Brussels:The European Commission has unveiled a new strategy to combat human trafficking ahead of EU Anti-Trafficking Day on October 18. In 2023 and 2024, the number of registered victims in the EU exceeded 20,000, marking a 16.1% increase. However, many cases still go unnoticed. Trafficking manifests in various forms, including sexual and labor exploitation, forced criminality, begging, and forced marriage.

According to Emirates News Agency, the new strategy focuses on six priorities utilizing technology to prevent and detect trafficking, collaborating with businesses and labor inspectors, intensifying actions against organized crime, addressing migration-related risks, enhancing crisis preparedness, and strengthening support and protection for at-risk individuals and victims.

Traffickers often target vulnerable individuals, with women and girls comprising 63% of registered victims, primarily for sexual exploitation. Children account for 15%, while men make up the majority of those trafficked for labor exploitation at 74%.

To effectively combat the rise in trafficking, the EU is adapting its response through six strategic pillars. These include leveraging modern technology, enhancing private sector involvement to reduce exploitation risks, disrupting transnational trafficking linked to organized crime, preventing migration-related exploitation, improving prevention and rapid response in crises, and bolstering protection for those vulnerable to trafficking.