Forced labour and domestic servitude involve coercing individuals to work against their will through threats, violence, or abuse of power. In conflict settings, displaced populations and civilians under occupation are at heightened risk as economic collapse and insecurity make them vulnerable to exploitation. Armed groups and military forces may compel civilians to perform construction, logistics, or household tasks, blurring the line between labour and forced servitude. Such practices violate international humanitarian and human rights law, including prohibitions on slavery and forced labour in armed conflict.

Sexual exploitation refers to coercive or deceptive acts where individuals are abused for sexual purposes in exchange for goods, protection, or survival. During armed conflicts, sexual violence is frequently weaponized to terrorise populations, displace communities, or reward combatants. The breakdown of law enforcement and displacement of civilians often expand trafficking networks that profit from sexual exploitation. It is recognised as both a form of gender-based violence and a potential war crime under international law.

Forced criminality occurs when victims are compelled to engage in illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, theft, or armed operations, under threat or coercion. In conflict environments, armed groups may exploit civilians to sustain their operations or shield themselves from prosecution. Children and displaced persons are particularly vulnerable to such recruitment or coercion. International humanitarian law prohibits the use of civilians for military or criminal purposes, viewing these acts as grave violations of human rights.

Forced marriage involves compelling an individual, often a woman or girl, to enter into marriage without consent. In armed conflicts, it is frequently used as a tactic of control, sexual slavery, or social domination by combatants or occupying forces. Such practices can serve to legitimise long-term sexual exploitation or consolidate power over affected populations. Under international law, forced marriage constitutes a violation of personal autonomy and may amount to a crime against humanity when widespread or systematic.

Forced begging is the exploitation of individuals, often children or persons with disabilities, to solicit money or goods for the benefit of traffickers. In wartime, economic collapse and displacement drive vulnerable populations into dependency, making them targets for organised exploitation. Armed actors or criminal networks may use begging rings to finance operations or conceal other illicit activities. The practice violates international protections of human dignity and the prohibition of slavery-like practices.

Trafficking for organ removal entails coercing or deceiving victims into surrendering organs for transplantation or medical trade. During or after armed conflicts, the scarcity of medical resources and collapse of governance create fertile ground for such crimes. Combat injuries and humanitarian crises can be exploited by traffickers posing as medical intermediaries. International law classifies organ removal under coercion as a severe violation of bodily integrity and human rights.

Debt bondage arises when individuals pledge labour or services to repay a debt but are trapped in endless servitude due to unfair conditions or manipulation. In conflict zones, displaced or impoverished people may incur debts for basic survival, which traffickers then exploit. Such arrangements often blur into forced labour or sexual exploitation. International conventions recognise debt bondage as a contemporary form of slavery, which should be eradicated even during armed conflicts.

The use of child soldiers involves the recruitment or use of persons under 18 in armed forces or groups, whether in combat or support roles. Armed conflicts create conditions of desperation and manipulation that facilitate such recruitment. Children may be abducted, indoctrinated, or forced into participation through violence and fear. This practice is explicitly prohibited by international humanitarian law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child’s Optional Protocol on armed conflict.

Victims of human trafficking rarely give genuine consent. Many are deceived through false promises of work or safety, while others are coerced through physical violence and psychological manipulation. In conflict environments, displacement and poverty amplify vulnerability, making it easy for traffickers to exploit individual desperation. Even when individuals appear to agree to work or travel, their “consent” is often a survival mechanism under conditions of threat or coercion.

Please read the following survival stories

• Malaika Oringo, Uganda,
  • “An empowered survivor makes traffickers vulnerable”
• Kyra Doubek, USA,
  • “Recovery is a process. It isn’t always easy, but none of us needs to do it alone”
• Marcela Loaiza, Colombia,
  • “Being a survivor of trafficking in persons is like having a tattoo on the soul. No one can see it, but it is always there and remains forever”
• Karly Church, Canada,
  • “I will continue to remind survivors of human trafficking how powerful they are”
• Francisca Awah, Cameroon,
  • “Don’t let the exploitation be the end, turn it into something great”
• Kendall Alaimo, USA,
  • “It is a tremendous injustice to be sold as a child and indebted as an adult”.

The international community has launched multiple initiatives to combat human trafficking. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) leads the implementation of the Palermo Protocol (2000), which defines trafficking and promotes global cooperation. Another important document is the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) runs programs assisting victims and strengthening state capacities, while the International Labour Organisation (ILO) targets forced labour in supply chains. Other efforts include the UN Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons (GLO.ACT) and the Blue Heart Campaign. Together with regional instruments such as the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (2005), these initiatives aim to reduce impunity, protect victims, and enhance cross-border coordination.

Please take a look at the following Interpol’s projects that tackle human trafficking and migrant smuggling

• THB West Africa,
• CCISOM new technologies,
• Project Rock the Horn of Africa,
• Project Turquesa the Americas,
• Project Himaya North Africa.

Prevention in conflict environments depends on early warning systems and community resilience. Strengthening legal protection for refugees and internally displaced persons helps reduce vulnerability to traffickers. Peacekeeping operations can include specialised units to monitor trafficking risks, while humanitarian agencies should integrate anti- trafficking training for field staff. Long-term prevention also requires addressing economic deprivation and the culture of impunity that allows such crimes to thrive.

Assessing and forecasting human trafficking in conflicts requires combining qualitative field data with quantitative models of displacement and armed group activity. Researchers can track indicators like sudden labour shortages, population movements, or reports of abduction to predict hotspots. Studying patterns from previous conflicts helps identify the socio-political conditions that make trafficking profitable or strategically useful. Predictive analysis aids prevention and supports targeted humanitarian interventions, as well as post-conflict recovery planning.