Research into the Ukrainian refugee crisis identifies those most at risk of trafficking
A rapid assessment of the anti-trafficking response to the Ukrainian crisis identifies gaps and risk factors, a new report looks at the trafficking of women and girls from Cambodia to China, and an investigation reveals that traders continue to buy coffee from Brazilian farms using forced labour.
Freedom Fund and La Strada International have undertaken a rapid assessment of the current gaps in the counter-trafficking response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis, in order to better understand which groups of people are most at risk and why. The research, conducted over the past two months, found that those who face the greatest danger include unaccompanied children, women and girls, undocumented people, those who already experience discrimination, and those who might not have access to the temporary protection offered in EU countries.
The research also identifies a number of risk factors for trafficking, including the distribution of inadequate or misleading information, exposure to online risk, lack of money or access to a livelihood, and criminal networks operating in the region which are able to take advantage of the chaos.
Anti-trafficking organizations have already received requests to support potentially trafficked people in nations bordering Ukraine and other European countries, and national law enforcement bodies are reporting suspicious behavior that could indicate human trafficking. As the war continues the dangers will grow – as more people are displaced within Ukraine, access to services and livelihoods will become increasingly precarious, while millions of refugees in other countries will soon need to look for stable accommodation and access to the labour market.
While governments, international organizations, civil society and community leaders have taken steps to protect people from trafficking, the report says gaps remain, due to a limited capacity to deliver. These gaps include:
Uncoordinated information provided by many different actors, creating confusion for people who are already distressed and disoriented.
Refugees reluctant or waiting to register for temporary protection in their country of arrival, with no access to legal employment, housing, a basic income and other protection and support.
Lack of psychosocial support – many refugees have experienced severe trauma, and organizations say that this is the most pressing need.
Lack of resources and funding – civil society is already overburdened, understaffed and under-resourced as needs are set to rise.
The report makes a series of recommendations for governments, international organizations, NGOs and donors, designed to address these gaps and needs in Ukraine and its neighboring countries. These include measures to reduce vulnerabilities, promote the identification of exploitative practices, and ensure adequate referral procedures and assistance for potential trafficking victims. It also urges investment in the training of frontline responders on how to identify trafficking; systems to register and vet those who are offering assistance, housing, transport and other services; mandatory accommodation checks to ensure it is suitable and safe; and official websites that promote verified job opportunities for refugees to reduce risks of labour exploitation.
It is now hoped that the report and its recommendations can contribute to the development of a comprehensive anti-trafficking response to address the risks faced by those fleeing from the war.
Here’s a round-up of other noteworthy news and initiatives:
A new report by GI-TOC, designed and implemented in partnership with Child Helpline Cambodia (CHC), explores the significant and escalating phenomenon of the trafficking of Cambodian women and girls to China for forced and arranged marriages. The report investigates the modi operandi of the networks that transport them, including the routes typically travelled, common and changing profiles of the women and girls targeted, and the recruitment process.
Over 220 NGOs and trade unions from around the world have called for proposed corporate sustainability due diligence laws to be strengthened. In February, the European Commission released its proposal for a directive which could represent a landmark step forward in minimising the negative impacts of businesses on workers, communities and the environment. However, the proposal contains significant flaws that could impede urgently needed positive impacts.
In addition, lawmakers are piling pressure on the European Commission to implement a full ban on the trade of products made using forced labour, amid concerns that bureaucrats could water down plans to outlaw the practice later this year. A resolution will be launched next month calling for a tool “based on best practices” of bans in the U.S. and Canada.
Last week, the Commission proposed new EU legislation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse online. The proposed rules will oblige providers to detect, report and remove child sexual abuse material on their services, and a new independent EU Centre on Child Sexual Abuse will facilitate their efforts by acting as a hub of expertise and intelligence.
The World Cup has been hit by fresh scandal over its stadium sites, with accusations that Qatar is “planting spies among migrant workers” to crack down on whistleblowers. Equidem, the global human-rights and labour-rights organization which works extensively in Qatar, says sources report that these undercover security officials are recruited in migrant workers’ host countries.
A new investigation by Repórter Brasil shows that traders continue to buy coffee produced under conditions comparable to slave labour and that, even after it exposed these conditions on Brazilian coffee farms last October, some traders chose to look the other way. Among them are Swiss supplier Sucafina, and Rothfos, part off the world’s largest green coffee service group Neumann Kaffee Gruppe, according to the report.
Following a report from IJM Australia which revealed that more than 90 per cent of Australian businesses have identified potential modern slavery risks in their supply chains, Labor has announced plans to strengthen the country’s anti-modern slavery regime.
This article by authors from the Human Trafficking Legal Center, says that, despite past commitments, Japan is the only G-7 member that has not imposed sanctions on Beijing for its state policy of forced labour.
The Cornell University New Conversations Project is organizing its first conference since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, on 16 June in NYC. The event, New Rules and New Research, will focus on market state mechanisms (mHRDD, trade policy) to leverage change in supply chains.
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