Children are believed to make up 38% of human trafficking victims globally, according to a report earlier this month from the United Nations, which notes how girls are increasingly trafficked for sexual exploitation and forced labor, while boys are primarily trafficked for forced labor and criminal activities. The number of children involved in child labor is estimated to be around 160 million, according to the ILO.
The decision is part of a broader administration strategy to reduce federal international assistance following a day-one executive order from Trump.
Earlier this month, the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, similarly announced huge cuts to US Agency for International Development (USAID) programs, while the Guardian obtained a cable on the US freezing most foreign aid to South Africa because of alleged discrimination against white Afrikaners.