As the world marks the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is calling for urgent and coordinated action to address one of the most overlooked forms of trafficking in persons: forced criminality.
Organized criminal groups are coercing vulnerable individuals, including migrants, children, and youth into committing crimes through manipulation, threats, and violence. From cyber fraud and online scams to drug trafficking and theft, these acts are not driven by intent but are the product of deception and exploitation. Victims are often recruited with false promises of employment and forced into criminal activity under conditions tantamount to modern-day slavery.
"Trafficking in persons is a human rights crisis. But it's more than that. It's a massive global business that fuels corruption, spreads fear, and preys on the most vulnerable," said Amy Pope, IOM Director General. "Until we start protecting people who've been exploited, instead of punishing them, we aren't making progress against trafficking in persons."
The crisis is growing rapidly, particularly in regions such as Southeast Asia, where hundreds of thousands are believed to be held in scam compounds. These individuals are isolated, abused, and stripped of agency. Even after rescue or escape, many continue to face criminal records, social stigma, and systems that treat them as offenders rather than survivors. The trauma endures long after exploitation ends.
This form of trafficking in persons is also a major driver of organized crime, generating an estimated USD 40 billion annually. Traffickers profit not only from criminal acts committed under coercion but from justice systems that criminalize victims while enabling impunity. When survivors are prosecuted, they are denied essential support, while perpetrators remain protected by systemic failures and inaction.
Governments must uphold the non-punishment principle and ensure that National Referral Mechanisms are not merely bureaucratic processes but lifelines that provide protection, legal aid, and reintegration support. Recognizing survivors as victims and not criminals is not only a moral obligation but a strategic necessity in dismantling trafficking networks.
In a world where one in three victims is a child, and 78 per cent are trafficked for forced labour or sexual exploitation, the stakes are urgent. Conflict, disaster, and poverty continue to create conditions ripe for exploitation, increasing the risk for millions already in vulnerable situations.
IOM urges governments, international partners, and communities to act collectively. Protection, justice, and long-term support must be prioritized. Survivors must be recognized as people whose rights have been violated and whose futures depend on our commitment to dignity and justice.
