Action urgently needed to stop rise in child trafficking - UN report

Trafficking in children is on the rise

GENEVA / NEW YORK (12 March 2025) - Without immediate and decisive action, child trafficking will continue to climb beyond today’s already frightening levels, according to a UN report published on Monday.

“Despite a lot of progress achieved in legislation, policy and practices, trafficking in children continue to increase, because the responses are not evolving quickly enough to keep pace with the evolution and scale of the crime," said Dr Najat Maalla M’jid, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children.

“Traffickers are adapting rapidly, taking full advantage of technological advancements and of the vulnerabilities created by crises, while responses continue to lag,” she said.

“Urgent and decisive actions must be implemented without delay,” Dr. Malla M’jid emphasized. 

The annual report of the Special Representative to the UN Human Rights Council highlights a significant increase in the proportion of children identified as victims of trafficking over the last five years, particularly among girls. 

According to the latest Global Report on Trafficking in Persons*, children make up 38 percent of the victims detected worldwide, and the actual number of child victims is likely much higher than reported. 

Children are exploited for various reasons. Girls are increasingly trafficked for sexual exploitation, as well as forced labor and other forms of abuse, including forced marriage. Boys are primarily trafficked for forced labor and involvement in criminal activities.

The global rise in Internet access has increased the risk of its platforms being exploited for trafficking activities by offenders. 

“Ending child trafficking is possible if Member States and other stakeholders mitigate their vulnerabilities, invest in proactive prevention and sustainable protection, reduce children’s vulnerabilities and strengthen accountability to end impunity of traffickers, buyers, sellers, and intermediaries,” said Dr Maalla M’jid. 

The Special Representative stated that involving children in policy discussions about trafficking is essential for identifying barriers to their support and protection.

Dr. Maalla M’jid urged states to enact the ten actions outlined in the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT)’s Call to Action to prevent and end child trafficking, emphasizing this as a crucial step in addressing the issue.