Human trafficking prevention month: Making the invisible visible

Human trafficking is a crime that thrives in the shadows. We often hear that it is 'hidden,' but at the ILO, we believe you cannot effectively fix what you cannot measure. To solve this crisis, we must move from guessing... to knowing.

That is why, with the support of the US Department of State, the ILO is leading a major push for better data. We are collaborating with UNODC, IOM, and the University of Georgia to develop new global statistical standards, boosted by the use of new technologies like AI.

We are working together to go beyond the tip of the iceberg—police, justice, and administrative records—to measure the true magnitude of trafficking, and finally make the invisible, visible. But detecting the problem is only half the battle. We also need to know how to fix it efficiently.

We are partnering with Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) to identify global research priorities and determine which counter-trafficking interventions actually work—and which are the most cost-effective.

This is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the US, and the ILO is proud to be part of the solution—ensuring that every dollar invested translates into real freedom and real change.