Age of Victims: Children and Adults

The profile of children trafficked is different to the one of adult victims, in terms of recruitment, gender, means of control and other aspects of the trafficking process. For example, the extent of family involvement in the trafficking of children is up to four times higher than in cases of adult trafficking. A higher percentage of identified children are trafficked sexual exploitation than for forced labour. Children who are victims of labour exploitation are most commonly forced to beg, undertake domestic work or work in the hospitality sector.

Age of Victims

The highest percentage of female victims can be found in the 18-20 age group, while the highest percentage of male victims can be found in higher age groups.

AGE OF VICTIMS (IOM Only)

The average age for IOM registered victims of trafficking is 27, and half of all victims are aged between 19 and 33. There is a slight spike in age at 0 and 1 years of age- this is because of the number of children who are born into trafficking.

IDENTIFIED CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Approximately one fifth of all identified victims are children. IOM and Polaris assist a significant caseload of child victims each year.

MEANS OF CONTROL USED ON ADULTS

MEANS OF CONTROL USED ON CHILDREN

Displayed here is the proportion of each means of control for cases of adult and child victims of trafficking. It is possible for each victim to have been subject to multiple means of control. Adults are controlled most through restrictions to movements and psychological abuse.

The means of control used most by traffickers on children are similar to those used on adults, however children are controlled more through physical abuse and psychoactive substances than adults.

CHILDREN'S AGE AT ENTRY INTO TRAFFICKING

AGE OF IDENTIFIED GIRLS AND BOYS

A third of all identified children enter into the trafficking process while they are aged 15 to 17.

Over fifty percent of identified girl victims are aged between 15 and 17, whereas about forty percent of trafficked boys are under 12 years of age.

AGE AND WORK SECTOR OF VICTIMS OF LABOUR EXPLOITATION

RECRUITER RELATIONSHIP ADULTS AND CHILDREN

There are some similarities between the work sectors adults and children are trafficked into, for example domestic work and hospitality. While adults are trafficked more into agriculture and manufacturing, children are more often trafficked into begging, peddling and illicit activities. Traffickers will send children out to beg or sell things on the street, and even carry out theft and other crimes.

There are marked differences in the relationships adult victims and child victims have with the person who recruited them. Over 40% of children were recruited by a family member or relative, against 9% for adults. Understanding how victims of trafficking are recruited by traffickers is key to prevention effort by counter-trafficking actors.

EDUCATION LEVEL OF CHILDREN

DURATION OF TRAFFICKING FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN

Almost half of identified child victims of trafficking have completed primary or elementary education. Almost a quarter have attended middle school, while only a few (2%) completed secondary school. Over 10 per cent have no education at all.

The average duration of trafficking for adult victims is close to 2 years years, and the average length of trafficking for child victims is slightly higher at 2.2 years.

ADULT AND CHILD VICTIMS OVER TIME

There is a significant and steady caseload of identified child victims each year. Recent years have seen an increase in this caseload, from 22% in 2015 to 26% in 2017.