people, globally, trapped in forced labour, who desperately need justice systems to respond.
Yet the report says that criminal-justice responses to forced labour are too often weak, with few convictions. This must change. At IJM, we’ve seen trafficking and violence drop by 50 to 86 per cent in nine regions where we have partnered with local authorities to strengthen justice systems. Change is possible, but it requires action.
Another emerging threat is forced criminality, in which traffickers coerce victims, including children, into illegal activities such as drug trafficking. A newer and fast-growing form of this is forced scamming. Organised crime groups use fake job advertisements to lure young professionals and then force them to carry out online scams targeting victims worldwide (Comment, 30 June 2023). This crime generates billions annually.
Take the case of Gavesh (name changed) from South Asia. After losing his job during the pandemic, he accepted a promising job offer in Thailand. Upon arrival, he was taken to a guarded compound near the Myanmar border and forced into cryptocurrency scams. He witnessed brutal beatings when people broke the trafficker’s rules. Desperate, he negotiated his release by paying $1000 and escaped on foot. IJM helped him to recover and return home safely. Gavesh now tells his story to global media to raise awareness and push for action against this growing crime.
THE truth is that the fight against trafficking demands greater urgency. The UNODC report underscores the need for stronger anti-trafficking measures to address evolving threats such as forced scamming. Legal systems must adapt to recognise all forms of exploitation, both traditional and emerging. Collaboration between governments, civil society, and international organisations is essential, as is better support for criminal-justice practitioners.
Victim-centred approaches must be prioritised. Trauma-informed care is critical, not only for the recovery of survivors, but also for securing successful prosecutions. At IJM, we see this every day: justice delivered with dignity transforms lives. Survivors must also be included in shaping policies and programmes that affect them.
The private sector has an important part to play, too. Tech companies should step up to detect crimes facilitated through their platforms and assist in gathering digital evidence. Financial institutions need to track and disrupt the financial flows that sustain trafficking networks. These industries wield immense power to dismantle the infrastructure that enables exploitation, but they should act boldly.
We must also address how climate change and migration are increasing vulnerability to trafficking. Loss of resources, displacement, and instability create fertile ground for exploitation. Governments around the world, including the UK’s, need to take decisive action. The UK could be a leading global voice in fighting modern slavery — if it made this a priority.
Churches and Christians have a vital part to play in raising awareness, mobilising resources, and advocating for change. The biblical mandate to seek justice, defend the oppressed, and care for the vulnerable compels Christians to act. Through prayer, advocacy, and direct support for organisations such as IJM, the Church can be a powerful force against this injustice. We all have influence, big or small, and we can all choose to use it.
Human trafficking is a persistent and evolving threat, exacerbated by technology, conflict, and climate change. But, together, we can confront it.
Mary Sebastian is senior advocacy adviser at International Justice Mission.
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