By Bunmi Yekini
The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Thursday launched Anyone a Victim, a global campaign calling for stronger efforts to prevent human trafficking and expand long-term support for millions of survivors worldwide.
“Human trafficking strips people of their rights, choices, and futures,” IOM Director General Amy Pope said in a statement announcing the initiative. “Its impact does not end when the exploitation stops. It can shape someone’s life for years. Every survivor should have access to safety, justice, and long-term support… protecting people is not optional. It is a shared responsibility.”
IOM said nearly 50 million people are currently living in situations of forced labour, trafficking or forced marriage. Conflict, disasters and rising economic hardship are pushing more people toward unsafe migration routes, leaving those already facing inequality at heightened risk.
The campaign aims to mobilise public engagement, raise funds for protection programmes and counter persistent misconceptions about who is vulnerable to traffickers. It also seeks to draw global attention to stories often overlooked and to encourage investment in community-based prevention.
Anyone a Victim features the voices of several IOM Goodwill Ambassadors, including Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah, who has publicly shared his own experience as a survivor of trafficking.
“I survived trafficking because someone eventually saw me, believed me, and helped me find safety,” Farah said. “No child or adult should feel invisible or unprotected… My hope is that this campaign inspires people everywhere to stand with those who have been silenced for too long.”
The campaign also includes support from actor America Ferrera and Ghanaian artist Kofi Kinaata, both IOM Goodwill Ambassadors, and welcomes model and philanthropist Pritika Swarup as a new Global Advocate.
IOM said the initiative reflects growing demand for rights-based and community-centred approaches across countries of origin, transit and destination. Many survivors, the agency noted, face stigma or fear reporting their experiences, while others struggle to access services that can help them recover and rebuild their lives.
The organisation said it will continue working with governments, civil society and affected communities to strengthen protection systems, expand access to essential services and promote safe migration pathways that reduce the risk of exploitation.