Today, 20 June, on World Refugee Day, we take a moment to show solidarity with the more than 123 million people forcibly displaced around the world.
When solidarity is not the rule, people fleeing conflict and persecution are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking.
People fleeing their land have been granted asylum in foreign lands for thousands of years, and Europeans, who just a few decades ago also had to flee their countries on several occasions, should continue to show solidarity with those that are now confronted with conflict and insecurity.
The war in Ukraine showed the EU’s solidarity capacity. Millions of displaced Ukrainians found open doors in Europe for a safer future.
As the war continues, more than 4 million Ukrainians live in the EU under the Temporary Protection Directive. By triggering the Temporary Protection, the EU was able to provide a flexible and coordinated response to protect those fleeing war. LSI welcomed the recent Council approval, following the Commission’s proposal, to extend the Temporary Protection of Ukrainians until 4 March 2027. These individuals and families need clear, concrete solutions that ensure long-term stability. The EU and Member States must reflect on the possibilities to provide long-term solutions and facilitate the transition to other legal statuses for Ukrainians in Europe as the war continues.
In these last few years, LSI and its members have run a variety of programs to support displaced persons from Ukraine, aimed at reducing the risk of human trafficking.
LSI’s Case Assessment Report “Assisting Displaced Persons from Ukraine: Indications of Human Trafficking and Labour Exploitation” showed that despite efforts, Ukrainians were particularly vulnerable to labour exploitation, followed by sexual exploitation and criminal exploitation. The high-risk sectors identified were also in line with our presumptions, with construction, domestic work and agriculture being the most reported. Contrary to initial assumptions, Ukrainian men were found to be more vulnerable to trafficking than women, despite the majority of displaced persons from Ukraine being female.
While prevention efforts and access to rights have mitigated some risks, this study highlights the continued vulnerabilities of displaced Ukrainians. As the war has continued and enters its fourth year, political momentum has weakened in some countries, leading to policy shifts that restrict protection and, in turn, increase the risk of exploitation.
The EU and all member states should show solidarity with all people fleeing war or persecution. Protection and legal pathways decrease people’s vulnerabilities and risks of exploitation and human trafficking.
Copyright: Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.