World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2025; July 30th.

FORUM: “Human trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation.” World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2025. This year’s campaign will highlight the vital role of law enforcement and the criminal justice system in dismantling organized trafficking networks while ensuring a victim-centred approach. Human trafficking continues to be a global threat driven by organized crime. More and more victims are being trafficked every year, across greater distances, with greater violence, for longer periods of time and for greater profit. From 2020 to 2023, there were more than 200,000 detected victims globally, which is just the tip of the iceberg. The actual number of unreported cases is believed to be significantly higher. Organized criminal networks are driving this victimization and exploitation, using migration flows, global supply chains, legal and economic loopholes and digital platforms to facilitate cross-border trafficking at a massive scale. They profit from forced labour, sexual exploitation and coercion into criminal activities, such as online scams and drug smuggling. Despite some progress, criminal justice responses fall short in tackling this rapidly evolving crime. To end human trafficking, law enforcement must enforce strict laws, conduct proactive investigations, strengthen cross-border cooperation, target criminal finances, and leverage technology to identify and dismantle trafficking networks..Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #endHT, #30July, #worlddayagainsttraffickinginpersons, #EndHumanTrafficking on all digital platforms.

EVENTS: On July 30th, the United Nations Office for Drug and Crime (UNODC) will host a high-level event to mark the World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2025. The event will showcase the ways to ensure justice for survivors which requires holding perpetrators accountable and to provide a victim-centred approach to protection, support and access to justice.We particularly encourage law enforcement agencies, including police departments, border security, international agencies, and specialized task forces, to take an active role by utilizing online platforms and conducting in-person outreach at high-traffic areas such as transportation hubs. This way we can reach a wide audience, raise public awareness and promote reporting channels for suspected trafficking cases. The participants active involvement will bridge the gap between the campaign’s global reach and local realities, to ensure that it effectively connects with those impacted by human trafficking. Register to participate!

Statement of the United Nations-Secretary General on the World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2025; July 30th.

Human trafficking is a horrific crime and a gross violation of human rights. It is one of the fastest-growing forms of organized crime – run by ruthless networks that prey on vulnerability and profit from pain.

This is a brutal, highly organized enterprise built on deception, coercion and exploitation. And it is evolving rapidly.

Criminal groups are operating across borders with alarming speed and sophistication. They exploit legal loopholes, infiltrate legitimate industries and supply chains, take advantage of migration flows, and use technology to recruit, control and abuse – including through online sexual exploitation or forcing victims into cyber-scams.

We must respond with unity and urgency.

We can do so by breaking the business model that sustains human trafficking – ending impunity, cutting off illicit profits, and strengthening law enforcement and justice systems. Perpetrators must be held accountable.

We must also forge strong alliances -- with civil society, and the private sector including technology companies – to raise awareness and promote reporting channels to prevent exploitation and protect the vulnerable.

And we must strive to ensure justice for survivors, support the displaced, and tackle root causes – from poverty and inequality to conflict and climate disruption.

On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, let us act together to stand with victims, hold perpetrators to account and build a world where no one is bought, sold, or exploited.

António Guterres, UN Secretary-General.

UNODC Executive Director Video Message on World Day against Trafficking in Persons, 30 July 2025

Human trafficking no longer hides in the shadows – it operates under a thin disguise, embedded in our economies and daily lives. And it’s growing more organized, more structured, and more ruthless. UNODC data shows that organized criminal networks are behind 74 per cent of detected cases. Traffickers are infiltrating legitimate industries, from agriculture to construction and hospitality, masked by legal contracts and buried in supply chains. Forced labour now accounts for 42 percent of detected trafficking victims, the highest on record. Trafficking for forced criminality is also surging, jumping from 1 per cent a decade ago to 8 per cent today. And traffickers are adapting, using technology and digital platforms to recruit, ensnare, and abuse. From fake job offers to dating apps, women and girls are being lured into online sexual exploitation, while victims are being made to commit cyber-scams and fraud as part of a billion-dollar industry. The exploitation is more systematic than ever. And the world is fighting back. Over 180 countries now have legislation criminalizing human trafficking in all its forms. Protection mechanisms are expanding, helping more survivors with better support. And international cooperation is growing. But we cannot be complacent. We must act faster and smarter. By standardizing the way we look at data, to understand global and national trends. By equipping criminal justice systems to dismantle trafficking networks and end impunity. And by building bridges with the private sector, tech companies, and financial institutions. On this World Day against Trafficking in Persons, let us work together for a world where traffickers have nowhere to hide, and justice leaves no one behind.

UNODC Executive Director.

 
PUBLICATIONS: Read the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. from the UNODC.

Read the stories of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED?

You can take action by Supporting the Blue Heart Campaign 

or Donating to Victims of Human Trafficking.

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2024; July 30th.

FORUM: “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking.” World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2024. This year's global campaign urges to accelerate action to end child trafficking. Children represent a significant proportion of trafficking victims worldwide, with girls being disproportionately affected. 1 in 3 victims of human trafficking globally is a child. Additionally, children are twice as likely to face violence during trafficking than adults, according to the UNODC's Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (GLOTIP). Regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean bear a disproportionate burden, with children making up for 60 per cent of detected trafficking victims. Amid overlapping crises such as armed conflicts, pandemics, economic hardships, and environmental challenges, children are increasingly vulnerable to trafficking. Furthermore, the proliferation of online platforms poses additional risks as children often connect to these sites without adequate safeguards. Traffickers exploit online platforms, social media, and the dark web to recruit and exploit children, utilizing technology to evade detection, reach wider audiences, and disseminate exploitative content. The causes of child trafficking are as diverse as the ways in which children are exploited. Children are subjected to various forms of trafficking, including exploitation in forced labour, criminality or begging, trafficked for illegal adoption, recruitment into armed forces, and online and sexual abuse and exploitation. Root causes are manifold, including poverty, inadequate support of unaccompanied children amidst rising migration and refugee flows, armed conflicts, dysfunctional families, and lack of parental care. Notably, in low-income countries, children are often trafficked for forced labour, whereas in high-income countries, sexual exploitation remains prevalent among child victims. Identification and protection of child victims remain challenging due to underreporting, lack of awareness, and inadequate resources for victim support services. Traffickers often employ coercion, deception, and threats to maintain control over their victims, making it difficult for authorities to intervene. To effectively combat this scourge, concerted efforts are needed at both national and international levels. States must prioritize child protection, bolster legislation, improve law enforcement, and allocate more resources to combat child trafficking. Prevention efforts should target root causes like poverty and inequality to reduce children's vulnerability. Special attention must be paid to trafficking of children on the move. Strengthening child protection systems and implementing child-sensitive justice mechanisms are crucial for supporting victims and holding perpetrators accountable. The way to address online child exploitation requires innovative strategies, collaboration between tech companies and law enforcement, and robust legal frameworks. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #endHT, #30July, #worlddayagainsttraffickinginpersons, #EndHumanTrafficking on all digital platforms.

EVENTS: As we observe the 10th edition, it is crucial to address the shortcomings and accelerate action to End HumanTrafficking. On July 30th, the UNODC will celebrate the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2024 under the theme "Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking" as part of awareness-raising events. Civil society organizations, the private sector, and communities have a vital role in raising awareness, providing support services, and advocating for policy reforms. The UNODC Regional office and the UNODC partners will also organize many activities in cities across the countries. Get involved!

PUBLICATIONS: ILO Convention against trafficking in Persons. Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published during the 112nd ILC session (2024) Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29).

Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2024; July 30th.


Human trafficking is a horrific crime that targets the most vulnerable in our societies.

On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we focus on the most vulnerable among us – children.

Children account for one-third of trafficking victims, suffering unspeakable abuse – whether they are forced into labour, sold off as brides, recruited as soldiers, or coerced into criminal activities. Rising inequalities and globalization have fuelled complex trafficking networks that challenge traditional legal frameworks, creating new forms of slavery. Online platforms further expose children to sexual exploitation and gender-based violence and allow traffickers to exploit victims across borders.

The physical and psychological scars of these crimes persist long into adulthood, robbing them of their innocence, futures and fundamental rights.
We must strengthen protection responses – including child-sensitive justice mechanisms, raise awareness, support unaccompanied children on the move, provide care for survivors, and tackle the root causes of exploitation by helping vulnerable families.

I call upon governments, civil society, and the private sector, including tech companies, to intensify their efforts and collaboration so that no child is victimized and no trafficker goes unpunished.

On this day, let us renew our commitment for a future where every child is safe and free.

United Nations Secretary-General.

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UNODC Executive Director’s Message on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, 30 July 2024.
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Human trafficking leaves deep scars.

And when the victims are children, those scars can come to define the rest of their lives.
This year’s theme for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons focuses on child victims, which have tripled over the past 15 years.

According to UNODC data, children account for more than a third of victims detected globally, and in some regions, they constitute the majority.

Poverty, conflict, climate change, and inadequate parental support are leaving too many children, easy prey for traffickers.

And once trafficked, they endure horrific abuse.

They are forced to work under horrendous conditions in sweatshops, on farms, and construction sites.

They are made to beg on the street, commit crime, or work as domestic servants.

They are recruited as child soldiers, while others are trafficked as they attempt to flee the shadow of war.

And many, particularly girls, face gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, and forced marriage.

Meanwhile, digital technologies are enabling exploitation, with artificial intelligence generating thousands of images of child sexual abuse.

Last year, the United Nations policy forum on human trafficking, ICAT, called for united action to end child trafficking.

Now we must heed that call, by stepping up responses and working across all sectors of society, including governments, the private sector, tech companies, schools, healthcare, and social workers.

As a mother and a grandmother, I want to leave behind a world where no child is exploited, trafficked, or abused.

Let’s work together to make the world safer for all children.

UNODC Executive Director.

Video Message of the UNODC Goodwill Ambassador Mira Sorvino on 30 July 2024.

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World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2022; July 30 th.

FORUM: “Use and abuse of technology;” World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2022.

“Use and abuse of technology” is the theme of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2022. Prevention and awareness-raising activities on the safe use of the internet and social media could help mitigate the risk of people falling victim of trafficking online. Cooperation with the private sector is important to harness innovation and expertise for the development of sustainable technology-based solutions to support prevention and combatting of human trafficking.

Statement by the U.N. Secretary-General on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2022; July 30th.

Human trafficking is a horrific crime and an all-out assault on people’s rights, safety and dignity.

Tragically, it is also a problem that is growing worse — especially for women and girls, who represent the majority of detected trafficked persons globally.

Conflicts, forced displacement, climate change, inequality and poverty have left tens of millions of people around the world destitute, isolated and vulnerable.

The COVID-19 pandemic has separated children and young people from their friends and peers, causing them to spend more time alone and online.

Human traffickers are taking advantage of these vulnerabilities, using sophisticated technology to identify, track, control and exploit victims.

Online platforms allow them to deceive and recruit people with false promises. The dark web lets them conceal their identities while spreading their vile materials, including those that sexually exploit children. And technology gives consumers the ability to anonymously demand increasingly dangerous and degrading content that fuels human trafficking.

But as the theme of this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons — “Use and Abuse of Technology” — reminds us, while technology can enable human trafficking, it can also be a critical tool in fighting it.

We need governments, regulators, businesses and civil society joining forces to invest in policies, laws and technology-based solutions that can identify and support victims, locate and punish perpetrators, and ensure a safe, open and secure internet for all.
As part of 2023’s Summit of the Future, I have proposed a Global Digital Compact to rally the world around the need to bring good governance to the digital space.

On this important day, I call on the world to give this issue the attention and action it deserves and work to end the scourge of human trafficking once and for all.

 Statetement by the Executive-Director of UNODC on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2022; July 30th.

Connecting with each other online and over messaging platforms is part of daily life for billions of people around the world, especially youth.

The Internet has become a vital lifeline as the COVID-19 pandemic has restricted travel and kept us apart. But the advantages and potential of digital technologies to bring us together and better our lives are also being increasingly exploited by criminals.

Trafficking in persons is a crime that exploits vulnerability, desperation, and trust.

Traffickers take advantage of social media and other online platforms to exploit victims.

The borderless nature of information and communications technologies enables traffickers to expand their reach and profits with even greater impunity.

More than 60 per cent of detected human trafficking victims over the last 15 years have been women and girls, most of them trafficked for sexual exploitation.

Countless more people are in danger of being exploited today, as conflicts and crises increase misery, and criminals target the desperate with false promises of opportunities, jobs, and a better life.

To protect people, we need to protect digital spaces from criminal abuse. To do so, we must support countries to harness technologies for good.

Partnerships with tech companies and the private sector can keep traffickers from preying on the vulnerable and stop the circulation of online content that amplifies the suffering of trafficking victims.

We can assist law enforcement authorities to use, with technical support and appropriate safeguards, artificial intelligence, data mining and other tools to detect and investigate trafficking networks.

We can do more to raise awareness and keep social spaces online safe through cooperation with civil society and all stakeholders.

On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, let us commit to preventing online exploitation and promoting the power of tech to better protect children, women and men, and support victims.

ACTION: Show your support for victims of human trafficking by helping to raise awareness, share safety tips and information, and educate others!

Individuals are encouraged to

• Share, like and comment on the social media messages for the World Day.
• Be vigilant in the online sphere and report suspicious pages or activities to the authorities, e.g., by making use of dedicated online mechanisms or helplines.
• Donate to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking, which provides on-the-ground assistance and protection to victims of trafficking.

Member States are encouraged to:

• ensure that what is illegal and prosecuted offline is also illegal and prosecuted online.
• expand their attention in the fight against human trafficking to cyberspace, including by providing resources for law enforcement and ensuring policies and regulations are in place.
• join the Blue Heart Campaign and support victims of Human Trafficking via the UN Voluntary Trust Fund (UNVTF).

Technology-based private sector companies, especially tech companies are called to

• :ensure measures and restrictions are in place which prevent the use of technological platforms and tools for trafficking.
• use technological ingenuity to fight human trafficking.
• proactively identify illegal and harmful material online and take immediate and effective steps to remove it.