HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Half of all trafficking victims are under 18 years old (UNODC 2009). Two-thirds of victims detected by authorities are women, 79% of whom are subjected to sexual exploitation, followed by 18% exploited for labor, work, or forced services.

Between 2003 and 2008, 40% of countries with anti-trafficking laws secured no convictions. This reveals a gap between legislation and effective enforcement. Causes include lack of resources, training, political will, and corruption.

It is estimated that 2.5 million people are victims of trafficking. However, for every identified victim there are 20 more unknown. The illicit market is estimated at 32 trillion dollars.