Migration is common among children and youth in the continent of Africa, but the journey is filled with extreme risks. Those migrating to Europe along the Mediterranean Sea routes face high levels of abuse, trafficking, and exploitation—especially if they are from sub-Saharan Africa. The Central Mediterranean route is the most dangerous, largely because it passes through Libya, where weak state institutions and widespread violence create conditions ripe for exploitation. As reported by UNICEF, many young people on this route, like Hannah, spend extended periods in transit with little access to protection.
“I trusted them.”
Hannah was only 15 when her mother passed away, leaving her alone and vulnerable. Making a life in Nigeria felt hopeless, so when someone she trusted offered her a chance at a better future, she accepted. She recalls,
“Someone, pretending to be a friend, told me they could get me to Europe in two weeks, to a place where I could study and work…I trusted them.”
Her cherished notebook in hand, Hannah started her journey in Agadez, Niger. But it wasn’t until she was at the Nigeria-Niger border that she realized she had been sold. The trip she was told would take two weeks, took twenty months. She crossed the desert on foot and by truck, often wanting to return home. But doing so would be dangerous—and costly, as she’d have to repay her traffickers.
Eventually, she arrived in Libya. She said,
“Everything that happened, everything you heard, was terrifying. You knew you could be next…In Libya, I came to know true horror, people who caused harm and forced others to do the same, completely indifferent to anyone’s pain.”
Her first attempt to cross the Mediterranean ended with a failed boat engine, leaving them stranded at sea. The second time, water flooded the boat, but they were rescued by the Coast Guard and taken to land. She had finally escaped her traffickers.
Now, nine years later, Hannah lives in Rome. She’s a university student and advocates for migrant youth. She also serves on the Steering Group for UNICEF’s U-Report On The Move, a platform that gives adolescent and young migrants and refugees in Italy a voice.
Who faces the highest risk?
According to a 2017 joint report by UNICEF and IOM, adolescent and youth migrants—especially those traveling alone—are far more vulnerable to exploitation than adults. These young people are at risk of forced labor, sexual exploitation, violence, abuse, and even child marriage or captivity.
Young people from sub-Saharan Africa face the greatest risk. Research suggests this is partly due to systemic racism. Over 80% of adolescents and youth from this region who travel along the Central Mediterranean route report exploitation—compared to around 55% from other regions.
Traveling in groups or having more education offers some protection, but risks linked to country of origin often outweigh these advantages.
How to better protect young migrants
Findings from UNICEF confirm a heartbreaking truth: many young people are willing to face danger, abuse, and exploitation for a chance at safety and opportunity. Addressing this crisis requires urgent, coordinated action.
The report suggests that a strong response includes expanding safe and legal migration pathways to reduce reliance on smugglers. It also means cracking down on trafficking networks and strengthening protection systems. Join the fight today and sign the petition advocating for safe migration for all.
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