School closures due to the pandemic give an opportunity for human traffickers targeting children.
One-third of found trafficking victims are children - from 2016 to 2018 the number of reported cases increased from 24,000 to 49,000.
The risk is higher in poorer countries, where children might not be able to get an education and have to work instead. Many of the child labourers might be unknown victims of traffickers.
According to the UN, about 25 million people are affected by labour and sex trafficking. Before the pandemic, the number of victims significantly decreased, and while the number of abducted women also decreased, the number of men almost doubled.
The United Nations launched the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour, planning to reach their goal by 2025. While it is worrying that help may be slower due to the pandemic, they are hoping to eliminate child labour and trafficking in the coming years.