A comprehensive report conducted jointly by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University (FXB) has shed light on the alarming prevalence of child trafficking within national borders. The findings reveal that over 50% of child trafficking victims fall victim to exploitation within their own countries.
The study also uncovered a distressing trend in international trafficking, with children being predominantly trafficked to neighboring countries with greater economic prosperity. Among the child victims of trafficking, nearly half were subjected to forced labor, primarily affecting boys. These children were found to be employed in various sectors, including domestic work, begging, and agriculture. Additionally, the report highlighted the prominent issue of sexual exploitation, with approximately 20% of trafficked children, predominantly girls, being subjected to prostitution, pornography, and sexual servitude.
Entitled ‘From Evidence to Action: Twenty Years of IOM Child Trafficking Data to Inform Policy and Programming,’ the report revealed that child victims trafficked for sexual exploitation were often transported across international borders, while those trafficked for forced labor were more likely to be exploited within their home countries. Disturbingly, more than half of the child victims had family and friends involved in their recruitment, emphasizing the significant role played by trusted individuals in facilitating trafficking.
Irina Todorova, Head of the IOM’s Core Protection Unit, emphasized the multifaceted and evolving nature of child trafficking, stating, “The report shows that child trafficking is a truly global phenomenon, spreading and evolving across borders without regard to age, gender, or nationality.”
Further analysis of the report revealed that boys faced a higher risk of being trafficked compared to girls, with a significantly lower likelihood of being trafficked internationally. Victims with limited or no education were found to be over 20 times more susceptible to trafficking compared to those who had completed high school. Moreover, children from low-income countries were five times more likely to be trafficked as minors compared to victims from high-income countries.
The report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for robust policies and targeted interventions to combat child trafficking, protect vulnerable children, and dismantle the networks that perpetuate this global menace.
