1 in 3 victims of human trafficking is child: IOM

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations agencies on the occasion of World Day against Human Trafficking on Wednesday said one in every three victims of human trafficking was a child, but the overall number of such victims has decreased by 11 percent.

July 30th is celebrated as the World Day against Human Trafficking.

In a joint statement, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), Save Children and UN Children’s Fund called for joint efforts to prevent child trafficking.

It said: “Globally, one (1) in three (3) identified victims of trafficking is a child. UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons shows an 11 per cent decrease in the number of victims of trafficking detected at the global level, but an increase in the percentage of child survivors, from 28 per cent in 2014 to 35 per cent in 2021.”

The statement pointed out that child trafficking was a crime and all countries had a duty to fight against it.

Earlier, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid about human trafficking had said the interim government would not allow anyone to conduct human trafficking in the country and anyone found involved would be punished

He added human trafficking was carried out beyond the borders of Afghanistan, which couldn’t be prevented by the Islamic Emirate and it was the responsibility of other countries.

kk/ma