The Coalition Plateforme Traite (five Swiss NGOs against human trafficking) has released its figures for 2025. SWI swissinfo.ch processed them on July 30, 2026 – and the picture is sobering.
The facts in brief: 192 newly identified victims in 2025, over 380 people in initial consultations, a total of 532 supported individuals. 70% are women, they come from 79 different countries (most frequently Colombia, Nigeria, Brazil). 55% of cases involve sexual exploitation, 42% labor exploitation. This is countered by only 87 ongoing criminal proceedings in 2025 – and since 2006, an average of just ten final convictions per year. The organizations attribute this to unclear legal definitions and lack of expertise among authorities; many perpetrators simply go unpunished.
Why this matters to us: Human trafficking is not the same as sex work. Those who work of their own volition have nothing to do with coercion and exploitation – quite the opposite, a decriminalized, visible industry actually makes it easier to recognize genuine situations of coercion. But the figures show two things that directly affect working life: First, it is disproportionately migrant women who end up in situations of dependency. Second, a conviction rate in the single digits signals that exploiters have little to fear – a fatal signal for anyone considering coming forward. Victims in Switzerland are entitled to protection, reflection time, and counseling, for example from specialist organizations like FIZ or ACT212. Knowing these contact points and passing them on can be decisive in an emergency.
A report like this is not an argument against sex work, but one for better laws and serious prosecution where actual coercion is involved.
What would need to change for victims to be more willing to report exploitation – more protection, clearer laws, or simply more trust in authorities?