Wherever you are, take care of yourself and do not allow anyone to think that there is no one to help you

Women and girls in crisis situations are at increased risk of abuse and exploitation.

In the context of the EU Anti-Trafficking Day, the International Center La Strada launched a campaign to raise public awareness of the risks of human trafficking to which forcibly displaced persons may be exposed in the context of the war in Ukraine.

In countries affected by armed conflicts, women and children are exposed to increased trafficking risks due to lack of opportunities to earn some income, limited access to essential services such as health or education, or increased vulnerability that can lead them to accept risky proposals in order to gain access to essential goods and accommodation.

According to the EU’ Common Anti-Trafficking Plan, launched on 6 May 2022, investigations into potential trafficking cases have been initiated in several EU states, and the risk of human trafficking remains imminent and increased.

The most vulnerable groups exposed to human trafficking are unaccompanied or separated children, children traveling accompanied by unknown persons, persons unable to access temporary protection, undocumented and poorly informed persons, persons from ethnic communities or with other specific vulnerabilities. One of the risk factors is the desire of forcibly displaced people to leave the conflict zone as quickly as possible and find accommodation and a job in the country where they are fleeing.

La Strada specialists warn that it is important to adjust our response at national level in order to ensure adequate protection for displaced persons in the face of any form of exploitation.

Mixed migration flows are a new challenge for the national anti-trafficking community, which for more than nine months has been channeling all its efforts to be able to observe and identify signs of possible cases of exploitation on the territory of Moldova, during the transit of forcibly displaced persons or in the communities that offer them accommodation.

Lars Johan LONNBACK, IOM Chief of Mission in Moldova:

“There is a broad consensus that crisis situations exacerbate the risk of human trafficking and may give rise to new trends in trafficking, as opportunists seek to exploit the vulnerabilities of people affected by instability and displacement. Human trafficking was already a concern in Ukraine and its neighboring countries, including Moldova, before the invasion of the country by the Russian Federation on 24 February 2022. Most of those fleeing Ukraine since the start of the crisis are women and children. In addition to human trafficking, key protection concerns include family separation, exposure to violence, exploitation and abuse, as well as exposure to trauma, gender-based violence and sexual exploitation. Through information campaigns, such as this important campaign that we are launching today with our most long-term partner, the International Center La Strada, IOM seeks to ensure that vulnerable people have access to the information they need to migrate safely and to access assistance when needed.”

Elena BOTEZATU, La Strada Executive Director, said, in context:

“The EU Anti-Trafficking Day is celebrated annually on 18 October.

“The message of this year’s campaign is addressed to all women and girls who fled the war, who face some unpleasant or coercive situations in Moldova.

“‘Take care of yourself and do not allow anyone to think that there is no one to help you!’ – it is about the availability of specialists to provide support to any person subjected to exploitation, through information support, counselling and ensuring access to services in case of need. Since the beginning of the war, we have extended the mandate of the Safe Migration and Anti-Trafficking Hotline, 0800 77777, to provide assistance to refugees as well, and we want every woman in need to know where to call, being guaranteed anonymity and confidentiality.

“We chose to convey this message through the voice of a man, of the one who stayed to fight to defend his country, because this war is first and foremost about people and ruined destinies. Like any crisis situation, fleeing war generates anxiety, despair and fear, and on the background of these, it is important to know how to deal with them and which services can help.”

Statistics from the Safe Migration and Anti-Trafficking Hotline 0800 77777 show that since the start of the war, 27 calls have been recorded regarding alleged cases of trafficking for the purpose of labor and sexual exploitation. In 17 of the cases, people reported signs of increased vulnerability to exploitation. La Strada specialists recorded 6 cases regarding possible situations of exploitation of forcibly displaced women and children in the context of the war in Ukraine.

This campaign is launched in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, as part of the project “Strengthening national efforts of preventing human trafficking and rehabilitation of trafficking victims in Moldova”, with the financial support of the U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Office (J/TiP).