Soon after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it became clear that the millions of refugees fleeing the war — the biggest movement of people in Europe since World War II — presented a perfect opportunity for organized criminal groups and individual profiteers to take advantage of the turmoil. Since then, law-enforcement agencies and anti-human-trafficking groups have reported increased targeting of vulnerable people, especially women and children, for sexual and labor exploitation.
While philanthropy has responded generously to the overall humanitarian need in Ukraine, it’s unclear how much of that giving has targeted the specific problem of human trafficking. Research by La Strada International, the European antitrafficking network I coordinate, shows why investments in protecting those fleeing the war are urgently needed.
Over the past two months, I conducted a rapid assessment of the problem to identify where the need is greatest, teaming up with Eefje de Volder, co-founder of Impact: Centre Against Human Trafficking and Sexual Violence in Conflict and a board member of La Strada International. We’ve spoken with representatives from European governments, international organizations, and nonprofit leaders in Ukraine and neighboring countries to better understand which groups of people are particularly at risk and why.
We also visited Poland and heard firsthand from refugees and those who are assisting them. We learned that many departed Ukraine quickly, with few belongings and deep concerns about those they left behind. They often had no idea where to go and what would come next. In addition to inquiring about accommodations and other support services, many were already concerned about finding employment as their financial resources dwindled.
Those facing the greatest risk of exploitation and abuse are likely unaccompanied children, undocumented people, and individuals who, for a range of reasons, are unable to access the temporary protections offered to refugees by E.U. countries. In some cases, this is because they fled Ukraine before the war began or were not legal residents of Ukraine prior to the invasion.
Groups who already experience marginalization and discrimination, including people who are chronically ill and disabled, LGBTQ+, or members of the Roma ethnic group, are particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Additionally, those who have fled alone, with no relatives or contacts in neighboring countries, face a significantly increased risk since they are even more likely to rely on strangers.
Traffickers approach refugees at the border, in shelters, or online with false promises of accommodation and work, or requests for sexual or other services in lieu of rent. Many refugees turn to social media to seek assistance, revealing information about their location and circumstances that traffickers and abusers can easily use to recruit people for work or services — and then exploit them for financial gain. Targeted fields include not only the sex industry but also agriculture, and hospitality and domestic work, where staff shortages are high and working conditions often poor, especially for foreigners.
While European authorities and national governments are taking steps, and a Common European Union Action Plan was endorsed last month to tackle the risks of trafficking related to the war, our research uncovered several significant gaps in the response that should be swiftly addressed to prevent Ukrainian refugees from becoming prey to traffickers. The philanthropic world, including foundations in the United States, should recognize that this problem will only increase as the war continues and more refugees, as well as displaced people within Ukraine, need to resettle and find work.
Our final report, commissioned by the Freedom Fund, identified several concrete ways that philanthropy, along with European authorities, can respond.
Support helpline services. Antitrafficking hotlines are a lifeline for desperate refugees; they facilitate the early identification and reporting of cases. Increased funding will support technological upgrades and ensure coordination among groups offering this resource. More people who speak both Ukrainian and Russian are also needed to answer helpline calls in places such as Poland and Moldova where our member organizations run these services. And those working the hotlines require regular training in trauma care and relevant laws and policies critical to offering informed assistance to refugees.
Help provide accurate and accessible information. Our research found that displaced people were unable to make well-informed decisions because they lacked consistent and comprehensive information about potential trafficking risks.
As more refugees start looking for work, official websites and other central hubs of information are needed to provide verified job opportunities and reduce the risks of labor exploitation. Nonprofits, including workers’ rights organizations, need funding to expand their online outreach to refugees, offer information and advice about the labor market in countries where refugees are now living, and identify situations that may lead to exploitation.
This information must be shared as broadly as possible, both online and offline, taking into account different levels of digital literacy. People who speak the language, preferably Ukrainians, need to be trained to reach out to refugees and inform them about trafficking-related risks and how they can seek help.
Strengthen support services, particularly trauma care and shelters. Existing specialized shelters such as those run by governments and nonprofits often have limited space, especially for women with children or people with multiple needs, and many lack Russian- or Ukrainian-speaking personnel. Trafficked people also need legal and financial assistance to empower them and protect them against further exploitation and abuse.
To further reduce vulnerability, donors can invest in services that address the most pressing needs for displaced people, including psychological and trauma care, transportation, and housing. There are waiting lists for trauma care in many European countries, and the organizations doing this work are in critical need of funding to expand their offerings.
Specialist teams at Save the Children, for example, are working with schools and community centers to help children overcome the mental and psychological effects of conflict and violence. Hope and Homes for Children is monitoring the borders in Romania and Moldova to facilitate safe reunification of children and young people with families or to set up emergency foster care.
Invest in research. Continued assessment of the situation facing refugees is necessary to understand the main challenges and gaps in the antitrafficking response and to ensure the rights of displaced Ukrainians are upheld. That means monitoring groups that are both covered by or excluded from the European Union’s temporary protections directive, which allows those fleeing the war to attain employment, housing, medical care, and education for children. Are these Ukrainians finding decent work that pays a living wage? Are they getting crucial assistance, or are they forced to explore potentially dangerous avenues to meet their basic needs? Such information can be used to urge governments and the European Commission to take further action.
As the war continues, grant makers need to stay focused on the extreme challenges facing those who have fled Ukraine. They can help make sure that antitrafficking organizations and governments have the resources they need to rapidly expand their efforts and keep refugees safe and protected from further exploitation.
