According to data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), cases of human trafficking have increased by 25% in recent years, with more than 60% of victims being women and children. The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that over 28 million people worldwide are subjected to forced labour, generating an estimated 150 billion dollars in illegal profit annually.

Structural issues such as war, poverty, climate change, inequality, and informal employment are among the root causes that fuel human trafficking. Migrant workers, women, and children remain the most vulnerable targets of traffickers. Mass displacement, precarious working conditions, and the deepening of social injustice under neoliberal policies further contribute to the spread of this crime.

Labour organizations serve as both a protective shield and an active force in the fight against human trafficking. As the ILC, we call on all unions and stakeholders to unite around the following key priorities:

·         The right to decent work and freedom of association must be guaranteed to prevent forced labour and exploitation.

·         The rights of migrant workers must be protected, and safe and legal migration channels must be established.

·         Protective measures for women and children must be strengthened.

·         International cooperation, effective monitoring, and efforts to end impunity must be reinforced in combating trafficking.

·         Corporations and governments must be held accountable for eradicating forced labour in global supply chains.

Human trafficking is not merely an individual crime—it is a global injustice. A world built on dignified labour, social justice, and equality is the strongest response we can give against this pervasive form of modern slavery.