Trafficking often refers to the illegal trade or movement of goods, such as drugs or weapons. When that same act is done to people — when individuals are bought, sold, or exploited for profit — it becomes human trafficking, a profound violation of human dignity and freedom.

Human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation, harbouring, or control of a person for the purpose of exploitation, most often through sexual exploitation or forced labour. It is often described as a modern form of slavery — a system that strips people of choice, safety, and self-determination.

Other forms of human trafficking can include:
• Forced labour
• Forced marriage
• Domestic servitude
• Organ harvesting
• Medical experimentation
• Criminal exploitation (including forced drug trafficking, theft, or fraud)
• Ritual abuse
• Child soldiers
• Online sexual exploitation and other forms of technology-facilitated trafficking

Child sexual exploitation occurs when anyone coerces, lures, trafficks, or engages a child under the age of 18 in a sexual act or in the sex trade, including pornography, with or without the child’s consent, in exchange for money, drugs, shelter, food, protection, or other necessities.