USAID's Global Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking Highlighted on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

Today, on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we draw attention to the urgent issue of human trafficking.

According to the latest State Department data, 27.6 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking, including both sex trafficking and forced labor. This grim statistic encompasses both boys and girls who, under different circumstances, would be attending school or participating in sports. The survivors of trafficking endure severe long-term consequences, including poverty, physical pain, and post-traumatic stress.

Since 2001, USAID has committed nearly $400 million across 88 countries to combat human trafficking and support survivors. The agency is working to enhance anti-trafficking legislation and provide law enforcement with advanced tools and resources. USAID's efforts include spearheading research to understand trafficking dynamics, holding traffickers accountable, and preventing future trafficking cases. Additionally, legal assistance is provided to survivors to aid in bringing their traffickers to justice. USAID’s Counter-Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) Field Guide underscores the commitment to collaborating with diverse stakeholders and incorporating survivor-centered approaches into anti-trafficking initiatives.

In Southeast Asia, traffickers exploit job seekers by recruiting them for online scam centers under false pretenses of lucrative opportunities. Victims are forced into abusive conditions to perpetrate financial scams, which cost the global economy approximately $1 billion annually. USAID is bolstering law enforcement’s ability to identify and rescue these victims and is equipping criminal justice organizations and legal aid practitioners with necessary resources and training.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), women and children face severe trafficking risks due to ongoing violence and displacement caused by the M23 armed group. USAID recently launched a five-year counter-trafficking initiative in the DRC focusing on marginalized groups most vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation. The initiative aims to improve coordination among national and provincial leaders, expand access to legal, medical, and psychosocial services for survivors, and educate communities on recognizing and responding to trafficking.

USAID remains dedicated to integrating trafficking prevention into all its programs and policies, urging partners to join in the fight against traffickers and work towards ending exploitation globally.