Trafficking in persons remains one of the most pressing human rights challenges worldwide. Every year, millions of people fall victim to trafficking networks that exploit them for labour, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse. But how can we fight what we cannot fully see?
For years, governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations have struggled to gather and compare data on trafficking in persons. Without a standardized system, information is often incomplete, inconsistent or impossible to compare across countries. This makes it harder to identify patterns, track criminal networks and provide timely support to survivors
The recent adoption of the International Classification for Administrative Data on Trafficking in Persons (IC-TIP) by the United Nations Statistical Commission represents a monumental advance in the fight against trafficking in persons. Jointly developed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the IC-TIP is the first global framework designed to standardize the collection of trafficking in persons data. This system introduces a unified approach that allows for the consistent tracking of trafficking in persons cases both within and across borders.
The IC-TIP framework plays a crucial role in enhancing coordination among governments, law enforcement, victim support services, researchers, and others. By standardizing data collection, it enables the identification of key trafficking in persons trends, including common routes, recruitment modalities, industries, and methods of exploitation. This standardized approach allows for more targeted interventions, ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed.
Accurate and comparable data also improve support for trafficking survivors. Authorities can better monitor the specific needs of survivors and ensure they receive timely and effective assistance. In addition to enhancing victim support, the framework strengthens law enforcement responses by facilitating improved data-sharing practices between countries, making it easier to track and dismantle trafficking networks.
Furthermore, effective policies against trafficking in persons, and approaches to prevention, must be grounded in evidence rather than assumptions. The IC-TIP framework ensures that both national and international strategies are informed by reliable data, significantly enhancing their impact and effectiveness. By providing a comprehensive understanding of trafficking in persons patterns and survivor needs, the framework supports the development of policies that are both responsive and preventive, addressing the drivers of trafficking while protecting those most at risk.
“Without reliable data, our ability to prevent trafficking in persons and support survivors is limited,” said Marie McAuliffe, Head of Migration Research & Publications Division at the IOM. “The IC-TIP ensures that we can finally build a clearer picture of the reality of trafficking in persons and take informed action to combat it.”
Without standardized data, efforts to combat trafficking in persons can become fragmented and ineffective. For example, if neighbouring countries report trafficking in persons cases using different criteria, or if support organizations document survivor experiences inconsistently, it becomes nearly impossible to track assistance outcomes or hold traffickers accountable.
The IC-TIP addresses these challenges by providing a common language for trafficking in persons data, enabling cooperation both within and across borders. Whether it is law enforcement tracking criminal networks, support organizations identifying at-risk individuals, or governments designing preventive policies, standardized data ensures that all stakeholders can collaborate effectively.
“The new classification is a practical tool that can support national, regional and international efforts to improve the quality, comparability and coverage of administrative statistics on trafficking in persons,” said Angela Me, Chief of Research and Analysis at UNODC. “UNODC is committed to provide technical assistance to countries to facilitate the gradual implementation of the IC-TIP."
To ensure the success of the IC-TIP, IOM and UNODC are prioritizing capacity-building initiatives. This involves training government officials to integrate the framework into national systems effectively. Additionally, technical support is being provided to law enforcement agencies and organizations that assist survivors, enhancing their ability to combat trafficking in persons comprehensively.
Another critical aspect of the IC-TIP is its role in fostering international collaboration. By standardizing data collection methods, the framework enables countries to work together more efficiently to track and address global trafficking trends. This alignment allows for more coordinated efforts to dismantle trafficking networks, making international cooperation a cornerstone of the initiative’s strategy.
The success of the IC-TIP also hinges on the mobilization of adequate resources. IOM and UNODC underscore the importance of securing investment, funding and support from governments, donors, and international partners. Investments in tools, training, and infrastructure are crucial to transforming collected data into actionable intelligence, ensuring that efforts to combat trafficking in persons are both informed and effective.
Morocco’s adoption of the IC-TIP has demonstrated its potential to enhance anti-trafficking efforts significantly. By standardizing data collection among government ministries and counter-trafficking stakeholders, Morocco has improved the availability of information on trafficking in persons cases. This, in turn, has supported efforts to strengthen the national response to trafficking in persons and protect survivors more effectively.
Justice and protection for trafficking survivors should never depend on incomplete or unreliable data. The IC-TIP marks a transformative step towards ensuring that every survivor’s experience is documented accurately and ethically and that global anti-trafficking efforts are built on a foundation of reliable, actionable data.
By embracing standardized data collection, the international community can move closer to dismantling trafficking in persons networks, prosecuting offenders, and, most importantly, protecting and empowering survivors.For further information on the IC-TIP and its implementation, please refer to the guidance manual available under agenda item 3(m) available here
