Child trafficking is a global problem fueled by a demand for children as cheap labour or for sexual exploitation.  

Among identified cases, the proportion of minors involved in all forms of human trafficking has increased between 2003 and 2007 from about 15% to nearly 22%. (UNODC: Global Report on Human Trafficking in persons 2009)

An estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked every year, both internally and across international borders.  Children and their families are often unaware of the dangers of trafficking, believing that better employment opportunities are available in other countries.  Child trafficking is lucrative and linked with criminal activity and corruption.

Victims are coerced, deceived or forced into the control of others who seek to profit from their exploitation and suffering. Trafficked children face a range of dangers, including violence and sexual abuse.  Some are even arrested and detained as illegal aliens.  The hidden nature of the crime makes it difficult to address.  

Children and young people are trafficked into, within and out of the UK for many different types of exploitation. They are trafficked for:

• sexual exploitation 

• labour exploitation – such as in cooking and cleaning in restaurants 

• domestic servitude 

• enforced criminal activity – such as street crime, fraud or cannabis cultivation 

• illegal adoption 

• underage, servile or forced marriage 

• benefit fraud 

Child trafficking in the UK

A report by the Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre (CEOP) in April 2009 estimated that there are approximately 325 children trafficked into the UK each year

A UN report on global trafficking released found that 99% of trafficking victims are never identified, with less than 22,000 of the 2 million people estimated to be trafficked globally each year reported to the authorities.