The United Nations(UN’s) World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is annually observed across the globe on July 30 to raise awareness about the situation of human trafficking victims and to promote and protect their rights.
- July 30, 2025 marks the 11th anniversary of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, and it is crucial to address the shortcomings and accelerate action to #EndHumanTrafficking.
Theme:
2025 Theme: The 2025 theme of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is “Human trafficking is organised crime – End the exploitation.”
Focus: This theme highlights the vital role of law enforcement and the criminal justice system in dismantling organised trafficking networks and in promoting and protecting victim rights.
Background:
Adoption: In December 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/68/192 and proclaimed 30th July every year as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
Inaugural Observance: The first-ever World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was observed on 30th July 2014.
About Human Trafficking:
Overview: Human Trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, to exploit them for profit.
Methods Used: The traffickers use violence, fraudulent employment agencies, and fake promises of education and job opportunities to trick, coerce and deceive their victims.
Global Threat: Human trafficking continues to be a global threat driven by organised crime. From 2020 to 2023, more than 200,000 victims were detected globally.
About Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (GLOTIP):
UNODC Report: Every year, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) releases the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (GLOTIP), providing an in-depth analysis of global patterns, trends, and responses related to human trafficking.
2024 Report: The 2024 GLOTIP is the 8th edition, mandated by the UN General Assembly under the 2010 Global Plan of Action.
- Timeframe: Analyzed trafficking cases detected between 2019 and 2023.
- Geographic Reach: Compiled data from 156 countries, encompassing global, regional, and national perspectives.
- Victim Demographics:
- Children accounted for 38% of detected victims, showing a 31% rise since 2019.
- Women comprised 39% of the detected victims.
- Men represented 23% of the victims.
- Types of Exploitation:
- Forced labour made up 42% of the detected cases.
- Sexual exploitation accounted for 38% of the cases.
- Regional Trends:
- Sub-Saharan Africa reported the highest number of trafficking victims, accounting for 26% of global cases.
- Europe and North America experienced significant increases in detected trafficking cases.
- Countries like Iran, North Korea, Algeria, Syria, and Russia are among the major victim countries of human trafficking in the world.
- Trafficking Networks:
- Nearly 74% of traffickers are involved in organized crime groups.
- In 2022, men constituted about 70% of individuals investigated, prosecuted, and convicted for trafficking offenses.
Blue Heart Campaign:
About: The Blue Heart Campaign is a global initiative launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2009 to raise awareness about human trafficking .
Management: This initiative is led by the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons (UNVTF), which is part of UNODC and the fund is managed by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR).
Focus: It aims to fight against human trafficking and support the victims, particularly women and children.
Other Initiatives:
TiP working group: In 2022, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and UNODC established the Trafficking in Persons (TiP) working group under the UN Network on Migration(UNNM)in Iraq to advocate for the rights of all trafficking victims.
Human Trafficking Investigation: In September 2023, the Netherlands, supported European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation(EUROPOL), coordinated a 3-day investigation targeting criminal activities on Human Trafficking, which led to the identification of 11 suspects and 45 potential victims of human trafficking.
Operation Synergia: In 2023, Operation Synergia, led by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), targeted human trafficking rings linked to cyber scam centres.
2025 Events:
UNODC Campaign: The UNODC launched its 2025 campaign highlighting the crucial role of law enforcement and the criminal justice system in dismantling trafficking networks, while maintaining a strong focus on a victim-centered approach.
Bihar’s Anti-Trafficking Mission: The Government of Bihar (India), led by the Bihar Police Department, has proposed ‘Naya Savera’, a state-wide fortnight-long mission to rescue trafficked minors from July 31 to Aug 14 2025.
About United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):
Executive Director (ED) – Ghada Fathi Waly
Headquarters – Vienna, Austria
Established -1997
