Preventing human trafficking during the Ukrainian Crisis

In the midst of the humanitarian crisis sparked by the Russian aggression against Ukraine, a new threat is emerging: that of human trafficking and gender-based violence against vulnerable refugees, particularly women.

While we were on the ground supporting journalists with their coverage of the situation at the Polish border, our volunteers from SCPS entered Ukraine and came into contact with caregivers, officials, and witnesses trying to raise the alarm over multiple episodes of human trafficking, an issue that is growing at a worrying and steady pace.

The press coverage and civic awareness around this problem is significantly lacking behind at this stage; and what’s worse, victims of trafficking and violence are most of the times attracted by criminals hiding within the solidarity network currently trying to provide relief to refugees at the border, mining both the trust and efficacy of the great work done by thousands of volunteers each day and in the reception centres all over the continent.

For these reasons, we decided it was time to act.

We have launched a fundraising campaign to step up the efforts to prevent, advocate, and fight against on this issue. We will work shoulder to shoulder with organizations on the field, officials. and journalists to spread information and guidelines to become aware of the dangers posed by trafficking.