Victims by gender and type of exploitation in the EU, 2010-2012

Sexual exploitation is the main purpose of human trafficking, both globally and in Europe. In 2010-2012, 53% of victims in the world were trafficked for sexual exploitation (97% of whom were female) and 40% for forced labour (65% of whom were male). In the same period, the EU registered even higher figures for sexual exploitation (see Figure 2), representing 69% of victims (95% of whom were women and girls). Labour exploitation came second (19% of victims) and affected mainly men (71%), but women and girls were also trafficked for forced labour (27%). Moreover, women and girls represented a large proportion of victims trafficked for purposes other than forced labour or sexual exploitation, such as forced begging, selling of children, forced marriage, etc. (73% globally and 52% in the EU).