MANILA: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has identified the Philippines as one of the world’s leading countries of origin for trafficking victims, with 13,313 Filipinos recorded among more than 125,000 victims identified globally.
The latest IOM data, presented at the Sixth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour in Marrakesh, showed that more than 125,000 trafficking victims have been officially identified worldwide.
According to data published on its website, 13,313 of those victims were Filipinos, placing the Philippines second among countries of origin, behind Ukraine with 19,163 and ahead of the United States with 11,658 and Moldova with 10,464.
The IOM said the actual number is likely higher due to widespread underreporting and gaps in detection.
Each year, the Philippines deploys thousands of workers abroad, making overseas employment a cornerstone of the economy. However, the IOM said large-scale labor migration also creates opportunities for traffickers through illegal recruitment and deceptive job offers.
The same dataset also showed that the Philippines is not only a country of origin but also a location where exploitation occurs. It recorded 2,333 trafficking cases, placing it among the top 10 worldwide, alongside the United States with 109,109 cases and Ukraine with 11,030.
The IOM noted that countries with fewer than 10 registered cases were excluded from the data for privacy reasons.
“So, when no data is displayed, it does not necessarily mean the absence of human trafficking,” the agency said.
Children increasingly visible
Of the more than 125,000 trafficking victims identified by the IOM, 29,545 are children, or nearly one in four detected victims worldwide.
“Millions of children on the move face heightened risks of exploitation and trafficking, yet they remain too often invisible in global policies and protection systems,” IOM Director General Amy Pope said in a video message.
She added: “We must act now — across borders and across sectors — to close these alarming protection gaps and ensure that every child, everywhere, is safe.”
The conference, hosted by the government of Morocco and the International Labour Organization from Feb. 11 to 13, brought together governments, UN agencies, businesses, civil society and youth leaders to accelerate efforts to eliminate child labor.
Nearly 100,000, or 76%, of the identified victims are adults.
Sexual exploitation
Based on the IOM’s analysis, trafficking cases were categorized as sexual exploitation at 61%, forced labor at 37%, and other forms at 7%.
At the event, the IOM emphasised the need for stronger data and research to identify risks, inform prevention efforts and guide targeted responses.
It cited recent evidence, including a joint IOM-Harvard study analyzing two decades of child trafficking data, which highlighted the complex links between child labor, migration and trafficking in persons.
“The findings point to the need for closer alignment between child protection, migration and anti-trafficking systems, as well as more coordinated action among policymakers, researchers and practitioners,” the IOM said.
The organisation also underscored the need for coordinated, rights-based responses, stressing that partnerships are essential to close gaps between migration, child labour and trafficking efforts and to support countries in developing integrated approaches.
It highlighted progress under the IOM–Save the Children–Unicef Global Programme on Protection for Migrant Children, noting that collaboration with governments in East and the Horn of Africa and North Africa is strengthening cross-border case management and referral systems to reduce risks faced by children along migration routes.
The IOM reaffirmed its commitment to working with governments, UN partners, civil society and youth networks to ensure that efforts to eliminate child labor include children on the move and are guided by stronger evidence, including in the lead-up to the International Migration Review Forum. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
