World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2024 : Leave No Child Behind in The Fight Against Human Trafficking
Human trafficking exploits lives, and child trafficking is even more unacceptable. It demands action from all adults to protect the vulnerable.
Every year on July 30th, the world unites to #EndHumanTrafficking. This year marks the 10th World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, established by the United Nations in 2014, but its roots go back to the National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the United States in 2007.
The theme for 2024 is "Leave no child behind in the fight against human trafficking." This theme aims to raise awareness of children's vulnerability and calls for urgent action to stop child trafficking.
Child trafficking affects many children worldwide, involving forced labour, illegal activities, begging, illegal adoption, and abuse. According to the UNODC, one in three trafficking victims is a child.
What is Child Trafficking?
Child trafficking involves exploiting children through recruitment, transport, or obtaining minors for forced labour, commercial sex, or criminal activities. According to the World Population Review in 2024, child trafficking is a major issue in some areas. In Africa, especially West Africa, almost all trafficking victims are children. It's also common in Asia's Mekong region, including Cambodia, parts of China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam
Types of Child Trafficking
Sex Trafficking of Children: This involves forcing or coercing children into commercial sex acts, such as prostitution or the production of pornography. It can occur in private homes, massage parlours, hotels, brothels, and online.
Labor Trafficking of Youth: This involves using force, fraud, or coercion to subject minors to involuntary servitude, debt bondage, or slavery. Often, the victims are older children and teens forced to work without pay.
Forced Marriage: Any marriage where at least one party is under 18 is considered a form of forced marriage, given that full, free, and informed consent is not expressed. According to UNICEF, more than 80 million girls worldwide are married before age 18.
Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC): This involves the trafficking of children to produce new child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in live-streamed videos, images, and recorded videos. ( the scale of harm study, IJM )
Digital Forensic Extraction Image: The LIFT team uses advanced online investigation and digital forensics to provide key evidence, supporting children's court testimonies and seeking justice.
How LIFT Combats Child Trafficking
At LIFT, our team of lawyers, investigators, and social workers is dedicated to ending child trafficking and protecting vulnerable individuals. Our approach involves:
Identify: We identify victims and offenders by partnering with law enforcement, using advanced technology, and specialised investigative techniques.
Protect: We protect and LIFT children, women, and men out of trafficking situations, ensuring their safety and supporting survivors throughout the legal process.
Prosecute: We prosecute offenders and disrupt criminal networks by providing strong legal representation and working with law enforcement to ensure justice is served.
Partner: We partner with governments, grassroots organisations, law enforcement, and international agencies to enhance the justice system and support survivors in their recovery.
“Thank you, LIFT, for supporting my daughter and me until our calls for justice were heard today”
You can be part of this crucial fight. Stand with us to end child trafficking and give every child a chance at a brighter future. Your involvement is more than just support—it's a lifeline. Together, we can end this injustice and transform lives.