Child Trafficking

Child trafficking occurs when children are taken away from safety and exploited. Children who are trafficked are often forced into some form of work, used for sex or simply sold.

Trafficking is any part of the process from finding and recruiting children, to transporting and receiving them. Men, women and children all over the world are victims of trafficking, but children are particularly at risk.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) says trafficking is among “forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery” and should be eradicated as soon as possible.

Child trafficking is linked to demand for cheap labour, especially where the working conditions are poor. Children may be forced into many dangerous and/or illegal situations, including slavery, domestic labour, sexual exploitation or prostitution, drug couriering and/or being turned into child soldiers.

Children who are trafficked are exposed to many dangers such as working in hazardous environments. Many are also denied the chance to reach their full potential because they don’t get an education or have the freedom to make their own choices.

In disasters, conflicts and other humanitarian emergencies, children can become separated from their families. Left without protection, they are easy prey for traffickers to exploit either by force or with false promises.

Talking about the specific issue of child trafficking during emergencies, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: “Human traffickers prey on the most desperate and vulnerable. To end this inhumane practice, we must do more to shield migrants and refugees (particularly young people, women and children) from those who would exploit their yearnings for a better, safer and more dignified future."