Human trafficking across regions: exploitation of victims

Victims trafficked interregionally (65%) are more frequently trafficked for forced labour.^[1] Meanwhile, 55 per cent of victims trafficked within their region of origin are sexually exploited. Intraregional trafficking most frequently lasts less than a year (43%), and 37 per cent of victims trafficked outside their region of origin are trafficked for two years or more.^[2]

Regarding intraregional trafficking, victims trafficked for forced labour are exploited in construction (47%) and domestic work (31%). However, in interregional trafficking, exploitation in agriculture and hospitality is most common (59% and 11%, respectively). Sectors of sexual exploitation, like prostitution or pornography, do not show significant differences depending on the victims being trafficked within or outside their region of origin.

The main means of control include restrictions on finance, movements, medical care and necessities, threats, and debt bondage, each affecting between 40 and 50 per cent of victims of both intra and interregional trafficking. However, intrarregionally trafficked victims face higher rates of psychological, physical and sexual abuse (67%), document withholding (26%), and use of psychoactive substances (14%), as opposed to interregionally trafficked victims, where these means are used on 40, 18 and two per cent of the cases, respectively.

In interregional trafficking, 78 per cent of victims are recruited by ‘others’,^[3] about 14 per cent more frequently as compared to intraregionally trafficked victims. In intraregional trafficking, victims are also frequently recruited by family (14%), intimate partners (14%), and friends (9%).

^[1] Interregional trafficking involves victims trafficked outside their region of origin, while intraregional trafficking occurs within their region of origin. For the list of regions and subregions, refer to the Global Synthetic Dataset Dictionary.

^[2] This data story focuses on the types of exploitation, means of control, and regions of exploitation. Click here to delve into the trafficked persons’ demographic profiles.

^[3] Indicates a notable relationship with the recruiter that does not fit other categories like family or friends. This may include brokers, contractors, employers, or smugglers. See the Global Synthetic Dataset Codebook for a detailed explanation.