Every Fourth Human Trafficking Victim in Europe Is a Minor, Report Shows
Such a report was shared on July 27 on the occasion of the International Day Against Human Trafficking, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.
According to data, one-fourth of the 14,000 already identified cases concern minors, which are mainly trapped in prostitution rings. In addition, the report condemns the increase in the number of victims that are at high risk in Italy.
ANSA explains that the number of minor victims remains high as human trafficking in Europe creates revenue of about 29.4 million, suggesting that this is the main reason minors keep being victims of trafficking.
Moreover, the same reveals that a total of 1,911 cases were treated in Italy in 2021 by the anti-trafficking systems.
As for data for Italy alone, it has been shown that the most common forms of exploitation in the country were found the be sexual and labour exploitation. The victims were mainly aged between 18 and 25. However, it was explained that there were also persons who were not 17 yet.
According to ANSA, the highest number of persons who were exploited were from Nigeria, Pakistan, Morocco, Gambia, and the Ivory Coast. The report found that 65.6 per cent of exploited nationalities were from Nigeria, 4.5 per cent were from Pakistan, 2.6 per cent were from Morocco, 2.5 per cent were from the Gambia, and 2.3 per cent were from the Ivory Coast.
It has been pointed out that they have particularly increased for the Gambia and the Ivory Coat in the last two years. Save the Children notes that around 130 women and young girls from the Ivory Coast, together with their minor children, are registered as well as treated by the Italian anti-trafficking system.
In addition to the above-mentioned, it has been indicated that criminal organisations involved in human trafficking have already been used to transnational Coronavirus mobility restrictions, meaning that they are no longer affected by restrictions imposed to halt the spread of the virus.
Previously, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reported that the EU court of human rights found Italy guilty of violating the rights of a migrant minor.
The European Court of Human Rights said that the migrant received inhuman and degrading treatments as well as was placed in an adult shelter despite having informed the Italian authorities of his age.
