In 2023, human trafficking has become an alarming reality in the European Union, with 63.4% of recorded victims being women or girls. This figure represents a slight increase of 0.6 percentage points compared to 2022, when the proportion was 62.8%. The trend underscores the ongoing vulnerability of these groups to exploitation and highlights the urgent need for measures to protect them.
On the other hand, there is a notable disparity in the proportion of women among traffickers. In 2023, only 24.2% of suspected traffickers were women, an increase of 1.0 percentage points from the previous year, when this percentage was 23.2%. Among convicted traffickers, the percentage of women rises to 23.0%, reflecting a more significant increase of 1.4 percentage points compared to 21.6% in 2022.
Since 2015, there has been a downward trend in female participation in human trafficking. In particular, the number of female victims has drastically decreased, dropping from 77.8% in 2015 to 63.4% in 2023, representing a decline of 14.4 percentage points. The percentage of convicted traffickers who are women has also decreased, although to a lesser extent, with a reduction of 6.7 percentage points, as well as a decline of 1.5 percentage points among the group of suspects.
This context is particularly relevant as it coincides with World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, celebrated every July 30, which serves as an urgent reminder that the fight against this scourge must be ongoing. A renewed commitment from society and governments is essential to address this issue and protect the most vulnerable individuals.
via: MiMub in Spanish
