A Survivor-Centred Response to Evolving Forms of Human Trafficking

The Christian Organisations Against Trafficking Network (COATNET) issued a statement to the Fifteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice regarding the increasing scale and complexity of human trafficking. The network, which includes 30 faith-based organizations, advocates for a response that prioritizes the leadership and practical knowledge of survivors to improve policy design and accountability.

COATNET highlighted data showing that human trafficking is an evolving transnational crime. According to the report, an estimated 49.6 million people lived in modern slavery in 2021, consisting of 27.6 million in forced labor and 22 million in forced marriage. UNODC data from 2024 also showed a 25% increase in detected trafficking victims between 2019 and 2022, including a 31% rise in detected child victims.

The network noted that forced labor accounted for 42% of detected victims in 2022, exceeding the 36% recorded for sexual exploitation. COATNET members reported that weaknesses in legal assistance, identification, referral, and long-term support often leave individuals vulnerable to further harm and re-exploitation.