UNODC’s Corruption and Trafficking in Persons report shows that corruption drives and sustains human trafficking at every stage—from recruitment to exploitation and obstruction of justice—undermining efforts to protect victims and prosecute traffickers

The report explores how corrupt acts by public officials and private actors facilitate trafficking in persons by enabling recruitment, transit, exploitation and the concealment of criminal profits, while also weakening law enforcement, judicial processes and victim protection. It underscores that combating trafficking effectively requires tackling corruption as a core enabler—strengthening legal frameworks, transparency, accountability and cross-sector cooperation to disrupt the systemic links between corruption and human exploitation.