Human trafficking takes place throughout the world but Bulgaria is among the countries used as transit centres.

Authorities in various countries should take more measures to protect victims, the annual report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) shows.

Bulgaria, Albania, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Thailand are listed among the human trafficking centres. Together with Albania, Romania and Lithuania, Bulgaria is seen as one of the countries producing many human trafficking victims.

The destinations of human trafficking rings include Western Europe and the US. Others target Turkey and Israel.

Victims from Southeastern Europe most often end up in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Greece and Italy.

In most cases, victims face sexual exploitation and forced labour. Slavery, in the form of human trafficking, is a shameful phenomenon authorities still fail to eradicate in the beginning of the 21st century, the report reads.

No country managed to implement efficient measures against human trafficking, according to the UNODC.