The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child Trafficking
摘要
This chapter explores the important subject of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on child trafficking. The pandemic had significant impacts on various aspects of the child trafficking phenomenon, including the recruitment of victims, forms of exploitation, and the ability of frontline organizations to identify, rescue, and support child trafficking victims. The chapter first provides a definition of ‘child trafficking’ before focusing the discussion on the various effects of the pandemic on child trafficking dynamics in Asia and beyond. After an examination of how the pandemic affected child trafficking trends and flows, the chapter examines how the pandemic affected the ability of frontline organizations to respond to child trafficking. The chapter also explores promising practices in the response of frontline organizations during the pandemic and provides recommendations for early educators and related professionals to strengthen, in particular, child trafficking prevention. The chapter concludes by highlighting the important reality that, through the strengthening of knowledge on how international crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic increase the vulnerability of children to trafficking, educators and related professionals will be well positioned to raise awareness among children regarding child trafficking, as well as to identify and support vulnerable children and their families.