UNODC says data coordination remains Fiji’s biggest hurdle in the fight against human trafficking
Data coordination and access to reliable information sit at the top of the challenges list for Fiji as regional and international bodies push to curb human trafficking. Speaking at a panel discussion in Fiji, Matthew Watson, UNODC’s regional adviser for Transnational Organised Crime and Cybercrime, stressed that the difficulty extends beyond his agency and affects other key players, including the International Organization for Migration, Fiji’s Immigration Department, the Fiji Police Force, and the Employment Ministry. He highlighted that data is one of the organisation’s greatest obstacles, and coordinating it across agencies remains a work in progress.
Watson noted that, despite meaningful efforts such as UNODC’s Transnational Organised Crime Threat Assessment released last October, assembling reliable data remains time-consuming and complex. He said the project took nearly two years to compile and covered crime trends, migrant smuggling, human trafficking, its root causes, and the actors involved. While Fiji’s National Action Plan on human trafficking has made strides—especially the formation of a data-focused working group—he urged more robust regional collaboration to better map what data exists, identify gaps, and determine how to bolster data-driven responses.
The adviser pointed to the Pacific region as a whole, where evolving technologies and broader internet access offer opportunities to adopt a more victim-centered approach. He noted the potential of open-source intelligence and new tech to improve victims’ outcomes and to generate more precise information for policy and enforcement.
Context from broader UNODC and regional discussions underscores the scale of the challenge. Across the Pacific, the UNODC’s regional assessments indicate that trafficking is not merely a border issue but a regional problem requiring coordinated strategies. Pacific stakeholders have repeatedly called for standardized data collection and shared reporting mechanisms to better identify victims and disrupt trafficking networks. Initiatives such as the development of common data classifications for trafficking cases are seen as key steps in turning scattered information into actionable insights.
Contextual numbers and trends add to the sense of urgency. The UNODC has estimated that the Pacific region could see about 2,400 trafficking victims each year, with vulnerable sectors such as fishing at heightened risk. In Fiji specifically, recent analyses place the number of hidden trafficking victims between 2017 and 2021 at roughly 5,200, a figure that underscores the breadth of domestic trafficking alongside international trafficking concerns. In parallel, Fiji’s standing in international reporting remains a work in progress, reflecting ongoing gaps in identifying and protecting trafficking victims and in enforcing related laws.
As regional efforts continue, there is growing emphasis on strengthening data infrastructure, improving victim identification, and aligning labour and immigration policies with anti-trafficking objectives. International collaborators are promoting a more coordinated, evidence-based approach to protect vulnerable workers and curb illicit trafficking networks, including closer cooperation with financial and regulatory authorities to target profit-driven crimes.
Hopeful signs and a clear path forward include leveraging technology to monitor and report trafficking incidents more accurately, expanding cross-government working groups, and advancing data standards that allow timely, comparable insights across Pacific nations. While challenges remain, the consensus among policymakers, civil society, and international partners is that sustained, data-driven, and survivor-centered action can yield meaningful progress for Fiji and the wider Pacific region.
Editor’s note:
– Data standardization efforts, such as the International Classification Standard for Administrative Data on Trafficking in Persons (ICS-TIP), are seen as pivotal to improving cross-border reporting and policy responses.
– Regional emphasis on open-source intelligence and survivor-centered approaches could enhance prevention, identification, and support services for victims.
– The continued collaboration across government agencies, NGOs, and international bodies is essential to translate data into concrete protections for vulnerable workers and at-risk communities.
Summary:
A UNODC panel in Fiji highlighted data coordination as the primary obstacle to fighting human trafficking, stressing the need for regional collaboration, data standardization, and survivor-centered approaches. With estimates of thousands of hidden trafficking victims in Fiji and broader regional risks, officials and partners see data-driven, coordinated action as essential to advancing protection and justice for victims in the Pacific.
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