4.Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons: Key Trends Traffickers have recruited and exploited victims in Ukraine, and Ukrainians have been recorded as trafficked both domestically and internationally for many years.46 Moldova has also been a country of origin and transit for trafficking Moldovan citizens domestically and internationally for sexual and labour exploitation. The Balkans have traditionally been a common transit point for both countries, with the Russian Federation, Poland, Italy, and Germany being key
destinations.47 In recent years, Ukraine has adopted various anti-trafficking measures,48 such as increasing the number of investigations and doubling the number of traffickers convicted. However, the conflict inevitably stunted their enforcement. On 4 March 2022 the Ukrainian government communicated to the UN Secretary-General that it could not guarantee full implementation of the Palermo protocols until territorial integrity was restored.49
The conflict has generated additional opportunities for traffickers and human smugglers
The conflict has generated opportunities for traffickers and human smugglers (especially for undocumented migrants, given that Ukrainians can benefit from a visa-free regime for entering the EU), ranging from providing illicit services to forging documents and smuggling men of military age across the Ukrainian border (these men are banned from leaving Ukraine by the law)51 to abusing the vulnerable status
of refugees in host countries. Of the millions who fled Ukraine, 90% are women or children52- the primary and most vulnerable targets for trafficking. The potential risks to IDPs and refugees are diverse inside and outside Ukraine, including forced labour, illegal surrogacy, forced begging, and sexual exploitation.53 UNODC has identified the categories of people that are at heightened risk of trafficking. This includes unaccompanied and separated children; people who cannot access Temporary Protection because they are not eligible or due to lack of information or incorrect information; non-Ukrainians, including undocumented and stateless people; Roma people; LGBTQI+ people; older adults; and mentally and physically disabled, people.54 Unaccompanied and
HUMAN SMUGGLING AND TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS: KEY TRENDS
There is already established evidence that conflict is a key driver of human trafficking.50 While the real number of human trafficking cases is often not known for a long time after the conflict, as victims may not recognize they are being exploited and take time to come forward – it is clear that the conflict in Ukraine has increased trafficking in the region.
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