GWI
GWI STRESSES EDUCA:ON’S ROLE IN ADDRESSING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AS ORGANIZED CRIME GENEVA
Switzerland, 30 July 2025
On World Day against Trafficking in Persons, Graduate Women International (GWI) demands decisive, coordinated action to end human trafficking and its devastating impact on women and girls. Under this year’s theme, “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation”, GWI underscores the pressing need to dismantle trafficking networks and confront the structural inequalities that make women and girls especially vulnerable. Today, GWI shares consolidated data in an infographic exposing the persistent reality that females remain the majority of identified trafficking victims worldwide, underscoring the urgent need to invest in education to reduce vulnerability and prevent exploitation.
According to the 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), women and girls continue to bear the brunt of human trafficking worldwide. In 2022, 61 percent of detected trafficking victims were female, with adult women representing 39 percent and girls accounting for 22 percent of identified victims. Most were trafficked for sexual exploitation, while many others were coerced into forced labor, particularly in domestic settings. Alarmingly, women and girls are also increasingly trafficked for forced marriages and criminal activities. These figures highlight the gendered dimensions of trafficking and the urgent need for education-focused, targeted prevention strategies.
GWI reaffirms its commitment to Resolution 7, adopted by the General Assembly in 2016, which directs its National Federations and Associations (NFAs) to press governments to strengthen and enforce anti-trafficking legislation. GWI also calls on NFAs to intensify awareness campaigns that expose the realities of trafficking and emphasize the importance of education in reducing vulnerability.
“Human trafficking thrives on inequality. Education is not optional; it is a critical tool for prevention of andrecovery from human trafficking. We invite governments and the international community to work with us to increase invest in education systems that empower girls with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves,” says Stacy Dry Lara, GWI Executive Director.
As per numerous studies supported by GWI, education is a powerful tool to prevent human trafficking and structural inequalities. Quality education equips girls with knowledge and critical skills to recognize and avoid recruitment tactics, including those increasingly used online. Integrating anti-trafficking awareness into school curricula can educate girls on how to identify risks and seek help. GWI urges governments and international organizations to partner together to prioritize investment in education policies and programs as a sustainable, long-term strategy to prevent human trafficking.
About GWI: GWI is a membership-based international NGO based in Geneva, Switzerland, with a presence in over 60 countries. Founded in 1919, GWI is the leading girls’ and women’s global organization advocating for women’s rights, equality, and empowerment through access to quality education and training up to the highest levels. GWI is in special consultative status with ECOSOC since 1947 and is an NGO maintaining official relations with UNESCO and ILO.