14 March 2022
Wartime Alert on Human Trafficking
Romania ranks first in the EU as a resurgent country for victims of human trafficking, which means that local networks are very well structured. In war conditions, the collaboration between the traffic networks in Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine increases the dangers of exposing refugees with their branches in Western countries.
Refugees forced to flee the war leaving behind a home and everything that implies stability: family, relatives, community, society, culture are vulnerable and an easy target for traffickers. Once detached from the place that provides social and cultural identity, the refugee feels deprived of support, community, and protection of a legislative, social and economic framework, which has ensured identity comfort and status.
Human traffickers are trained in their approach and have mastered the skill of exploitation of victims’ vulnerability, often approaching the victim with seemingly credible solutions to their problems. On being asked by journalists if there are any known victims of human trafficking victims among refugees, I noted traffickers know how and when to quietly take advantage of the general confusion of war, and very soon, we will find out about the victims of modern refugee slavery impacted by the fleeing victims from Ukraine. At the moment, the first link in trafficking is acting; it is focused on capturing seducing the victim with promises, and, soon after, delivery to the modern slavery market will occur. Many Romanians showed their humanity and took refugees in their homes and cars. However, as most refugees are women and children, we don’t know what happens if they end up in a trafficker’s house or car. There is no tracking mechanism in place to support accountability. We fear that we will soon learn of documented cases where victims of modern slavery come from among refugees because traffickers take advantage of the confusing situation on the border.
We have seen that the EU has launched serious discussions on the mechanism of accelerated admission to the EU for Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. It is necessary for all countries to establish the National Referral Mechanisms for Victims of Human Trafficking to introduce the Nordic Model. According to the Nordic Model, consumers of sexual services are criminalized and penalized rather than the victims who remain blameless. This necessary paradigm shift to the Nordic Model not only reduces the risk of trafficking among refugees and beyond but enables legislators, and those calling on their legislators to remain a step ahead traffickers.
Dr. Aurora Martin,
Vice President
