Human trafficking in Myanmar represents a massive and multifaceted humanitarian crisis rooted in a complex web of political instability, deep poverty, and protracted armed conflicts. Since the military coup in February 2021, the situation has sharply deteriorated, creating unprecedentedly favorable conditions for criminal networks. The UN and human rights organizations characterize the current situation as catastrophic, with thousands of people from the most vulnerable groups in the population becoming victims of modern forms of slavery every year. Political Context and Vulnerability Factors The roots of contemporary slavery in Myanmar are directly linked to the destabilization of state institutions and the legal vacuum that emerged after the military seizure of power. The sharp impoverishment of the population, the destruction of the economy, and the escalation of violence across the country force people to seek any means of survival. Internally displaced persons, numbering over two million, are left without livelihoods and protection, making them easy prey for recruiters. Criminal groups exploit people's desperation, offering them false employment or false refuge. The lack of effective border control and the corruption of certain members of the security forces further facilitate the unrestricted movement of victims across borders. Major Directions and Forms of Exploitation The geography of human trafficking from Myanmar extends far beyond the country. The main external direction is Thailand, where mainly Rohingya and other ethnic minorities are forced into labor on fishing boats, as domestic servants, or on plantations. Another critically dangerous route is Cambodia, where thousands of people have been deceived into engaging in so-called "scam centers," where they are forcibly held and forced to engage in phone and internet fraud. Women and children are systematically subjected to sexual exploitation both within the country and beyond, particularly in China, where ... Read more