GEAC 2025

Migrant Smuggling

Growing political instability, conflict, and economic disparities have led to significant increases in irregular migration, including migrant smuggling. Migrant smuggling exposes already vulnerable persons to grave risks, including sexual and gender-based violence and sex trafficking.

Recommendations

Commit to including gender perspectives in any G7 discussion or commitment on migrant smuggling.

Ensure that border and other law enforcement officers are trained on gender perspectives of migrant smuggling to increase their ability to recognize and respond to the needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls in these settings.

Rationale

Smuggled migrant women and girls often face gender-based violence, ranging from inappropriate comments to outright sexual assault. Women and girls comprise most trafficking victims, and when captured or exploited by traffickers, are three times more likely than men to be subjected to physical or extreme violence. A greater understanding by border and other law enforcement officers of the gender perspectives of migrant smuggling will help protect women and girls from gender-based violence and other human rights violations and make investigations more effective.

[back to top]

Source: Official website of Canada's 2025 G7 presidency

—	This Information System is provided by the University of Toronto Libraries and the G7 Research Group at the University of Toronto.
	Please send comments to: g7@utoronto.ca This page was last updated April 12, 2026.