How has COVID impacted Human Trafficking?

“Data is already indicating that following COVID-19 there will be millions more men, women and children at risk of being trafficked than ever before. The health and economic catastrophes caused by the pandemic…are combining to create a devastatingly ideal environment for trafficking to flourish.”

Here are some fast facts about the impact of the pandemic on human trafficking:

• While the number of individuals at risk of trafficking grew during the pandemic, so did the conditions under which traffickers thrive.
• Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, governments faced the predicament of shifting priorities to focus on growing health and economic concerns, which drew attention and resources away from anti-trafficking efforts. Prevention efforts decreased as some governments suspended awareness campaigns. Conversations related to human trafficking typically held by community, tribal and religious leaders were often cancelled or postponed.
• Traffickers capitalised on the reduced capacity and shifting priorities of law enforcement resulting in greater anonymity and impunity to pursue their crimes. Disruptions to public justice systems and diversion of resources from anti-trafficking efforts during the pandemic increased impunity for traffickers and lowered the odds of their arrest.
• Enforced lockdowns around the world have created a huge increase in the demand for online pornography. This in turn has driven the demand for sex trafficking of women and children to produce more content for pornographic sites, and a significiant increase in online live streaming of sexual exploitation and abuse.
• The Philippines Department of Justice noted an increase of nearly 300% in referrals for potential online sex trafficking and Online Sexual Exploitation Content cases from March to May 2020, the period during which the Philippines was under lockdown or quarantine measures. In India, there was a reported 95% rise in online searched for Child Sexual Exploitation Material.

This information is taken from two sources

https://weamc.global/covid-trafficking/?fbclid=lwAR0upCnKL2XO5yJRPPmO4LILWUo2F0jzkX2c12zNwiWhsl69eENdot1inxA

https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TIP_Report_Final_20210701.pdf