By Vivian Ramírez Banzer, Bachelor of International Relations
The current war and Russian invasion of Ukraine may drastically increase the alarming situation of human trafficking and smuggling that already affects Eastern Europe. International networks of traffickers act ferociously in the current territories affected by conflict and war. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the most common forms of exploitation in these countries are sexual exploitation 64%, labor exploitation 18%, begging, domestic servitude and forced marriage 18%.
Ukraine’s bordering countries such as Romania, Bulgaria and especially Moldova, have been destinations for trafficking and interregional smuggling due to the short distances between Eastern European and Central European countries, and these countries are also international trafficking routes to Asia. and the United States. The massive flight of people due to the war can now facilitate the work of criminal organizations in charge of recruiting victims.
The almost 3 million people who to date have fled from Ukraine to bordering countries, according to United Nations data, carry with them a hard road towards rebuilding their homes and economies in foreign lands.
This should activate timely and effective actions by international organizations and receiving States, on the high possibilities that criminal trafficking and smuggling organizations take advantage of the human misfortune and need of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who arrive desperate and impoverished. to these territories, especially women who have taken charge of the salvation of their children and whose husbands have remained in Ukraine in defense of their country.
The humanitarian approach must include not only shelter and basic humanitarian needs for people who cross borders fleeing war, but also a comprehensive approach to their security and the protection of their human rights by countries receivers. Ukrainians will surely face difficulties due to their immigration status and due to unemployment they will be vulnerable to detection and exploitation by traffickers.
The war will not only generate economic effects and political impacts in the world in real time, but it is very likely that it will produce an increase in organized crime in the countries of Europe in the short and medium term. It is very likely that the war will trigger the indicators of human trafficking and smuggling in the coming years, and this must generate awareness and timely action worldwide.
By Vivian Ramírez Banzer, Bachelor of International Relations
The current war and Russian invasion of Ukraine may drastically increase the alarming situation of human trafficking and smuggling that already affects Eastern Europe. International networks of traffickers act ferociously in the current territories affected by conflict and war. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the most common forms of exploitation in these countries are sexual exploitation 64%, labor exploitation 18%, begging, domestic servitude and forced marriage 18%.
Ukraine’s bordering countries such as Romania, Bulgaria and especially Moldova, have been destinations for trafficking and interregional smuggling due to the short distances between Eastern European and Central European countries, and these countries are also international trafficking routes to Asia. and the United States. The massive flight of people due to the war can now facilitate the work of criminal organizations in charge of recruiting victims.
The almost 3 million people who to date have fled from Ukraine to bordering countries, according to United Nations data, carry with them a hard road towards rebuilding their homes and economies in foreign lands.
This should activate timely and effective actions by international organizations and receiving States, on the high possibilities that criminal trafficking and smuggling organizations take advantage of the human misfortune and need of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who arrive desperate and impoverished. to these territories, especially women who have taken charge of the salvation of their children and whose husbands have remained in Ukraine in defense of their country.
The humanitarian approach must include not only shelter and basic humanitarian needs for people who cross borders fleeing war, but also a comprehensive approach to their security and the protection of their human rights by countries receivers. Ukrainians will surely face difficulties due to their immigration status and due to unemployment they will be vulnerable to detection and exploitation by traffickers.
The war will not only generate economic effects and political impacts in the world in real time, but it is very likely that it will produce an increase in organized crime in the countries of Europe in the short and medium term. It is very likely that the war will trigger the indicators of human trafficking and smuggling in the coming years, and this must generate awareness and timely action worldwide.
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