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subjected to sexual exploitation in neighbouring countries. Main forms of exploitation and profiles of detected victims, by subregions, 2016 (or most recent) Source: UNODC elaboration of national data. Note: The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on the map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Main form of exploitation detected: Sexual exploitation Begging and other forms Forced labour Note: The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on the map do not imply ocial endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. North America Central America and the Caribbean South America Southern Africa South Asia East Asia and the Pacific Eastern Europe and Central Asia Central and SouthEastern Europe West Africa East Africa Western and Southern Europe North Africa Middle East GLOTiP_2018_BOOK.indb 11 17/12/2018 19:49:06 12 GLOBAL REPORT ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 2018 Abduction of women and girls for sexual slavery has been reported in many conflicts in Central and West Africa, as well as in the conflicts in the Middle East. It has also been reported that women and girls are trafficked for forced marriage in the same areas. Recruitment of children for use as armed combatants is widely documented in many of the conflict areas considered: from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Central African Republic, as well as in conflicts in the Middle East and other parts of Asia. In addition, the study finds that armed groups recruit children for exploitation in forced labour in various supportive roles, from logistics to catering. Recruitment and exploitation of children in extractive industries have been reported conflicts in subSaharan Africa, in some cases for the purpose of financing the activities of armed groups. Within conflict zones, armed groups may make use of trafficking as a strategy to assert territorial dominance. They can spread fear of being trafficked among groups in the territories where they operate to keep the local population under control. They may also use women and girls as ‘sex slaves’ or force them into marriages to appeal to new potential male recruits. Armed groups, however, are not the only actors engaging in trafficking in persons in the context of armed conflicts. Criminal groups and individual traffickers target civilians, as well as refugees and internally displaced populations in some formal or informal camps. In all the conflicts considered for this study, forcibly displaced populations have been targeted by traffickers: from settlements of Syrian and Iraqi refugees, to Afghans and Rohingya fleeing conflict and persecution. The study also discusses the risk faced by migrants and refugees travelling through conflict areas, such as Libya or parts of sub-Saharan Africa, along the routes. In Libya, for example, militias control some detention centres for migrants and refugees. It has been documented how militias and criminals are coercing detained migrants and refugees for different exploitative purposes. In precarious socio-economic conditions or situations involving persecution, people escaping conflict can be more easily deceived into travel arrangements, accepting fraudulent job offers in neighbouring countries or fraudulent marriage proposals that are in fact exploitative situations. Armed conflicts tend to have a negative impact on the livelihood of people living in the surrounding areas, even when they are not directly involved in the violence. Again, traffickers may target communities that are particularly vulnerable because of forced displacement, lack of access to opportunities for income generation, discrimination and family separation. Persons coerced into sexual slavery Recruitment of children into armed groups Persons exploited in forced marriage Persons exploited as porters by armed groups Extracting minerals, diamonds and gold Refugees coerced into sexual exploitation Persons exploited in forced marriage Persons exploited in industries and service sectors Persons detained and exploited while escaping armed conflict Victims exploited in conflict areas Victims exploited while fleeing conflict areas Reported forms of trafficking in persons directly and indirectly related to armed conflict GLOTiP_2018_BOOK.indb 12 17/12/2018 19:49:06 13 Policy implications POLICY IMPLICATIONS There has been an overall increase in the detection of victims of trafficking in persons across the world in recent years. This growth can reflect positive and negative developments in the fight against trafficking in persons as it can be a sign of enhanced efforts by authorities to identify victims and/or a larger trafficking problem. Where the number of detected victims has increased after legislative or programmatic action, however, these actions – including amendments to legislation, enforcement of well designed action plans, victim protection schemes and national referral mechanisms – have clearly contributed to improving the identification of victims and the effectiveness of criminal justice responses. Despite the progress, impunity still prevails in large parts of the globe, as shown, for instance, by the low levels of victim detections and trafficker convictions recorded in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. Most countries in these regions are now parties to the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol and have appropriate legislation in place. The work in these regions of origin, as well as in their main countries of destination now needs to focus on implementation of the Protocol provisions. In the spirit of shared responsibility and international cooperation, support from other countries affected by these trafficking flows can help to accelerate anti-trafficking efforts and tackle impunity for this crime. In a departure from prior Global Report editions, the data show that victims who have been detected within their own national borders now represent the largest part of the victims detected worldwide. This finding clearly illustrates that the crime of trafficking in persons is not always defined by transnationality, and should be treated as a criminal justice priority in all national jurisdictions. It also shows that trafficking is rooted in the exploitation of victims, and not necessarily their movement, although victims detected in their own countries may have been destined for exploitation elsewhere. While transnational trafficking networks are still prevalent and must be responded to through international cooperation, national justice measures, strategies and priorities should acknowledge the increasingly national nature of the trafficking problem. Trafficking for sexual exploitation is still the most detected form, although it continues to be a broad category. While trafficking for sexual exploitation may be carried out by criminals using physical violence and coercion, victims may also be trapped by means of abuse of vulnerability, power and deception. Victims may find it difficult to speak out about their experiences because of fear, lack of trust or shame. Institutions dealing with trafficking should be able to identify the different and often complex contexts and realities in which sexual exploitation takes place in order to respond to victims’ physical, psychological, social and economic needs. The trafficking of children – particularly girls – remains a key concern. Dedicated training can make practitioners better equipped to detect and assist these victims, ensuring that the best interest of the child is safeguarded. Teachers need to be part of a holistic approach to prevent trafficking and reduce the vulnerability of children to becoming trapped in exploitative patterns. Anti-trafficking interventions for children can be more effective if they are included in programmes to provide quality education for all, especially in settings at an increased risk of trafficking such as refugee camps. Addressing trafficking in persons in conflict situation is particularly challenging. A recent UNODC Thematic Paper on Countering Trafficking in Persons in Conflict Situations discusses how to integrate efforts against trafficking in persons into conflict-related work.1 United Nations actors and entities that operate in conflict and post-conflict settings are well placed to address trafficking in persons in these contexts. The Paper addresses the issue of information gathering and research in conflict and post conflict areas and the prevention of trafficking in persons in conflict situations, including reducing people’s vulnerability to being trafficked or becoming a perpetrator of trafficking. In addition, the