Victims exploited in Europe

Victims exploited in Europe account for about 20 per cent of all registered victims. These cases are mainly registered between 2014 and 2022. 85 per cent of these victims originate in Eastern Europe, though some others originate in Central (5%) and South-East Asia (3%).

60 per cent of trafficked persons exploited in Europe were female. These victims are mainly adults aged from 30 to 48 or more years (45%), and children represent another 15 per cent.

Victims are mainly trafficked for the purpose of forced labour (61%) and are exploited in construction and agriculture, accounting for 57 and 27 per cent, respectively. Another 37 per cent of victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation, particularly in prostitution.

Victims exploited in Europe are controlled with false promises, psychological, physical and sexual abuse; and restrictions on finance, movements, medical care, and necessities, each accounting for about 60 per cent.^[1] 88 per cent of the time, they were recruited by ‘others’,^[2] but some others (9%) were recruited by friends. Trafficking in Europe most frequently (45% of cases) lasts about one year or less.

^[1] 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.

^[2] 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.