UNODC GLOTIP 2022, https://www.unodc.org/unodc/data-and-analysis/glotip.html
This final article in The Human Trafficker series summarizes current trafficker profiles globally and by region based on the 2022 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (GLOTIP). The biennial report is the seventh of its kind mandated by the General Assembly through the 2010 United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. GLOTIP 2022 covers 141 countries and provides an overview of trafficking patterns and flows at global, regional and national levels by analyzing trafficking cases detected between 2018 and 2021.
Global Overview
Most convicted traffickers globally are men, while women account for a significant 40 percent of the people convicted of trafficking in persons in 2020. The typical sex profile of convicted traffickers also differs by region. Countries of origin tend to convict more females, both women and girls, than countries of destination. A possible explanation for this disparity is the role females play in the recruitment phase of trafficking as well as in specific activities at high risk of detection (such as collecting money) during the exploitation phase of trafficking for sexual exploitation.
The sex profile of traffickers changes according to the type of criminal organization involved in the crime. Female traffickers account for 43 percent of the traffickers operating in pairs (typically with intimate partners), and 37 percent of traffickers involved in cases operated by business-like type organizations are women. The participation of women in structured criminal organizations involved in trafficking crime seems less frequent – these are run predominantly by men, and less than 30 percent of convicted traffickers of this type are women. The most reported profile of convicted individual traffickers involves young men exploiting their female partners (women and girls).
There was no noted difference in the sex profile of offenders whether they engaged in sexual exploitation or forced labor (about 38 percent of offenders convicted were female in both categories). People convicted for trafficking for the purpose of crime and/or begging were more frequently males (only a quarter of offenders were female) compared to other forms of exploitation.
There is a wide span in traffickers’ ages from below 18 to above 70 years old. Most traffickers reported in analyzed cases were aged between 23 and 36 when convicted (median 28, average 37). Children are rarely found to be involved in trafficking in persons as offenders. Very few of those convicted worldwide are under the age of 18 (boys and girls).
Traffickers engaged in sexual exploitation and forced labor tend to be about the same age, in their mid-thirties. Interestingly, though, traffickers involved in other forms of exploitation, from crime to begging and mixed forms tend to be younger than other traffickers.
Regional Overviews
Africa and the Middle East
North Africa and the Middle East: The profile of individuals prosecuted or convicted of trafficking in persons and related offences in North Africa and the Middle East remained stable in comparison to previous years. The dominant profile continues to be men, with 65 percent of those convicted being citizens of the country of conviction. While the profile remained stable, the region recorded a 16 percent increase in individuals prosecuted for trafficking in persons. In line with the rest of the world, the majority of cases (51%) reported by in North Africa and the Middle East featured traffickers operating in business-type organized criminal groups. While there was not an overwhelmingly common level of organization used by the traffickers apprehended, 62% of offenders reported in case narratives operated in a group of three or more traffickers in at least two locations.
Sub-Saharan Africa: While men account for the dominant share of prosecuted traffickers in Sub-Saharan Africa, women are convicted in a large proportion (44 percent). In 2020, from every ten persons prosecuted, two were women. Yet, in the same period, from every ten persons convicted, four were women. The citizenship profile of those convicted is quite isolated to those from the region. 70 percent of those convicted were citizens of the country of convicted with a further 27 percent citizens of countries in the region. Broadly in line with the global average, apprehended traffickers largely operate within business-type organized criminal groups. Yet, in contrast to other regions, non-organized traffickers operating in loose associations in Sub-Saharan Africa or working alone were also common among those convicted.
The Americas
North, Central America and the Caribbean: In North America, the vast majority of traffickers who are prosecuted and convicted are men. In Central America women represent nearly half the people prosecuted and convicted for trafficking in persons. This follows the general pattern of higher detection of women’s involvement in the trafficking business being reported in countries of origin, compared to destinations. Very limited information is currently available about the nationality of apprehended offenders in North America, while people convicted for trafficking in persons in Central America and the Caribbean are mostly nationals of the country of conviction. The cases shared by national authorities from North America depict a rather organized, highly structured criminal trafficking scene, especially when compared to other parts of the world. Overall, trafficking groups active in this sub-region seem to operate within organized, relatively large structures.
South America: Compared to other regions, women represent a very large share of people prosecuted and convicted for trafficking in persons, although still in the minority. People convicted for trafficking in persons in this region are primarily nationals of the country where they were convicted, followed by citizens of other South American countries. The cases shared by national authorities in South America depict a criminal scene where most forms of detected trafficking are carried out by criminals who are loosely connected through business relationships. A very small number of uncovered cases involved structured criminal organizations leveraging territorial control. Overall, trafficking groups active in this region seem to operate with rather minimal organization in relatively small structures.
South, East Asia and the Pacific
East Asia and the Pacific: In 2020, nearly even proportions of men and women were investigated or prosecuted for trafficking in persons. At the same time, most of the people convicted are females. These values represent among highest share of women involved in criminal procedures globally. This was a shift from previous reporting, in 2018, when women represented around a third of those investigated and/or arrested for trafficking in persons in East Asia and the Pacific. The vast majority of offenders convicted of trafficking in persons in this region were citizens of the country where the offence took place. The court cases shared with UNODC give the impression that the trafficking cases that come to the attention of the authorities take place on a smaller scale than what is seen globally. For example, a larger proportion of individual traffickers were convicted in East Asia and the Pacific compared to the worldwide average. Recent studies have shown that traffickers convicted in the East Asia and Pacific region often share the same profile as their victims, including experiences of poverty and former victimhood. In Vietnam, research showed that most convicted traffickers are poor, lack education and are members of a disadvantaged ethnic minority community. Perpetrators largely manipulated relations of trust with their victims to deceive them with false offers of jobs or marriage. In general, convicted traffickers receive modest remuneration for their crimes. Most recruiters convicted are traffickers organized in small scale organizations. Likewise in Australia, female traffickers whose victims were sexually exploited had experienced economic deprivation and domestic violence from a very young age.
South Asia: In 2020, 5,523 individuals, men and women, were contacted by law enforcement authorities in South Asian countries in relation to investigations of trafficking in persons.161 In the same year, at least 3,787 people were prosecuted for trafficking in persons,162 and 167 convicted. 163 Not enough information was available about the sex disaggregation of the individuals involved in the criminal procedure. Cases shared with UNODC can shed more light on the experiences of South Asian victims who are trafficked across borders outside the region. Usually, traffickers in these cases were higher income co-nationals. They often grew up in the same area as their victims, but with better socio-economic conditions, often with access to permits to stay in the country of destination. A large majority of the o enders convicted in countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council originate from South Asia, according to the court cases shared with UNODC.
Europe and Central Asia
Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Much like in Western and Southern Europe, most people prosecuted or convicted for trafficking in Central or South-Eastern Europe are men – women make up just a quarter of those prosecuted or convicted for the offence. However, unlike in Western and Southern European countries, the great majority of people convicted are citizens of the country of conviction. Other nationals convicted are typically from the countries where their foreign victims originated. The perpetrators convicted in the court cases shared by national authorities of Central and South-Eastern European countries committed the crime in conjunction with two or more traffickers, who systematically worked together for the purpose of trafficking persons as a core criminal business. This business-enterprise type usually includes some people specialized in recruiting victims, then selling them to others specialized in exploitation. These groups can be found engaged in all forms of exploitation. They typically operate across borders, trafficking victims from Central and South-Eastern Europe to Western and Southern Europe. However, compared with Western and Southern Europe, the court cases shared by national authorities from this region describe a lower level of organization among trafficking groups here. Around a third of cases reported having only one or two people engaged in trafficking, similar to what is found in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Central and South-Eastern Europe: Little information is available about the sex of individuals convicted in Eastern European countries, while the preponderance of traffickers who are convicted in Central Asia are women, more than 80 percent. The overrepresentation of women among those convicted has been evident in this region for a number of years and documented in previous reports. This is the highest share of convicted traffickers who are women found worldwide. Like much of the rest of the world, though, the vast majority of people convicted of trafficking in persons in this region are citizens of the country where they were convicted. A clearer picture of the types of trafficking organizations most often exposed by law enforcement activities can be assembled from the analysis of 79 cases reported to UNODC between 2010 and 2020. Most of these traffickers committed the crime in conjunction with two or more other criminals systematically working together for the purpose of trafficking people as a core criminal business. Rarely, however, do these groups become more structured criminal organizations or maintain domain over territories. Compared to the other European regions, fewer traffickers convicted and reported to UNODC engaged in trafficking in persons within a highly organized criminal structure.
Western and Southern Europe: More than 60 percent of the people convicted of trafficking in persons in Western and Southern European countries in 2020 were foreigners. South-Eastern Europeans represent one quarter of those convicted, while citizens from Sub-Saharan Africa and from East Asia account for another eight percent each. Most traffickers convicted are men, with women making up about one-third of the convictions for trafficking. Women continue to represent a higher proportion of offenders convicted compared to other crimes. According to UNODC crime statistics, in 2020 14.4 percent of people convicted for any crime were women, while 85.6 percent were men. Women account for one-fifth of those prosecuted and children for about 5 percent. The cases shared by national authorities depict a rather organized and structured criminal scene, especially when compared to other parts of the world. Overall, trafficking groups apprehended in this region seem to operate in organized and relatively large criminal structures. In the cases shared by the national authorities, most convicted traffickers committed the crime in conjunction with two or more other traffickers systematically working together for the purpose of trafficking people as a core criminal business. This type of business-enterprise may have some people specialized in recruiting victims then selling them to others specialized in exploitation. These groups can be found engaged in all types of exploitation, typically operating across borders, trafficking victims from South-Eastern and Central Europe or Asia. They range from minimal to high-level of organization with multiple people operating in different locations in one or more countries. Further, compared to other regions, Western and Southern European countries reported more cases where criminals organized into structures that maintain a certain level of control of the territories or communities where they operate. These groups typically have a high level of organization, with many different actors involved in more than three locations internationally. In the case of domestic trafficking, traffickers either operate alone or in opportunistic associations with other actors. Trafficking of persons in Western and Southern Europe also occurs as part of private corporate activities. In three cases reported by Belgian and Dutch authorities between 2014 and 2016, almost 70 victims were trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation and/or forced labor by one or more private companies.
Previous articles in this series include:
The Human Trafficker: Part 1 — provides a sampling of human trafficker definitions, profiles, and resources.
The Human Trafficker: Part 2 — provides a best-of-breed example of a human trafficker profile based on criminal profiling
