Disabilities and human trafficking

Persons with disabilities face a higher risk of trafficking—and this is not a coincidence. Traffickers deliberately target individuals with disabilities, and they do this in two main ways: one, they exploit such existing societal vulnerabilities as discriminatory practices, social isolation and institutional barriers that can leave people with disabilities more vulnerable and represent protection gaps which traffickers can exploit. And two, traffickers in some cases deliberately seek out people with specific impairments for particular forms of exploitation, such as forcing a person with a visible physical difference into begging, using the person’s appearance to manipulate sympathy and money from others. 

The Office promotes disability-inclusive approaches, recognizing that systemic barriers to accessing support services and justice systems compound these risks. Through policy guidance, capacity-building and multi-stakeholder partnerships, it works to ensure equal access to protection and support services. The Office’s initiatives focus on removing barriers to assistance while promoting the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in developing and implementing anti-trafficking responses.