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Ten Facts About Human Trafficking

indian boy and girl outside tent

Human trafficking is notorious for shocking statistics with dubious origins. For a crime of such magnitude, there are severe limitations in data gathering methods.

It is extremely difficult to conduct accurate surveys on human trafficking as it is one of the most underreported crimes. Accuracy of surveys is weakened further by not knowing if participants are giving an answer to protect their social standing—or in some cases, giving an answer they hope may result in monetary aid. Additionally, governments vary in their willingness to acknowledge or take action against trafficking in their country.

Despite these challenges, there have been several valuable reports published in recent years that help us gain a better picture of the slavery industry. Using data from the GSI and UNODC in combination with LJI data recorded from intercepts, this article sets out to answer some of the most common questions related to human trafficking.

We strive for integrity and truth at LJI and want to answer questions with the best data available and transparency about sourcing. In recognition of the limitations mentioned above, you will find a confidence score listed for each fact below.

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Fact #1: There are an estimated 40 million people trapped in slavery around the world. 

With this in mind, here are 10 facts about human trafficking according to our best current knowledge.

This is arguably the most important number relating to human trafficking, and the one most often cited. The number is broken down into a couple categories: 24.9 million in forced labor and 15.4 million in forced marriage. Of the 24.9 million, 4.8 million are in and the rest are in labor trafficking—although, because forced marriages can be so closely linked with sex trafficking, the lines between categories are not so clearly defined.

Rather than providing an accurate number amount, these numbers are most useful simply to confirm that our most reliable report the scale of modern slavery to be massive.

Curious about where these numbers come from? Here's a simplified breakdown:

Walk collaborated with the ILO and IOM to conduct surveys and interviews with over 71,000 respondents across 48 countries. The numbers gathered from these surveys were then used in conjunction with IOM datasets containing information on 30,000 trafficking victims previously assisted. Full information on the methodology is available on the GSI website.

Confidence score: 6

Fact #2: The UNODC defines human trafficking as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit.” 

This definition from the has played a huge part in shaping laws against trafficking around the world.

For our purposes at LJI, we simplify this to “moving someone into slavery.”

Confidence score: 10

Fact #3: Roughly two-thirds of trafficking victims are female. 

GSI data reports 71% of trafficking victims as female, UNODC reports 65%, and LJI data shows 63%.

Interestingly, this data has changed over the years. In 2004, UNODC reported more than 80% of trafficking victims as female, but the percentages have steadily dropped since then to make way for a growing percentage of male victims. LJI data shows this trend as well.

Confidence score: 9

Fact #4: Minors make up about a third of trafficking victims. 

This number comes from the UNODC, with 19% girls and 15% boys.

However, LJI's data shows 53% minors and 46% adults. This discrepancy could be due to children being easier for monitors to spot.

Confidence score: 7

Fact #5: The demographics of trafficking change by region. 

According to the UNODC, lower income countries report more victims while higher income countries report more adult trafficking victims.

Additionally, lower income countries report more cases of labor trafficking, while higher income countries report more cases of sex trafficking.

Confidence score: 9

Fact #6: Traffickers prey on vulnerabilities. 

People without a lot of resources or strong communities, children from large families or single-parent families, migrants unfamiliar with the area or the language, minority groups, people in a country experiencing war or political upheaval (such as Ukraine currently)—these are profiles that traffickers target. Unmet needs can make anyone vulnerable to trafficking.

Read more about this in any of the reports cited in this article.

Confidence score: 10

Fact #7: The most common tactic traffickers use to recruit potential victims is not violence, but deception.

Using data collected from 207 court case summaries involving trafficking, the UNODC found that 45% of adult victims reported being trafficked by means of deception.

The second most common tactic was an abuse of vulnerabilities at 29%, and the third was a combination of the two at 20%. This makes a total of 94% recruited by means of deception and abuse of vulnerability.

Only 4% reported being recruited by explicit violence.

LJI data supports this, showing the most common methods of recruitment to be through friends, family, and job promises.

Confidence score: 8

Fact #8: Most traffickers are never convicted for their crimes.

According to a 2021 report from the U.S. Department of State, the number of people officially identified as victims of human trafficking globally in 2020 was 109,216, while the number of people convicted of trafficking (also globally in 2020) was 5,271.

From LJI data over the past five years, only 12.7% of potential victims chose to file a case with law enforcement. The top reasons for not filing were disbelief, unwilling family, trafficker who ran away, and fear for safety or reputation.

Since our beginning, LJI's work has resulted in the arrests of more than 1,100 suspects.

Confidence score: 8

Fact #9: Roughly 30% of traffickers are female. 

The UNODC reports 38% of those convicted of human trafficking globally are female. LJI data shows 22%.

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Although these numbers fluctuate considerably by region, the idea that all traffickers are male is a misconception. Female traffickers can be particularly adept at gaining a potential victim's trust in the recruitment stage of trafficking.

Confidence score: 6

Fact #10: Laws against trafficking have increased.

chart_2In 2003, 65% of countries had no laws against trafficking—in 2020, only 2% of countries had no laws against it. This data comes from the UNODC reports from 2009 and 2020

Also important to note: A lot of articles claim that human trafficking is getting worse—this is not necessarily true. While the number of reported trafficking victims has gone up, this may be due to the improvement in laws and .

Confidence score: 10

In Summary

As mentioned before, the hidden nature of human trafficking crimes makes it difficult to gather accurate data. But another reason for unreliable data is more complex.

“When it comes to statistics, trafficking of girls and women is one of several highly emotive issues which seem to overwhelm critical faculties. Numbers take on a life of their own, gaining acceptance through repetition, often with little inquiry into their derivations. Journalists, bowing to the pressures of editors, demand numbers, any number. Organizations feel compelled to supply them, lending false precisions and spurious authority to many reports.”

At the same time, we are proud of the massive improvements made in human trafficking data collection and the contribution LJI has been able to make. Because of the organizations and reports cited in this article, there is far more information available about modern slavery than there was as little as five years ago.

This is a reason to celebrate! Knowledge is our best weapon. The more data that we can gather on human trafficking, the more strategic we can be about fighting it. Learn more about the impact we are making here.

*All data and statistics current at the date and time of publishing. Names changed and some specific locations excluded for privacy and security purposes.

This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original online location.

Fair Use Notice: The Knowledge Vault is dedicated to advancing understanding of various social justice issues, including human trafficking and related topics. Some of the material presented on this website may contain copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to promote education and awareness of these important issues. There is no other central database we are aware of, so we put this together for both historical and research purposes. Articles are categorized and tagged for ease of use. We believe that this constitutes a ‘fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information on fair use, please visit: “17 U.S. Code § 107 – Limitations on exclusive rights” on Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute.

Human Trafficking Essentials Online Certificate Course
Human Trafficking Essentials Online Certificate Course

ABOUT PBJ LEARNING

PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on awareness and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.

More stories like this can be found in your PBJ Learning Knowledge Vault.

 

EYES ON TRAFFICKING

This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original online location.

Fair Use Notice: The PBJ Learning Knowledge Vault is dedicated to advancing understanding of various social justice issues, including human trafficking and related topics. Some of the material presented on this website may contain copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to promote education and awareness of these important issues. There is no other central database we are aware of, so we put this together for both historical and research purposes. Articles are categorized and tagged for ease of use. We believe that this constitutes a ‘fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information on fair use, please visit: “17 U.S. Code § 107 – Limitations on exclusive rights” on Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute.

ABOUT PBJ LEARNING

PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on awareness and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials online course is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.

More stories like this can be found in your PBJ Learning Knowledge Vault.