The trafficking of adults has three elements 1) the recruitment, movement or receipt of a person by 2) deception or coercion into 3) a situation of exploitation.

Exploitation shall include, as a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, including begging, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude, or the exploitation of criminal activities, or the removal of organs.

Any child recruited, transported or transferred for the purposes of exploitation is considered a potential victim of trafficking, whether or not they are forced or deceived. This is because it is not considered possible for children to give informed consent.

Based on Directive 2011/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA.