This document builds on a discussion paper developed by the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons on the current state of evaluation practice in the field of trafficking in persons. It provides an accessible and easily employable set of tools that practitioners can use to...

The report explores various sites of vulnerability where migrants are particularly susceptible to human trafficking, forced labour and modern slavery. These include private dwellings, border crossings, irregular migration routes and conflict zones. The report illustrates that migrants are most...

The Recommended Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Human Trafficking, which are included as an addendum to the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Economic and Social Council (E/2002/68/Add.1), have been developed in order to provide practical, rights-based policy...

ICAT is a policy forum mandated by the UN General Assembly to improve coordination among UN agencies and other relevant international organizations to facilitate a holistic and comprehensive approach to preventing and combating trafficking in persons, including protection and support for victims of...

UNODC’ data portal, dataUNODC is a unique tool containing loads of interesting data on drugs and crime. It has a new feature which allows users to find all its data on drugs and crime grouped under a country’s profile. Its user-friendly interface also enables users to visualize and download all...

The Migration Data Portal provides a page dedicated to the topic of human trafficking, including its definition, data sources, data strengths and limitations and suggestions for further reading. 

The Blue Heart Campaign is a global awareness raising initiative to fight human trafficking and its impact on society. The Blue Heart is increasingly recognized as the international symbol against human trafficking, representing the sadness of those who are trafficked while reminding us of the cold...

Delta 8.7 is a global knowledge platform exploring what works to eradicate forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour, an aim set out in Target 8.7 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Counter-Trafficking Data Collaborative is the first global data hub on human trafficking, publishing harmonized data from counter-trafficking organizations around the world. Launched by IOM in November 2017, the goal of CTDC is to break down information-sharing barriers and equip the counter...

The Human Trafficking Knowledge Portal is an initiative to facilitate the dissemination of information regarding the implementation of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and specifically the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and...

The Migrant Smuggling Observatory (MSO) at the Migration Policy Centre of the European University Institute provides evidence-based research on smuggling practices. Born from a collective effort to better inform policy makers, media and law enforcement, and to foster a community of smuggling...

The Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants - Asia and the Middle East (GLO.ACT Asia and the Middle East) is a four-year (2018-2022), €12 million joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) being implemented...

Trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants are often presented in an overly simplified way. The truth is that both crimes are very complex. For an effective and sustainable response, it is important to understand these complexities. A gender-responsive approach to human trafficking and...

Every year, thousands of migrants and refugees travel across the world in search of safe heaven and better livelihood opportunities. Amongst these people, there are victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants. But what does it mean to be a victim of trafficking or smuggled migrants, and what is the...

This video explains key issues related to human rights in the context of migrant smuggling and human trafficking.

In recent years there have been few topics garnering as much widespread interest as human trafficking and migrant smuggling. These issues have attracted the attention of Governments, NGOs, International Organizations, the media as well as academia. While this attention tends to provoke vivid...

There are those who seek to apply the experience of the war on drugs to the emerging war on migrant smugglers to warn that such a confrontation carries high costs, low chances of success and would likely lead to an escalation of violence against the migrants themselves. Such arguments suggest we...

Efforts to counter the COVID-19 pandemic have seen unprecedented restrictions on movement being imposed in many countries, both at borders and within countries. Some communities and policymakers have adopted increasingly hostile attitudes towards migrants, whom they perceive as contagion risks...

This briefing paper focuses on the evolving role of smugglers in West Africa’s migration economy, as well as migration and smuggling patterns in West Africa and between West and North Africa. The Mixed Migration Monitoring Mechanism Initiative (4Mi) carried out a total of 153 interviews with...

The Toolkit to Combat Smuggling of Migrants provides guidance, showcases promising practices, and recommends resources to assist policy makers, law enforcers, judges, prosecutors, and members of civil society in their efforts to prevent migrant smuggling, protect smuggled migrants and their rights...