Identifying trends and consistent data with regard to sexual exploitation and trafficking is extremely difficult due to the highly varied methods of data collection (or lack thereof) across countries. Despite this struggle, the United Nations’ Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) produces thorough global reports to identify concerning and improving trends across trafficking and convictions.
In their 2022 report, UNODC particularly identified the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the data depicts a decrease in number of victims detected for the first time in 20 years, it is likely that identification of victims simply became increasingly difficult, pushing trafficking further underground, rather than the number of victims truly decreasing. The report identifies, however, the pandemic’s impact on identification does not appear to have affected North America, meaning the United States continued to prioritize identifying victims amidst a global pandemic.
The pandemic did, however, cause a severe decrease in convictions of traffickers, most notably in South Asia, Central America and the Caribbean, and South America. In North America, there was a substantial 35% drop in convictions in 2020.
One data point Courage Worldwide in particular focuses on is which age group and gender are most frequently trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation in North America. UNODC’s report provides confirmation in our reason for existing: two-thirds of those detected as victims of sexual exploitation are women, and 27% are girls. 60% of these victims are trafficked domestically, meaning they are United States citizens being trafficked within our own borders.
The issue of trafficking has not diminished.
It continues to exist with a fervent evil—an evil we are committed to fighting every day.
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