The risk of people trafficking has escalated throughout Europe as a result of the military crisis in Ukraine brought on by Russia’s unjustified invasion.
The amount of girls and weaker women who are left alone or separated increases the dangers of gender-based violence, child protection issues, and human trafficking.
Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to this type of exploitation because they have trouble getting essential commodities and services and because they lack access to safe housing.
It is regrettable given how serious the situation is that Russia refused to support the extension of the Project Coordinator’s mandate in Ukraine, whose office was excellently collaborating with local government officials and social services on strategies to assist victims of human trafficking.
We must continue to reduce the danger that Ukrainians will either be trafficked into our countries for further exploitation or exploited after entering via a safe and legal path, considering the number of refugees who are vulnerable to exploitation.
A complete response is needed for this.
States can take a variety of steps to assist people who are most at risk from the consequences of Russia’s illegitimate invasion.
For its part, the UK’s Homes for Ukraine programme enables private citizens, nonprofit organisations, neighbourhood associations, and corporate entities to rescue Ukrainians, even those who have no familial ties to the country.
Sponsors are subject to criminal and accommodation checks shortly after, or before to, the visitor arriving in order to address the possibility that the system may be exploited for trafficking.
In circumstances involving children, these inspections are strengthened.
Additionally, we make sure that law enforcement agencies are included in the plan and that local authorities are aware of the people they may collaborate with locally to assist reduce those risks.
By working with multilateral partners like Europol and Interpol as well as our network of international liaison officers, or ILOs, our National Crime Agency generates, disseminates, and acts on intelligence.
In order to reduce the risk of exploitation even further, civil society organisations have gathered resources to assist in educating refugees arriving in the UK about their rights, entitlements, and basic services.
As Russia’s invasion goes on, serious organised crime’s global drivers grow stronger as organised crime organisations look to take advantage of the large-scale human movement.
UK ILO personnel are establishing and taking part in multi-partner hubs with Ukrainian and local personnel, NGOs, and refugees in countries bordering Ukraine.
We are disseminating best practises and resources from the UK to local law enforcement partners in Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine as well as to displaced Ukrainian police enforcement operating on the ground in Poland.
We applaud the work of the OSCE in addressing the increased risk of trafficking brought on by President Putin’s illegal war against Ukraine, especially its attempts to record the testimony of individuals who have escaped, Madam Chair.
But it is Russia’s job and Russia’s job alone to put an end to this threat.
It must stop its invasion right away and pull back its forces. Any more delay only serves to increase the displacement, uncertainty, suffering, and unhappiness.