Trafficking journeys and exploitation of victims

About 60 per cent of victims are exploited at some point during their journey, regardless of whether they are trafficked through official or non-official border control points.^[1] The remaining victims, because of not being exploited during their journey, may be unaware that they are being trafficked.

Victims trafficked internationally for forced labour are mainly trafficked through official border control points (83%). Victims trafficked for forced labour are mainly exploited in construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and domestic work, irrespective of the type of border control points they are trafficked through. In contrast, sexually exploited victims are mainly trafficked through non-official border control points (22%).^[2]

The main means of control are restrictions on movements, excessive working hours, false promises, psychological abuse, and withheld earnings. Each of these means of control is faced by around 75 per cent of victims trafficked through official border control points and 60 per cent of victims trafficked through non-official border control points.^[2]

54 per cent of victims trafficked through non-official border control points are trafficked for a year or less, while victims trafficked through official border control points tend to be trafficked for between one and two years (41%), or for more than two years (19%).

^[1] This data story describes the trafficking experience of internationally trafficked persons crossing through official or non-official border control points. Click here to delve into these trafficked persons’ demographic profiles.

^[2] It is important to note that trafficked persons can be subjected to multiple types of exploitation and means of control, so percentages may not add up to 100.