Forms of exploitation

The UNODC’s 2022 data show that detection of trafficking for sexual exploitation equals that of trafficking for forced labour, at just under 40 % each. This is the result of a recent decrease in the detected cases of trafficking for sexual exploitation, both globally and in Europe, and a steady increase of cases of trafficking for forced labour from 18 % in 2006. It is possible that the restrictions resulting from the COVID 19 pandemic may have reduced some forms of trafficking, but this sudden decrease in cases of trafficking for sexual exploitation could also be explained by the fact that the COVID 19 pandemic pushed sexual exploitation into less visible locations. The majority of victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation are female (64 % women and 27 % girls), and the majority of victims of trafficking for forced labour are male (56 % men and 12 % boys). Other relevant purposes of human trafficking are forced criminality (10 %), forced begging (1 %) and forced marriage (1 %). Children are often exploited for begging and forced criminal activities, including drug trafficking and theft. However, most child victims globally are trafficked for sexual exploitation and forced labour.
At EU level, the most prevalent form of exploitation remains sexual (51 %) followed by labour (28 %) and other forms of exploitation (11 %), including forced criminal activities, forced begging, illegal adoption, forced and sham marriages, illegal surrogacy, and illegal removal of organs. Vulnerable categories and certain ethnic minorities can be particularly targeted by certain types of trafficking.