UNODC Report Shows 25% Rise in Global Human Trafficking, Women and Girls Disproportionately Affected

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its 2024 Global Report on Human Trafficking, confirming a 25 % increase in worldwide trafficking between 2019 and 2022. Sub‑Saharan Africa, North America and Western Europe recorded the sharpest growth.

Women and girls are the most vulnerable group: of the 202,478 victims identified for 2020‑2023, 22 % were girls and 39 % were women. Forced labour accounts for 42 % of abductions, while sexual exploitation drives 36 % of cases, with women comprising 64 % of the latter. Conflict, climate‑related disasters and displacement are cited as key factors heightening susceptibility, especially in African nations where 31 % of victims are citizens.

The report highlights that most traffickers operate within organized criminal groups, and that existing national measures in affected regions remain insufficient to curb the surge.