Syria has officially joined the "Group of Friends Against the Crime of Human Trafficking Facilitated by Technology", in response to an international invitation from South Korea.
The announcement was made by Syria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ibrahim Alabi, during an expanded UN meeting held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, called by South Korea in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to discuss ways to enhance international cooperation in confronting crimes related to human trafficking that benefit from digital means and modern technologies.
The Syrian government has decided to accept the invitation it received to join the group, Olabi said, noting that the Syrian people have suffered over the past decades from various forms of trafficking in persons and profiting from their suffering, which prompts Damascus to participate in international efforts to combat these crimes.
Syria has gained experience in confronting terrorism and transnational organized crime as a result of what it has witnessed over the past years, he said, in addition to its geographical location that links a number of regional transit routes, noting that this experience has included combating human trafficking and drug trafficking, especially Captagon, in cooperation with countries and international organizations.
Olabi called on the international community to provide greater support in pursuing and arresting those involved in human trafficking networks who have fled the country, stressing that international cooperation has become necessary to confront crimes that benefit from technological development and open borders.
Emerging International Group to Counter Digital Crime
The "Group of Friends of Combating the Crime of Human Trafficking Facilitated by Technology" was established in November 2025 at the initiative of South Korea, in cooperation with a large number of UN Member States, and works in direct coordination with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
It aims to create an international platform for dialogue and coordination to counter modern digital methods that exploit the Internet to recruit and control victims and hide illicit financial proceeds.
The Group works to strengthen international cooperation in the areas of prevention, prosecution and victim protection, as well as the exchange of experiences and best practices between Governments and international organizations, in coordination with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
In recent years, UN organizations have warned of the increasing use of technology by criminal networks to lure victims, whether through fake job advertisements or through social media, taking advantage of the fragility of economic and social conditions and armed conflicts that push individuals to seek opportunities to migrate or work.
Shocking figures on the reality of human trafficking in Syria
Statistics and surveys by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reflect a worrying picture of the magnitude of the risks and violations faced by Syrians, both inside the country and on migration and transit routes, as field data and specialized projects of the organization show clear indications of the worsening patterns of exploitation and human trafficking.
In an evaluation study carried out by the FAO mission in Syria on the reality of human trafficking, 86% of respondents confirmed that the phenomenon is a real problem in their communities, while 52% reported that they had personally experienced experiences directly related to trafficking, with the highest percentage among males.
46% of respondents revealed that they knew at least one person who had been exploited, while 24% of men reported being deceived and lured through false job promises, one of the most prominent means of fake recruitment, and 14% reported being subjected to forced labor or other forms of extreme exploitation.
Data from the organization's Missing Migrants Project shows that Syria is ranked among the top three countries with the highest number of victims on irregular migration routes, along with Afghanistan and Myanmar.
During the peak periods of displacement, the organization documented the death and disappearance of hundreds of Syrians, including 264 cases in a specific count on the land borders alone, as a result of the exploitation of smugglers and the lack of safe routes, explaining that the 2026 reports confirm that international smuggling networks continue to exploit the fragility of Syrians, exposing them to the risk of death or falling into modern slavery.
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