World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is a United Nations initiative established to raise global awareness about the crime of human trafficking and to encourage actions that protect the rights of victims. The day highlights the urgent need to address both the expanding reach of trafficking networks and the vulnerabilities that allow human exploitation, such as forced labour, sexual exploitation, and coerced criminal activity. Recent years have seen organised criminal networks leveraging migration, legal loopholes, and digital platforms to exploit victims across borders more intensively than ever, with over 200,000 detected victims globally between 2020 and 2023— anecdotally actual numbers are believed to be much higher. The 2025 campaign particularly emphasises the vital role of law enforcement in dismantling these networks and the importance of a victim-centred approach, aiming to ensure not only the prosecution of traffickers, but also the protection, justice, and long-term support for survivours.

In parallel, the academic discipline of victimology has evolved as a critical field in understanding and preventing victimisation. Victimology analyses why certain groups—such as children, women, migrants, or marginalised communities—are at higher risk, examining factors ranging from lifestyle choices to societal inequalities. Victimology also explores the psychological effects of crime, such as trauma and PTSD, the effectiveness of criminal justice responses, and the evolution of victims' rights. Insights from victimology inform policy making, support systems, and prevention strategies, reinforcing the ideals of the World Day Against Trafficking by ensuring that solutions are grounded not only in punishment, but also in understanding the realities and recovery needs of those who have suffered exploitation.

Watch the full-length documentary, Trafficked to Australia.