The 2025 Call to End Human Trafficking

Human trafficking remains one of the most devastating and persistent human rights violations of our time. This deeply entrenched global crime thrives in the shadows, preying on vulnerability and stealing freedom, dignity, and futures. Often hidden in plain sight, it manifests through forced labor, sexual exploitation, forced criminality, and other forms of coercion.

But in 2025, something is shifting. More voices are rising. More eyes are opening. And the darkness surrounding unseen trafficking is slowly being pierced.

The Alarming Numbers We Can No Longer Ignore

The amount of modern slavery is truly shocking. The International Labour Organization (ILO), estimates that 27.6 million people were living in situations of forced labor or forced marriage on any given day in 2021 (ILO, Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, 2022). Each number represents a stolen life, a lost dream, and a silenced future.

The UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (2024 edition, reflecting 2022 data) reveals deeply concerning trends:

• Detected victims of trafficking increased by 25% globally from 2019 to 2022, reflecting both improved detection and the ongoing prevalence of the crime.

• Child exploitation is rising sharply, with a 31% increase in detected child victims during that same period. One in three identified victims is now a child. For girls specifically, detections rose 38%—a devastating indicator of heightened vulnerability.

• Forced labor cases surged 47%, especially in construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and domestic work—sectors where exploitation can easily remain hidden.

• A growing trend in trafficking for forced criminality shows how organized crime is evolving, coercing victims into cyber scams and online fraud operations.

These trends signal a clear truth: the fight against human trafficking is intensifying, and public, private, and social sectors are uniting in unprecedented ways. For businesses, this isn't just about philanthropy; it's about aligning with a global imperative, demonstrating leadership, and meeting the evolving expectations of stakeholders. Now is the time for companies to become "Unseen Guardians" —a collective force funding and equipping frontline partners to fight modern slavery.

What’s Driving the Fight in 2025

This year is a key moment in the global fight against human trafficking. We're seeing much more energy and attention on this issue, thanks to several important reasons:

More Victims Are Found — and More Voices Are Heard

Recent data shows significant progress in identifying victims. EUROSTAT reports a 6.9% increase in registered human trafficking victims in the EU in 2023—the highest number since 2008. A Global Forum for Human Trafficking Survivors in June 2025, involving 15,000 officers from 43 countries, identified 1,194 potential victims and arrested 158 suspects.

Technology is playing a major role. AI tools like "Spotlight"—developed by Thorn and used by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)—are helping law enforcement locate missing children in online ads in a fraction of the time.

The global conversation is also expanding. Survivor-led events, such as the UNODC Global Forum for Human Trafficking Survivors (Vienna, June 2025), emphasize trauma-informed and victim-centered approaches. Key discussions now address AI’s dual role—how it can both combat and facilitate trafficking.

Corporate Transparency: A Growing Mandate

Businesses are under increasing pressure to prove their ethical integrity. Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) in the US ., with its March 2025 reporting deadline, aims to curb financial crimes linked to trafficking. Globally, new frameworks like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) are requiring companies to evaluate and disclose human rights impacts within their operations and supply chains.

Forward-thinking organizations are also earning certifications such as the CIPS Corporate Ethics Mark, signaling a deep commitment to addressing modern slavery risks in procurement and labor practices.

Fighting Online: Technology and Exploitation

The internet, which connects us all, has become a dangerous tool for traffickers. But it's also a powerful place to find and stop them. From fake online job offers to complicated cyber scam operations (as reports from the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) and national groups have shown), understanding and stopping online exploitation is a big focus in 2025. New laws are also being pushed to better protect us from harm caused by technology.

Prevention Starts Local

The theme for U.S. Human Trafficking Prevention Month 2025, "Connecting the Dots: Strengthening Communities. Preventing Trafficking," highlights a powerful idea: the best way to fight back starts in our own neighborhoods. It means building strong, well-informed communities, having healthy relationships, and fixing root problems like poverty.

These are key ways to prevent trafficking. Initiatives like Ontario's new Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy for 2025-2030 are investing heavily in prevention, survivor support, and long-term recovery programs.

A United Global Front

Human trafficking doesn't stop at borders, so our fight can't either. International groups like the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) are holding important meetings, like their 25th Alliance against Trafficking in Persons Conference in March/April 2025. These meetings focus on ongoing challenges like child trafficking and new dangers. Meanwhile, the The U.S. State Department’s Program to End Modern Slavery (PEMS) continues to fund global initiatives tackling trafficking networks and improving survivor outcomes.

Protecting the Most Vulnerable

We're understanding better how traffickers target specific groups. New reports from Loughborough University and Mission 89 (March 2025) are shedding light on "sport trafficking," where young athletes are cruelly used. There's also a constant, vital focus on protecting vulnerable migrants and those forced to leave their homes because of wars or natural disasters, as these situations make people even easier targets for traffickers.

The Power of Storytelling in Raising Awareness

Seeing human trafficking covered more in movies, TV, and public campaigns is very important to make sure this complex crime doesn't stay hidden. 2024 and 2025 have seen a steady push for public learning and involvement through many powerful ways:

Recent films like "City of Dreams" (2024), introduced by Tony Robbins, highlight child trafficking in the U.S., while "26 Seconds" (2024) shows the terrible truth of sex trafficking by ISIS. Investigative reporting from groups like BBC Documentaries and Al Jazeera English continues to uncover complex cases, including modern slavery in company supply chains and new trends like "scam factories" in Southeast Asia. TV discussions, like PBS's "One-on-One" in 2025, also help people understand more. What's more, big campaigns like "What is Human Trafficking?" featuring Liam Neeson and "It's a Penalty" at large sports events use huge platforms to teach millions and encourage everyone to be aware. This helps make sure this widespread human rights problem remains a top concern around the world.

Unseen's Impact in Action

Unseen is dedicated to making a measurable, lasting difference in the fight against human trafficking. By strategically strengthening and optimizing our global partner network, we maximize the reach and effectiveness of every dollar invested.

In 2024, our partners directly served 132,050 people worldwide, including 5,756 survivors of trafficking.
Together, they achieved tangible results:

• 78 traffickers arrested and 65 convicted

• 1,242 individuals received legal aid or identity documentation

• 28,115 people accessed food, shelter, and essential care

• 18,331 professionals—including law enforcement, judges, and NGO staff—were trained to identify and combat trafficking

Strength That Fuels Impact

Unseen’s financial growth mirrors its deepening impact. From 2021 to 2024, total assets nearly doubled—from $645,478 to $1,316,278 (unaudited)—reflecting smart investment in partner capacity, skilled staff, and efficient systems.

This financial strength empowered partners to serve 132,050 people in 2024, including survivors of:

• Sex trafficking (58%)

• Forced labor (38%)

• Forced or child marriage (4%)

Through Unseen’s shared resources and support, partners raised $8.16 million in 2024, up from $7.13 million in 2023—delivering a 736% return on investment for donors.

This proves that strategic collaboration and transparent stewardship don’t just fund change, they multiply freedom at scale.

Ending Human Trafficking Starts With All of Us

The growing focus on human trafficking in 2025, supported by clear numbers and smart plans, shows a truly hopeful change. It's a strong agreement that this problem isn't just in faraway places or hidden corners; it's a huge human rights crisis that needs all of us to work together, right now.

More and more people are starting to see "Human Trafficking" not as a distant problem, but as a shared duty for everyone. By staying informed, learning to spot the signs, actively supporting the amazing groups that are saving lives by fighting trafficking, and demanding that governments and companies take responsibility, each and every one of us can play a key part. Together, we can help shine light into the dark corners and truly build a future where everyone is free.

Together, we can make the unseen impossible to ignore.

Stand up. Speak out. Fund freedom.

Become an Unseen Guardian or help someone else become one.

Trusted Official Sources:

To learn more and get involved, visit these trusted official sources:

• • U.S. Department of State – Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office)

  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Blue Campaign

  • National Human Trafficking Hotline | 📞 1-888-373-7888

  • United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

  • International Labour Organization (ILO) – Forced Labour and Trafficking

Additional Sources Cited in Article:

• • International Labour Organization (ILO) – Global Estimates of Modern Slavery (2022)

  • EUROSTAT – Trafficking in human beings statistics

  • Europol – 158 human traffickers arrested and 1,194 victims safeguarded in global operation

  • National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) – Spotlight on AI: Finding hidden trafficking victims

  • UNODC – Call to Action: Voices of Resilience – Global Forum for Human Trafficking Survivors (2025)

  • Equality Now – Shining a Light on US National Human Trafficking Awareness Day 2025

  • PilieroMazza – Corporate Transparency Act, Part 9: Reporting Due March 21, 2025

  • Ecobio Manager – Double Materiality Explained | Principle & Assessment | CSRD

  • CIPS – Corporate Code of Ethics

  • Commission on Human Rights, Philippines – UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner

  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – CBP Observes National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

  • Ontario Government – Ontario’s Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy 2025–2030

  • OSCE – 25th Conference of the Alliance against Trafficking in Persons: Protecting Childhoods, Shaping Futures

  • HigherGov – 2025 TIP Office Notification of Funding Opportunity – Statement of Interest

  • Loughborough University – Global thematic report on sport trafficking unveils critical insights

  • Apple TV – City of Dreams (2024 film)

  • Chapman University – Professor and students collaborate on “26 Seconds” trafficking documentary

  • Justice and Care – BBC documentary reveals modern slavery case undetected by UK companies

  • Al Jazeera English – Slave Scammers | True Crime Reports

  • PBS – Analyzing human trafficking and vaccine awareness | Season 2025 | Episode 2827

  • YouTube – “What is Human Trafficking?” with Liam Neeson (2025)

  • Connect Sport – “It’s A Penalty” unites sport against child exploitation