Terre des Hommes: Child trafficking continues despite COVID-19 restrictions in Asia

On the occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (30 July), child rights organisation Terre des Hommes Netherlands sees child trafficking continuing in Asian countries despite COVID-19 related international and domestic travel bans. Partner organisations of Terre des Hommes in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines all report child trafficking cases during lockdowns. Loss of businesses and jobs, and school closures contributed to the rise of violence against children, teenage pregnancies, forced child marriages, and vulnerability to traffickers. The increased desperation causes families to push their children to find alternative work, thus also increasing the number of cases of child sexual exploitation. The expectation is that child trafficking will only grow further, with the lifting of most restrictions, warns Terre des Hommes Netherlands.