Human trafficking up 25% globally as demand for young girls fuels growth

Human trafficking cases globally have jumped exponentially in recent years, fueled by a growing demand for children and people to work in forced labor or slavery, according to a new report from the United Nations.

The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime publication issued Wednesday detected 25% more victims of human trafficking in 2022 alone. Victims included children being trafficked, as well as adults and children trafficked to work and to be exploited in other means, according to the 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons.