Women and child trafficking during armed conflict and ongoing challenges in protection the focus of ODIHR discussion in Warsaw

The increased risks of trafficking of women and children during armed conflict and the protection of victims of trafficking were discussed at an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw on 12 October 2023. The discussion took place at the margins of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.

The gender dynamics of human trafficking become particularly visible in situations of conflict, participants highlighted. ODIHR’s recent Survey on the Safety & Security of Ukraine's Women Refugees has revealed these increased vulnerabilities.

“Robust national anti-trafficking mechanisms, coupled with measures to address the serious vulnerabilities of women and girls fleeing conflict, are essential to prevent and combat human trafficking in the OSCE region,” says Iryna Sukhinina of the Advancing the human dimension of security in Ukraine project.

The event gathered international experts, government officials and civil society representatives who discussed ways to ensure that victims and survivors are always placed at the centre of all anti-trafficking measures, which must also be gender-sensitive, child-friendly and take into account the traumatic experience of people who have been trafficked or faced such risks, including internally displaced people and refugees in the context of armed conflicts, including in Ukraine.

“Human trafficking and conflict are directly interlinked,” said Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights. “Human trafficking is a violation of so many human rights, such as respect for dignity, freedom and personal integrity, and freedom of movement. It is therefore vital to protect Ukrainian refugees from human trafficking across the OSCE region and beyond.”  

The Vancouver Declaration adopted by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in July 2023 underlined that armed conflicts significantly escalate risks of human trafficking. Women and girls, especially those displaced, are severely affected by trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, frequently in combination with other forms of exploitation such as sexual slavery, forced and child marriage, and labour trafficking, including domestic servitude.

The participants concluded that addressing trafficking risks in situations of conflict requires a comprehensive approach that includes effective national referral mechanisms. This approach recognizes that those trafficked are holders of rights and ensures that responses to trafficking protect these rights, as reflected in ODIHR’s tools such as the NRM Handbook  - Joining Efforts to Protect the Rights of Trafficked Persons and Guidance on Trauma-Informed National Referral Mechanisms and Responses to Human Trafficking.