HUMAN trafficking remains a serious global threat, fuelled by organized crime. Each year, increasing numbers of victims are trafficked over longer distances, subjected to greater violence, held for extended periods, and exploited for higher profits. Between 2020 and 2023, over 200,000 victims were identified worldwide, but this represents only a fraction of the true scale. The actual number of unreported cases is believed to be much higher.
Organized criminal networks are behind this widespread victimization and exploitation, exploiting migration routes, global supply chains, legal and economic loopholes, and digital platforms to carry out large-scale cross-border trafficking. They profit from forced labour, sexual exploitation, and coercion into criminal activities such as online scams and drug trafficking.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons every year on 30 July to raise global awareness in the fight against human trafficking. The theme for 2025 is “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation.” Organized criminal networks drive this victimization and exploitation, using migration flows, global supply chains, legal and economic loopholes, and digital platforms to facilitate large-scale cross-border trafficking.
Human traffickers often deceive, recruit, and sell people, including women and children. Human trafficking is an increasingly widespread transnational crime. International organizations have condemned traffickers as violators of human rights. Despite these efforts, human trafficking continues to pose a serious threat to society. The most vulnerable — such as the poor, children, and young women — are frequently targeted. Traffickers may exploit young women for sexual slavery, force adult men into hard labour, or mutilate and sell children for organ trafficking.
Human trafficking is a type of crime that cannot be solved by the government of a single country alone. It can only be reduced and controlled through the combined and coordinated efforts of all countries worldwide. This requires cooperation between the United Nations and international organizations, collaboration among national-level authorities, capacity building, public awareness sharing, technical support, full protection and care for trafficking victims, and fostering a collective spirit among the public to oppose and eradicate traffickers. Hence, Myanmar is implementing the Anti-Human Trafficking Plan for the 2022-2026 financial years.
To combat human trafficking, it is essential to implement educational programmes targeting vulnerable groups, including women and children, and to coordinate national efforts in prevention, rescue, and assistance activities. A crucial aspect is recognizing that trafficking survivors often endure psychological trauma; therefore, their voices must be heard and respected to support their reintegration into society. To eradicate human trafficking, governments, non-governmental organizations, and all citizens must work collaboratively.
