152 trafficking victims sought online help in the Netherlands in 2024

In 2024, at least 152 victims of human trafficking—who were involved in both sexual exploitation and forced criminal activity—sought help online in the Netherlands, many of them minors and most still trapped in exploitation at the time, according to new figures released Monday by the Centrum tegen Kinderhandel en Mensenhandel.

A total of 182 people contacted Chat met Fier last year to discuss sexual or criminal exploitation, the CKM said. In 152 cases, the person reaching out was the victim. In the remaining cases, the contact was usually made by a parent or another family member.

Of the 182 contacts in 2024, 124 involved sexual exploitation, 47 involved forced criminal activity, and 11 involved both forms of trafficking. Sexual and criminal exploitation are forms of human trafficking in which victims are forced to perform sexual acts for money or commit crimes, while exploiters take most or all of the proceeds.

Most victims were girls or women. CKM recorded 138 female victims, most of whom were sexually exploited. Among them, 116 were victims of sexual exploitation, 12 were forced to commit criminal offenses, and 10 were subjected to both sexual exploitation and forced criminal activity.

There were 37 male victims. Of those, 30 boys or men were forced to commit crimes, often linked to drug-related criminal activity. Six boys or men were sexually exploited, and one male victim experienced both sexual and criminal exploitation.

Exploitation often begins when victims are still minors, CKM said. At the time they sought help through the chat service, more than 40 percent of victims were under 18, and 16 percent were younger than 15. The vast majority were still in an exploitative situation when they reached out for help. Sixty percent had never spoken to anyone before about their exploitation.

The number of minor victims of criminal exploitation who sought help in 2024 was lower than in 2023, when 90 such victims contacted Chat met Fier. CKM said this decline is largely due to a 2024 awareness campaign.

CKM said the figures underscore the need to reach victims earlier. In 10 conversations in 2024, counselors identified signs of recruitment before exploitation had fully begun.

“In 2024, there were signals of grooming in ten conversations, while the victim was not yet actually being exploited,” said Shamir Ceuleers, head of CKM. “Think of a girl who is showered with gifts by her ‘boyfriend,’ while he isolates her from her family and friends. If we make an effort to reach girls and boys during the grooming phase, we can prevent human trafficking.”

CKM called for greater visibility and accessibility of online assistance and urged the development of a national strategy to reach victims sooner and prevent exploitation.

CKM is part of Fier, a national expert organization on violence in dependent relationships. Fier provides shelter, treatment, and long-term support for victims and offers confidential online assistance through Chat met Fier.