Exploited Teens Asia 2021 Verified

In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic and rapid digitalization created a "perfect storm" for teen exploitation in Asia, shifting risks toward online grooming and forced "fraud factories" in Southeast Asia. Over two million children in the Philippines were estimated to be subjected to online abuse, while regional economic desperation exacerbated forced labor in sectors like agriculture and seafood. For further reading on child labor findings, visit U.S. Department of Labor www.walkfree.org

: Household incomes plummeted across developing Asian economies. In many cases, families were forced to rely on the economic contributions of their teenage children to survive, driving a stark rise in forced labor. exploited teens asia 2021