Avenues for action: engaging workers' and employers organizations to combat trafficking in children and women

The ILO's unique tripartite structure empowers effective cooperation between governments, workers, and employers in the effort to combat trafficking in children and women. The underlying advantage rests in the potential to address trafficking at international, national, provincial, and local levels. To date, engaging with Workers' and Employers' organizations (W&Es) has been one of the most challenging aspects of the campaign, since a majority of trafficking occurs in the unregulated informal economy1 where little organization exists among workers and employers and where labour standards are not well established, monitored and enforced. ILO IPEC finds these challenges particularly pressing as these organizations remain critical partners alongside governments, NGOs, and academic leaders in fight against the trafficking and exploitation of children and women.