New Delhi: The United Nations has voiced alarm over a rise in the number of children who fall victim to human trafficking. A UN report from the Drugs and Crime office said one in three victims of human trafficking worldwide is a child, many of which are subject to sexual exploitation or forced labour.
Overall, child trafficking has increased 5 per cent since 2010, with girls and women accounting for 70 per cent of the overall number of victims worldwide.
There are around 152 countries of origin and 124 destinations affected by the problem and, as such, no country is immune. The report said in some regions – such as Africa and the Middle East – child trafficking is a major concern, with children making up 62% of victims.
“Unfortunately, the report shows there is no place in the world where children, women and men are safe from human trafficking,” said UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov, adding, “It is very clear that the scale of modern-day slavery is far worse.”
The UN said the global figures represented only "the tip of the iceberg" and that impunity remained a serious problem.
It said trafficking for forced labour – including in the manufacturing and construction sectors, domestic work and textile production – has also increased steadily over the past five years.
The report also highlighted that the number of convictions remain low despite initiatives to combat trafficking.
"40% of countries recorded few or no convictions, and over the past 10 years there has been no discernible increase in the global criminal justice response to this crime, leaving a significant portion of the population vulnerable to offenders," the UN said.
About 15% of the 128 countries covered by the report did not record a single conviction, it said.
