To understand why orphanages continue to flourish in Haiti, and how they affect children, Lumos investigated patterns in funding as well as the ramifications of orphanage life for children raised within their walls. At the time of reporting in 2017, an estimated 30,000 children lived in approximately 750 mostly privately-run and financed orphanages in Haiti – only 15% were registered with the Government.

Between 2013 and 2016, Liberia, along with much of West Africa, was gripped by the Ebola epidemic. The enormous loss of life had a huge impact on the country’s most vulnerable children, the youngest of whom were particularly at risk from the disease: 90% of infected infants died of the disease, as well as 80% of children under four.

Building on the UNODC analysis of court cases, this report looks at case law in two countries – the Netherlands and India – in more detail. These case studies illustrate the apparent prevalence of institution-related trafficking and the overrepresentation of institutionalised children as victims of trafficking.

Building on the UNODC analysis of court cases, this report looks at case law in two countries – the Netherlands and India – in more detail. These case studies illustrate the apparent prevalence of institution-related trafficking and the overrepresentation of institutionalised children as victims of trafficking.

Children leaving Albanian institutions are at increased risk of trafficking as the national age for leaving the care system is only 15, when they are less likely to have the life skills needed to live independently as fully integrated members of society.

Victims of child trafficking in Afghanistan are often placed in orphanages or, in other cases, prisons. This creates risks for the children of being re-trafficked, as orphanages are a reported avenue for the trafficking of children in the region, especially for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

In 2017, 41 girls died in a fire in a state-run orphanage (Hogar Seguro) in Guatemala. More than 100 children had attempted to flee the facility after experiencing various forms of exploitation but were brought back by law enforcement personnel and placed in confinement.

The Russian government has made some efforts to combat child trafficking, including convicting traffickers and establishing processes for the safe return of Russian children trafficked abroad. However, significant gaps remain in terms of meeting minimum standards more broadly.

Ghana has emerged as a source, transit, and destination region for illegal adoption linked to human trafficking. Trafficked children in Ghana are subjected to some of the worst forms of labour abuse, including cocoa harvesting, fish farming, and gold mining, as well as sexual exploitation and illegal adoption schemes.

In Nepal, 19 children were rescued from an orphanage in which they had been deprived of regular meals, had to share cramped accommodation and did not receive any education.142 The orphanage owner told these children’s parents that the children would be attending a prestigious boarding school.

Australia became the first country to recognise this type of exploitation in its Modern Slavery Act (2018).123 Here, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC describes how her work contributed to achieving this pioneering legislation.