Record number of victims of labour exploitation in the EU: new Eurostat data
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According to the latest data published by Eurostat, 10,793 victims of human trafficking were officially registered in the European Union in 2023. This crime of exploitation of a person is recognised as a gross violation of human rights, with movement across borders not being a prerequisite for qualifying such cases. Both EU citizens and migrants are victims of trafficking, and each case has been confirmed by official bodies or recognised by national and international organisations.
The structure of reported cases is of particular concern. Women and girls account for 63 per cent of the total number of victims, while women account for less than a quarter of those suspected and convicted of trafficking, 24 per cent and 23 per cent respectively. This gender asymmetry confirms that sexual exploitation continues to be one of the main forms of this offence, accounting for almost 44 per cent of all reported cases.
However, it was labour exploitation that showed the greatest increase. In 2023, 36% of all victims were involved in forced labour - that's 3,457 people. This is a record high considering that between 2008 and 2018, the percentage fluctuated between 14% and 21%. Since 2019, there has been a steady increase in this type of exploitation - it is now at 28-41%, indicating a radical shift in the motivation and methods of perpetrators.
About 20 per cent of victims were subjected to other forms of exploitation, ranging from organ removal and fraud to forced begging or crime. These forms, although less common, show the increasing complexity and diversity of criminal schemes.
Along with victims, Eurostat also reports 8,471 suspects and 2,309 convictions for trafficking in human beings. However, the agency emphasises that the data by country may vary considerably due to different legal interpretations, methods of registration and the level of implementation of Directive 2011/36/EU, which regulates the fight against trafficking in human beings in the EU.
