Preventing Human Trafficking of Refugees from Ukraine: a Rapid Assessment of Risks and Gaps in the Anti-Trafficking Response

Abstract

This article discusses a rapid assessment of risks and gaps in the anti-trafficking response, related to the prevention of human trafficking of refugees from Ukraine in the immediate aftermath of the start of the war (March-April 2022). For this assessment numerous actors have been interviewed from Ukraine and neighbouring countries and a study visit has been organized to Poland in April 2022. This assessment reviews the trafficking risks (and at risk groups) related to the outflow of Ukrainian refugees in Eastern and Central Europe, the extent to which these risks are being addressed by the agencies involved in the humanitarian response and the identification of the possible roles for anti-trafficking organizations. To address the gaps and needs that are identified in the anti-trafficking response in Ukraine and neigbouring countries (Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary and Slovakia) several recommendations are made, addressing governments/international organisations, anti-trafficking NGOs and donors, to (I) reduce the vulnerabilities to human trafficking; (ii) to ensure the identification of trafficked persons and accountability of perpetrators; and (iii) to ensure adequate referral and assistance to trafficked persons.