International migration and sex trafficking: A scoping review

Sex trafficking is a pervasive threat that disproportionately affects migrant populations. These groups are often targeted due to socioeconomic status, legal insecurity, and limited access to appropriate protections. The intersection between migration status and current structural inequalities further intensifies risks to migrant health and general well-being, making them highly susceptible to coercion and abuse. Despite growing research around these issues, evidence on sex trafficking among migrants remains an area for further exploration.

To examine the scope, nature, and thematic trends in the literature on international migration and sex trafficking.

This scoping review was guided by the population-Concept-Context (PCC) framework. Of the thirty-seven peer-reviewed studies screened, twenty-two studies published between 2003 and 2024 were analyzed across four databases (MEDLINE/Ovid, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane), and a content analysis was employed to synthesize data.

We included 22 studies from 10 countries: 11 qualitative, seven mixed-methods, and four quantitative. This scoping review identified six major themes: (1) migrant vulnerabilities, (2) methods of coercion and control, (3) health consequences and barriers to care, (4) sexual violence across the migration journey, (5) systemic failures and institutional gaps, and (6) healing, recovery, and resilience.

Economic, legal, and social vulnerabilities drive sex trafficking among migrants. Comprehensive, survivor-centered policies are urgently needed, including a shift away from punitive systems to preventative ones, expanded mental health support, and the reduction of stigma. Findings support the implementation of survivor-led screening in emergency departments, the decoupling of healthcare access from immigration status, and increased investment in pre-departure education.