What is child trafficking

Parents may hand over their children not just for money, but in the misguided hope that their children will escape poverty and have a better life, with more opportunities. Trafficking is lucrative. Last year, half a million people in our sponsorship communities learnt how to access child protection services and information. In , more than 81, children and youth in our sponsorship communities courageously took action to help end violence against children.

Child trafficking is the term given to the movement of children into and within the country with the intent to exploit them. A child is defined as any person under Some of the ways in which such exploitation can take place are:. It is very difficult to know if a child has been trafficked, as there are many different ways it may happen.

Many children who are trafficked are brought into the UK from other countries, both legally and illegally. There are also children who are UK citizens who are trafficked within the country. The child may not realise that they have been trafficked. Traffickers use physical , sexual and emotional abuse as a form of control.

Children and young people are also likely to be physically and emotionally neglected and may be sexually exploited. Traffickers often groom children, families and communities to gain their trust. They may also threaten families with violence or threats.

Traffickers often promise children and families that they'll have a better future elsewhere. Trafficking is also an economic crime. Traffickers may ask families for money for providing documents or transport and they'll make a profit from money a child "earns" through exploitation, forced labour or crime. They'll often be told this money is to pay off a debt they or their family "owe" to the traffickers.

Knowing the signs of trafficking can help give a voice to children. Sometimes children won't understand that what's happening to them is wrong. Or they might be scared to speak out.

It may not be obvious that a child has been trafficked but you might notice unusual or unexpected things. They might:. Being kept captive or living or working in poor conditions can have a serious impact on a child's mental and physical health. They might also be suffering from the effects of abuse and neglect.

Children may feel distressed and alienated if they've been separated from their families, friends, communities and cultures. They'll often have had no access to education or opportunity for social and emotional development. Children exploited for domestic servitude and forced labour can suffer physical injuries, develop problems with their emotional health and be denied access to an education.

Children trafficked for sexual exploitation are at high risk of prolonged periods of sexual violence, physical injuries, sexually transmitted infections and, for girls, multiple pregnancies. Children who are trafficked are intentionally hidden and isolated from the services and communities who can identify and protect them. If you're worried about a child, you can take steps to keep them safe.

We're here to support you, no matter your worry. Children and young people who've been trafficking might find it difficult to talk about their experiences or to tell anyone what's happened to them. To be able to see YouTube videos, we have to ask you to accept Targeting cookies within Cookie Settings. We understand how difficult it is for children to talk about child trafficking. Calls to are free and confidential. Children can also contact Childline online. Visit NSPCC Learning for information and resources for safeguarding and protecting children from trafficking and modern slavery.

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