OSCE Representative and U.S. Under Secretary call for more action to protect women and children fleeing war in Ukraine from human trafficking

WARSAW, 6 October 2022 - Protecting Ukrainian women and children from risks of sexual exploitation was the focus of an event co-organised by the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and the U.S. Mission to the OSCE, held today on the margins of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.

The discussion highlighted the current challenges in protecting women and children fleeing the war in Ukraine, analysing the role technology and demand play in fostering trafficking. Participants also reflected on the need to develop anti-trafficking strategies to prevent the current humanitarian crisis from turning into a human trafficking crisis.

“In the midst of this humanitarian crisis, we continue to be especially concerned about the susceptibility of refugees from Ukraine—the majority of whom are women and children—to human trafficking,” said Uzra Zeya, the U.S. Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.  She added, “these vulnerabilities are often exacerbated for members of certain groups, such as persons with disabilities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) people; and members of racial and ethnic minorities.”

“This dramatic humanitarian situation is a business opportunity for traffickers, and technology is a great facilitator in recruiting and advertising victims. Data shows a rising and toxic demand for sexual services from the most vulnerable,” said Valiant Richey, the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. “To address this challenge, we need stronger prevention efforts, including discouraging demand, to keep people safe,” he added.

Following remarks from Kateryna Cherepakha, President of “La Strada-Ukraine”, Kateryna Ryabiko, First Deputy Director of ODIHR, Anna Ekstedt, Swedish Ambassador-at-large for Combating Trafficking in Persons, Ioana Bauer, Chairwoman of the Romanian NGO eLiberare, the participants and audience exchanged views on how to keep people seeking refuge, particularly women and children, safe from trafficking.