What is the scale of human trafficking worldwide?
Men, women and children are trafficked within their own countries and across international borders. Trafficking affects every continent and most countries. Every country is affected by human trafficking, whether they are an origin country where people are trafficked from; a transit country where people are trafficked through; or a destination country where people are trafficked to. Often a country will be all three. Men, women and children are trafficked. Due to the hidden and illegal nature of human trafficking, gathering statistics on the scale of the problem is difficult. The following statistics may represent an underestimation of trafficking, but are the most credible and frequently quoted. • People trafficking is the fastest growing means by which people are enslaved, the fastest growing international crime, and one of the largest sources of income for organised crime The UN Office on Drugs and Crime • 1.2 million children are trafficked every year Estimate by UNICEF • At least 1
