• Trafficking in persons is one of the most lucrative forms of organised crime. Similarly to illicit trade in general, organised trafficking requires systematic corruption.
  
  
• Prior to the OECD's development of Guiding Principles, there was no international instrument that comprehensively focused on the important link between corruption and trafficking in persons and that aimed at addressing both.
  
  
• Addressing these two issues jointly, coupled with better cross-border cooperation, better enforcement and an increased focus on combating corruption is key to effectively curb human trafficking.
  
  

IN FIGURES

• Over 20.9 million people around the world are estimated to be victims of forced labour.

• Forced labour is estimated to generate US$150 billion per year of illegal profits in the private economy worldwide (ILO).

• Human trafficking is one of the most lucrative forms of organised crime.

• 66% of trafficking victims are trafficked across borders.

CORRUPTION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING

• Organised trafficking cannot take place without corruption.
  
  
• Human trafficking occurs with the collusion of corrupt officials with criminal gangs.
  
  
• Corruption in the trafficking in persons cycle: 
  • allows the crime to be invisible
  • facilitates the impunity once cases of trafficking in persons are detected
  • facilitates the execution of the crime, and
  • can assure the re-vicitimisation of trafficked victims

• Addressing human trafficking and corruption jointly is more effective than addressing these two issuess individually. This is why the OECD has developed Guiding Principles on Combatting Corruption Related to Trafficking in Persons

OECD DRAFT GUIDING PRINCIPLES ON COMBATTING CORRUPTION RELATED TO TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

The OECD's Guiding Principles are grouped under the following headings:

1. International cooperation and agreements
   
   
2. Jointly addressing and investigating trafficking in persons and corruption
   
   
3. Transparency and integrity frameworks for public officials at risk
   
   
4. Awareness-raising and prevention measures for Public Officials and the general public 
   
   
5. Improvement of data collection and systematic use of information 
   
   
6. Lift immunity in corruption and trafficking cases

BETTER DATA REQUIRED  

• Better data is needed to understand more fully the human trafficking operating environment
  
  
• Collecting and sharing this information at the national level would strengthen policies designed to prevent trafficking and protect victims, increase prosecutions, and assess impact of prevention strategies

• The OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade (TF-CIT) was set up to co-ordinate international expertise in the quantification and mapping of illicit markets. 

TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS AND CORRUPTION - BREAKING THE CHAIN

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This report presents a set of Guiding Principles on Combatting Corruption Related to Trafficking in Persons and 2 cases studies from Thailand and the Philippines.

OECD ROUNDTABLE ON COMBATTING CORRUPTION RELATED TO TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

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Identifying best practices at the national & local level in combatting corruption related to trafficking in persons. Philippines, 2015 (agenda)

BACKGROUND PAPER: DEVELOPING A FRAMEWORK FOR COMBATTING CORRUPTION RELATED TO TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (draft)

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Background paper outlining a framework for combatting corruption related to trafficking in persons.

CAN WE PUT AN END TO HUMAN SMUGGLING?

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This policy brief looks at the factors that facilitate human trafficking, as well as the smuggling routes to OECD countries.

CORRUPTION AND REFUGEE SMUGGLING

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Responses to the refugee crisis: Corruption and the smuggling of refugees.

TRENDS IN INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION

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Note outlining the increase in the number of women in all forms of migration. (PDF format)

OECD INSIGHTS BLOG

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"Two hundred girls for sale, millions already sold" - Blog piece by Patrick Love, May 2014