Growing fears of human trafficking in Ukraine

The growing uncertainties over Ukraine and spiralling humanitarian crisis arising out of the same have found their link with the dreaded fear of human trafficking in Ukraine.

 
News agencies reporting on the war have reported incidents of vulnerable, mainly women and children being lured into human trafficking. The traffickers feed on the situation of crisis like this. This was evident post the earthquake in Nepal in 2016, which killed 9000 people and separated many. A UNDC (United Nations Office on Drugs Control) published in 2006, had highlighted Ukraine as a source for a country for traffickers. The United Nations divides human trafficking into three categories – sex trafficking, labour trafficking, and the removal of the internal organ. 

The media reports report that vulnerable women are being lured into human trafficking on the pretext of help. According to a United Nations report, more than 3.2 million people have already left the country. The UN refugee agency has labelled the exodus as the fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War 2. A similar UN report on trafficking brings out that 79 per cent of human trafficking is for sexual drives. 

In the light of such incidents, Ukraine has asked its refugees to “take a selfie with the person offering help and avoid going along if they refuse” as a precautionary measure. Further reports bring out that authorities and NGOs are spreading awareness about the same. The Russian invasion of Ukraine reaches its 24th day on Saturday.