In marking the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons today, it is becoming clear that Covid-19 has devastated the livelihoods of millions of people, leaving them more vulnerable to global criminal networks.
Traffickers are having a heyday preying on willing and readily available victims who are reeling from the effects of economic meltdown that has interrupted normal life and led to job losses and pay cuts.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says in its latest report that children are particularly at higher risk of sex trafficking arising from increased online presence due to closure of schools.
“Children are at heightened risk of exploitation, especially since the closure of schools have not only precluded many from access to education but also from a main source of shelter and nourishment.
More vulnerable
“Since their schools are closed, many children are increasingly online for learning and socialising. This may make them more vulnerable to online sexual predators.”
In March 2020, the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in March 2020 recorded a 106 per cent rise in global reports of suspected child sexual exploitation – an increase from 983,734 last March to 2,027,520 cases this year. read whole story here...
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