27 November 2024
The first-ever International Forum of Prosecutors, funded by the European Union (EU), will take place in Vienna, Austria, from 4 to 6 December... read more
7 November 2024
INTERPOL today announced the results of Operation Liberterra II in Glasgow, its largest ever operation against human trafficking and migrant smuggling, supported by UNODC... read more
26 September 2024
When Amadou* left the Libyan coast in a tiny rubber boat with around a hundred migrants, he was exhausted. He had already endured kidnapping, forced labour, food deprivation... read more
24 September 2024
Here are seven key questions and answers that help us better understand these crimes and their specificities in Latin America and the Caribbean... read more
20 August 2024
Human trafficking is an ongoing challenge in Brazil, with forced labour being the most prevalent form. The victims are mainly young men, aged 18 to 29... read more
30 July 2024
Abandoned by her family, forced to sleep with men, and living inside a box – and all by the time Agnija* was only 11 years old... read more
30 July 2024
Research conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has consistently shown that children account for a significant number of detected trafficking victims... read more
30 July 2024
Every year, millions of children around the globe fall prey to human trafficking... read more
10 July 2024
Migrant smuggling is inherently a transnational crime because it involves the movement of people and profits across borders... read more
9 July 2024
During their journey, smuggled migrants may suffer various forms of violence and threats to their health and lives, from beatings and rape at the hands of smugglers and other criminals to disease and unsafe environments... read more
8 July 2024
The working groups bring together countries who have signed up to the leading key global treaties on human trafficking and migrant smuggling... read more
4 July 2024
Child trafficking involves the use of children for the purpose of exploitation in various ways. It is a serious crime and a severe violation of human rights... read more
21 June 2024
Human trafficking for organ removal is surrounded by myths and misconceptions. In movies, it's often portrayed as a person waking up in a bathtub filled with ice, missing a kidney... read more
19 June 2024
Conflict-related sexual violence has long-lasting harmful effects on victims and is used as a tactic of war, torture, and terrorism... read more
29 May 2024
Here are eight key facts about human trafficking in the 21st century that help to better understand why this crime occurs, how victims are recruited and exploited, and the links between human trafficking and migration, climate change or conflict... read more
16 May 2024
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union (EU) have been working together to combat migrant smuggling for 15 years. During this time, they have implemented numerous initiatives that aim to address some of the most pressing challenges associated with this crime... read more
15 May 2024
The Tapajós River runs 840 kilometers through the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, cutting through indigenous territories, national parks, poverty-stricken towns and many of Brazil's small-scale gold mining sites – or garimpos as they are called in Portuguese... read more
8 May 2024
Human trafficking and migrant smuggling are global crimes that have evolved into multi-billion-dollar industries. As crises continue to unfold, more and more people are forced to leave their homes in search of safety or a better future, making them vulnerable to these crimes... read more
22 April 2024
Human trafficking and migrant smuggling are multi-billion-dollar businesses that have changed dramatically in recent years, driven by global challenges such as war, large migration and refugee flows, cybercrime, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic... read more
22 April 2024
From the tropical seaside towns of the Dominican Republic to the busy streets of Brazil, Latin America and the Caribbean have recently witnessed disturbing trends in human trafficking... read more
27 March 2024
"If nobody ever talks about it, then you never even know it exists.” Margarita Cruz, an indigenous activist from Mexico, says that human trafficking is largely unheard of in indigenous communities... read more
26 March 2024
“These are unprecedented numbers, never seen before in the jungle.” Reinel Serrano, National Border Service officer of Panama, was referring to the more than 500,000 migrants who attempted to cross the Darien Gap... read more
8 March 2024
“Some time ago, I was assisting a victim of human trafficking, who was a child,” said a female investigator from Pakistan, who frequently works on human trafficking and migrant smuggling cases... read more
8 March 2024
On a still afternoon in January 2007, a group of small children, barely nine years old, were playing in the ordinariness of their neighbourhood streets, their laughter echoing under the tropical sun... read more
1 February 2024
A mock trial is an exercise in which participants recreate a real trial by taking on the roles of victims, prosecutors, defense lawyers, witnesses or police officers.... read more
25 January 2024
In the Kédougou region of south-east Senegal, deep black holes dot the otherwise golden and green savannas. The area, on the border with Mali, is home to 98 per cent of the country's gold mines... read more
16 January 2024
People who have been exploited for profit by criminal networks and migrants who are abused by smugglers or other criminals are not getting the justice to which they are entitled... read more
16 January 2024
“The knowledge gained from our workshops doesn’t stay in the meeting room,” says Stojne Atanasovska Dimishkovska, as she wraps up a regional meeting on child exploitation in South Eastern Europe and prepares for the mock trial of a trafficking case... read more
10 January 2024
A married couple forces four children to beg from morning until night in cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina for over a year... read more
28 December 2023
18 December 2023
“If hell exists, it is this jungle.” Aura, a Colombian grandmother, has just crossed one of the most dangerous routes in the Americas: the Darien Gap. The Gap is a dense tropical forest covering over 575,000 hectares across Panama and Colombia... read more
14 December 2023
The criminal networks that smuggle migrants on the long and dangerous routes from South Asia to North America have become more ruthless, professional and richer... read more
Child trafficking is one of the worst forms of violence against children and urgent, global action is needed to end it... read more
A group of people gather at a healthcare clinic in southern Afghanistan. Although the medical needs in the region are extensive, these men and women are not there for treatment. Rather, they are there to learn how to prevent and detect human trafficking... read more
ICAT provides a platform for the exchange of information and best practices on various anti-trafficking actions and strives to provide the ‘One UN’ approach to promoting a holistic response to human trafficking... read more
The payments, expenses and illegal revenues generated by human trafficking and migrant smuggling are moved across borders by criminal networks in various ways, ranging from sophisticated to rudimentary methods... read more
A new report compiled by UNODC’s anti-trafficking experts indicates the existence of corruption in every step of the human trafficking process and in every form of the crime... read more
Migrant smuggling is a global and lucrative criminal activity that undermines national border management efforts and generates profits that fuel other illegal activities... read more
Children as young as six are forced to work extensive hours in dangerous settings in quarries, mines and factories... read more
Every year more than eight million tourists flock to the resorts and beaches of the Dominican Republic, making it the most popular holiday destination in the Caribbean... read more
Criminals who smuggle or traffic humans within countries or across borders use all possible routes and modes of transportation to transfer people for profit and exploitation... read more
Latest global research on human trafficking trends illustrates a worldwide slowdown in the criminal justice response to this crime, with both a decrease in victim detection rates and in the number of convictions... read more
Cases of human trafficking for labour exploitation are on the increase in South Eastern Europe but victim identification, investigations and prosecutions of traffickers are hindered by gaps in national, regional and international cooperation ... read more
Under Project Turquesa, INTERPOL and the UNODC will streamline efforts against the organized crime groups profiting from irregular migration and exploitation... read more
15 May 2023
In the South Eastern Europe region – and worldwide - trafficking in persons remains one of the most serious crimes and human rights violations, noted a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) last year... read more
Human trafficking – the use of men, women, and children for profit – is a crime that occurs in every corner of the globe, and Burkina Faso is no exception. Located in West Africa, Burkina Faso is a country of origin, transit, and destination for trafficking in persons. 92.5 per cent of those trafficked - including children – are forced to work, .... read more
The Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has published its 2022 Annual Report, which highlights its main achievements over the past year in the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling..... read more
Human trafficking may be hidden, but it is closer than what we think. Victims go unnoticed, and survivors feel invisible. Jane Lasonder knows this better than anyone. She was trafficked at a very young age in the United Kingdom – but only became aware of it much later.... read more
To mark this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the United Nations Network on Migration calls on Member States to step up efforts to combat racism and racial discrimination in the context of migration governance.... read more
The smuggling of migrants affects all regions of the world and is often facilitated by organized criminal groups. Smuggling routes, from their points of origin to their destinations, often combine land, sea, and air segments, and are rarely limited to a single mode of transport.... read more
Women are powerful and efficient, often playing a key role in the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling around the world.... read more
Every morning, hundreds of local residents cross the border between Ghana and Togo. They may be headed to work, visiting the markets, or meeting with friends and relatives in Lomé (the capital of Togo, which lies within walking distance right across the border).... read more
Migrant smuggling is a global, organized crime that endangers the lives and safety of migrants. Violence, abuse and the risk of exploitation are widespread traits of this crime.... read more
In the Americas, Honduras is one of the countries of origin of victims of human trafficking. According to the national authorities, in 2021, about 40 percent of all victims detected in the country were forced into some form of human trafficking for forced labour, such as domestic service.... read more
All forms of human trafficking tend to be hidden, but human trafficking for organ removal is especially so. Driven largely by the global organ shortage for ethical transplants, it is estimated that only 10 per cent of global needs are covered. Criminal networks profit from the desperation of patients and coerce vulnerable people into selling organs.... read more
In the Americas, Honduras is often one of the countries of origin of victims of trafficking for forced labour. According to the national authorities, in 2021, about 40 percent of all victims detected in the country were forced into some form of human trafficking for forced labour, such as domestic service.... read more
Technology has become an indispensable and valuable element of our daily lives. But its increasing accessibility translates into also being misused by criminal networks for trafficking in persons... read more
Human trafficking is a global problem that affects the lives of millions of people around the world. Central American countries are no exception. Due to its geographic location, Honduras has become a region of origin, transit, and destination for victims of human trafficking... read more
Migrants on their way from Asia to Europe are being forced to work in the construction, agriculture, and hospitality sectors by human traffickers who abuse their irregular status and fear of deportation... read more
Human trafficking is a lucrative, global business that forces and tricks people of all ages to provide services in dangerous and degrading conditions for little or no pay. Like with other forms of business – whether legal or criminal – it is fuelled by demand for these services. Regular research, conducted by UNODC, consistently shows that the most detected form of human trafficking is for the purpose of sexual exploitation ... read more
The widespread exploitation of men, women, and children at a refugee camp in Malawi has been uncovered by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Malawian Police Service. Now measures are underway to dismantle the human trafficking networks operating within the Dzaleka Refugee Camp, identify and rescue their victims and bring those responsible to justice........ read more
As the guardian of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Protocols thereto, including the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air (Smuggling of Migrants Protocol) and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (Trafficking in Persons Protocol)........ read more
As the guardian of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Protocols thereto, including the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air (Smuggling of Migrants Protocol) and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (Trafficking in Persons Protocol)........ read more
Thank you, Ambassadors, and congratulations again your appointment as co-facilitators. On behalf of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, thank you for setting a clear plan for action for the coming months........ read more
Puntarenas, (Costa Rica), 18 February 2022 - Migrants who are smuggled through the dangerous Darien Gap region in Central America are regularly subjected to abuse, violence, and sexual assault, and women and girls are the primary victims ....... read more
Human trafficking is a global and widespread crime, but despite its prevalence research shows persistent low levels of prosecutions and convictions of traffickers. Data from the latest Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, produced by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), showed that in 2018 almost 50,000 human trafficking victims were detected in 135 countries, while 88 countries reported just over 3,500 convictions...... read more
As the world marks International Migrants Day, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) urges countries to uphold human rights while combatting the criminal networks who smuggle migrants for profit. Further calls are for better access to pathways for regular migration, an adherence to obligations that are enshrined in international treaties and increased cooperation between countries to apprehend and prosecute the ringleaders behind the migrant smuggling enterprise.... read more
The smuggling of migrants is a big business in Nigeria with criminal networks charging large sums of money to move people in and out of the West African country or facilitate their transit.
In recognition of the magnitude of this crime, its impact on the security of the country and the safety of the migrants involved, Nigerian authorities are now working closely with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime through the STARSOM project .... read more
Crimes that cross borders can only be stopped through cross border cooperation. This was the main message of the Regional Expert Group Meeting on countering migrant smuggling in Skopje, North Macedonia.The event, which was organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, brought together over 40 representatives from 12 countries in the South Eastern Europe region..... read more
The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), the United Nations' main policymaking body on crime prevention and criminal justice, held its annual thematic discussion on 8 December 2021. This year's event focused on measures to prevent and counter migrant smuggling, while protecting the rights of smuggled people, particularly women and children, both accompanied and unaccompanied.... more
As businesses and industries worldwide continue to struggle with the economic downturn caused by the COVID pandemic, the illicit trade of migrant smuggling has continued to flourish. Today, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launches a new publication in English, French and Spanish on the impact of COVID-19 on the smuggling of migrants. more
The 2021 Working Groups on Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants brought together over 800 delegates from more than 100 countries to discuss a variety of current issues relating to these global crimes. more
A two-year project to combat organized crime groups that smuggle migrants over multiple continents to North America is underway in thirteen countries.
The STARSOM initiative will support States along the main smuggling routes to work together to respond to migrant smuggling while protecting the lives and upholding the rights of the smuggled migrants. more
"If you have to leave your country very urgently to save your life, there is often no other way than to use a smuggler," says a 30-year-old man who had to pay 15,000 USD to get to Europe.
"We used all sorts of transport - plane, car, boat, train, taxi - and had to walk a long time overland. Most of the time I was suffering from the cold temperatures and lack of food and water. We were sleeping outside and were beaten up regularly," he adds. more
Research conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows how victims are being targeted and recruited via social media and online dating platforms where personal information and details of people's locations are readily available. more
Victims of human trafficking are accommodated or forced to stay in locations prior to and during their exploitation or between periods of abuse.
These settings can be in brothels, private homes, factories, farms, or fishing vessels. They are often dangerous, inhumane and unsanitary, and can be controlled by criminals involved in the trafficking network. .... more
A new UNODC report on human trafficking trends in Brazil highlights how socio-economic vulnerability and the lack of decent employment opportunities are leading people into the hands of criminal networks who exploit them for profit.... more
Senior Iraqi police officers have arrived in Austria to meet with experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to exchange expertise and discuss ways to cooperate closer to tackle the crimes of human trafficking and migrant smuggling... more
A new study released today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) illustrates the devastating impact of COVID-19 on victims and survivors of human trafficking and highlights the increased targeting and exploitation of children... more
Migrants who use smuggling networks to flee their home countries are often subjected to extreme violence, torture, rape and kidnapping while in transit or captivity. Despite the severity of these offences, little action is taken by national authorities and, in some cases, officials are complicit in these crimes... more
Refugees who are fleeing conflict and crisis are being targeted by human traffickers who take advantage of their vulnerable circumstances and search for a better life. Traffickers thrive in situations of instability and refugees, among them unaccompanied children, are at risk when they cross borders, travel inside a host country or even live inside a camp... more
A web application that can support police investigations into human trafficking rings has taken the top prize at the recent "DataJam Against Exploitation" competition.The team behind the winning entry, 'Buyer Resist', consists of five young professionals from British Columbia, Canada who were among 75 participants of 16 different nationalities to take part in the online technological innovation event... more
Migrant smuggling is a global and profitable crime with a high demand and a low risk of detection and punishment for the criminals involved. Smugglers conduct their activities with little or no regard for the safety and dignity of the people they illegally transport over national borders... more
The Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section of the United Nations Office and Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released its 2020 Annual Report, which highlights the main achievements of the Section during a year of challenges and anniversaries... more
An INTERPOL-led operation against migrant smuggling has led to more than 200 arrests among criminal networks that were involved in the smuggling of around 3500 migrants throughout the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia.
Up to 100 potential victims of human trafficking were also rescued during the operation, known as "Turquesa II", which brought together authorities in 32 countries across four continents, with Brazil serving as the coordination hub... more
Principals of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group Against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) the UN's leading policy forum to address human trafficking which is coordinated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), met for the second time since the platform was established in 2007... more
UNODC released today its new Model Legislative Provisions and Legislative Guide against Trafficking in Persons to support governments to draft, strengthen or amend national laws to address human trafficking.
These publications are a revision of tools first launched sixteen years ago, and incorporate progress made since then to implement the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, the world's primary legal instrument to combat human trafficking. Developments include new approaches to key concepts of the Protocol such as addressing the rights and needs of victims and an improved understanding of how to practically apply the trafficking in persons definition... more
Women and girls, who are often themselves victims of human trafficking and are sexually exploited by criminal gangs, are being prosecuted and convicted for human trafficking-related crimes, according to a new UNODC publication.
These victims often have no alternative but to obey an order. Some hope to limit their own exploitation or escape poverty by playing a role in the criminal process... more
