Research

The absence of data cripples efforts to combat trafficking. While the clandestine nature of the crime makes data collection difficult, it is not impossible. Governments need to know the extent of the crime, its geographical spread and the many forms it takes. We need to understand how criminal networks function and what truly makes individuals vulnerable to being trafficked. Without such data, it is difficult to assess the impact of the crime, to develop solutions that will meet real needs and to evaluate the effectiveness of anti-trafficking efforts.

In countries around the world, human trafficking continues because of ignorance. Individuals made vulnerable by need, conflict or social practices may accept a fraudulent offer of employment because they do not know about the potential harm. And, once entrapped in such a situation, they have little knowledge of how to seek help. In countries of destination, trafficking is allowed to continue unimpeded because people do not know how to recognize a harmful situation. Where authorities and other stakeholders are uninformed, a victim may be discriminated against, charged as a criminal or deported, while their exploiters remain active, free of investigation or censure.

Global assessment

Under the umbrella of UN.GIFT, UNODC launched a global assessment effort to deepen the understanding of national responses to human trafficking. The research will result in a report providing an overview of national responses to human trafficking, the available data and possible information gaps. In particular, the data collection will focus on the legal and institutional framework, the criminal justice response to human trafficking, and the services provided to victims of human trafficking.

The research will have a global coverage. It will make use of a delocalized structure of regional focal points in charge of identifying and inquiring the sources of human trafficking information for all the countries under study. A report structured into regional sections will be tentatively published by the end of 2008.