Trafficking in children for economic exploitation

Incidence

Trafficking in children for economic exploitation remains a pervasive global issue, affecting millions of minors annually. According to the International Labour Organization, an estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked each year, with many forced into hazardous labor, domestic servitude, or commercial activities. The problem spans continents, with significant incidence reported in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as well as within developed nations, underscoring its worldwide significance and persistence despite international efforts to combat it.
In 2022, authorities in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana rescued over 80 children trafficked for forced labor in the cocoa industry. Many victims, some as young as eight, were found working in dangerous conditions on plantations, deprived of education and basic rights.