Netherlands must do more to protect children against exploitation

In 2023, 160 persons reached out to the Chat met Fier (Chat with Fier) help line to talk about a case of sexual exploitation, 128 of whom were victims themselves. Additionally, 95 visitors contacted the online counselors to discuss criminal exploitation, with 84 of them being direct victims. In 10 cases, the exploitation involved a combination of both criminal and sexual exploitation. Many victims were not yet known to other care organizations or authorities.

Over 1,200 victims of trafficking found help through chat

In the 2023 Invisible Victims of Human Trafficking report, the Centre against Child and Human Trafficking (CKM) not only looks at  conversations about human trafficking on the Chat with Fier help line in 2023 but also reviewed data from the past five years. From 2019 to 2023, the online counselors at Chat with Fier spoke with over 1,200 adults and children who were forced into prostitution or criminal activity.

Nearly half of those seeking help are children

Nearly half of them were 17 years old or younger, with the youngest victims being under 10. The number of children who contacted the help line was more than double the number of child victims who were officially registered in the Netherlands in the same timeframe. The vast majority were in unsafe situations at the time of the help line conversation.

Children exploited over a long period of time

First disclosure regularly takes place during a chat conversation with Chat with Fier counselors. Alarmingly, as in previous years, many of the children reaching out are exploited for a year or longer before they manage to find help. “The fact that this remains unchanged is unacceptable. We cannot allow this to become normalized,” says Shamir Ceuleers, head of CKM. He calls on the Netherlands to do more to protect children from exploitation.

“We cannot allow this to become normalized.” – Shamir Ceuleers

Persons paying to have sex must have been aware of exploitation

Additionally, the chats revealed that about half of the men who engage in sex with these children must have known the victims were being exploited—for example, due to the child’s very young age or the involvement of an adult. CKM is particularly concerned about this group of victims, as they do not seem to be reflected in official trafficking statistics in the Netherlands. These victims are likely to be exceptionally isolated and vulnerable.

Child victims in the Netherlands remain underdetected

A significant finding is that most victims reaching out to the helpline are not yet known to the authorities or other organizations. In fact, the number of underage victims identified by these agencies has reached an alarming low point in recent years, while the number of child victims in The Netherlands is not believed to have decreased. Ceuleers emphasizes: “This makes the chat conversations one of the most critical sources of information on young victims in the Netherlands. In addition to providing essential support for victims, the helpline data analysis provides insights into trends, including where and how victims are recruited and exploited. We also gain a better understanding of who the perpetrators and clients are. These insights are invaluable for improving efforts to combat human trafficking.”

Recruited on social media

The role of social media continues to grow. On average, a quarter of the victims meet their exploiters online, particularly through platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, or dating apps. Additionally, sextortion (threat to share sexually explicit or nude images of the victim) remains one of the primary methods exploiters use to coerce victims into sex or other activities. Ceuleers stresses: “Social media platforms and sex advertisement sites are not doing enough to prevent abuse, including recruitment practices and the posting of sex ads involving minors. It’s high time the Minister of Justice and Security intervenes and introduces legislation.

Sharp increase in victims of criminal exploitation

While victims of criminal exploitation rarely reached out in previous years, 2023 saw a sharp increase, with 84 people seeking help. Many of them were victims of child criminal exploitation, and the majority boys. Three-quarters (76%) of victims were forced to commit drug-related crimes. The increase in victims reaching out to the help line is likely due to greater awareness about criminal exploitation in The Netherlands as well as targeted online and offline campaigns to reach victims. Ceuleers: “This shows that it is indeed possible to identify hard-to-reach and formerly invisible victims of this form of human trafficking.”

Need help?

Are you being forced to have sex with others or commit illegal acts, and do you want to talk about it? You can chat anonymously with counselors of Fier, who can also help you if you wish. You decide what you want to share. Visit chatmetfier.nl.

Previous reports

Read last year’s report, as well as reports on victims of trafficking supported through Chat with Fier help line in previous years: 2021, 2020, 2019 (all in Dutch).

Download the 2023 report (in Dutch):