Covid sees decline human-trafficking cases

In Namibia, at least 95 victims of human trafficking were identified from 2017 to 2020.This is according to the latest global report on trafficking in persons, launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).The report, however, indicated that there has been a decline in human trafficking during this time period - which it attributes to the Covid-19 pandemic.A total of 22 victims were identified in 2017 and 2018, 33 in 2019 and 18 in 2020.Between 2017 and 2020, five human trafficking cases were under prosecution in the country, it said. Over that same period, 15 men and eight women were identified as traffickers.VulnerabilitiesAccording to the report, fewer victims of human trafficking are being identified globally - even as crises are increasing vulnerabilities to exploitation.The number of victims globally fell by 11% in 2020 from the previous year, driven by fewer detections in low- and medium-income countries, it said.The pandemic, in addition to reduced opportunities for traffickers to operate, may have weakened law enforcement capacities to detect victims, it added.“This latest report shows how the pandemic has increased vulnerabilities to trafficking in persons, further undercutting capacities to rescue victims and bring criminals to justice,” UNODC executive director Ghada Waly said.“We cannot allow crises to compound exploitation. The United Nations and the donor community need to support national authorities, most of all in developing countries, to respond to trafficking threats and to identify and protect victims - especially in states of emergency.”Patterns and flowsThe report covers 141 countries and provides an overview of patterns and flows of human trafficking at global, regional and national levels, based on cases detected.“Fewer cases of trafficking for sexual exploitation were detected during the pandemic as public spaces were closed and related restrictions may have pushed this form of trafficking into more concealed and less safe locations, making it harder to identify victims,” it read.Breaking down trafficking statistics by region, it showed higher levels of impunity in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.As in previous years, most victims detected in Sub-Saharan Africa are either citizens of the country of detection or citizens of other Sub-Saharan countries, it said.“Indeed, 85% of those detected in 2020 were tracked domestically. Where foreign victims were detected, the majority of them were tracked within the region from other Sub-Saharan African countries, particularly from east and southern African countries.”

Covid sees decline human-trafficking cases

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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Covid sees decline human-trafficking cases

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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