Predators, including those from human trafficking networks, target vulnerable individuals. As so many of the Ukrainian refugees are women and children, usually separated from their husbands, they are particularly vulnerable to these threats. Those involved in assisting refugees need to be very aware and alert to suspicious behaviors in order to protect them. It is also important to be able to provide them with correct information so that they can protect themselves.
What is human trafficking?
Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery and human rights violations that is unfortunately still relevant in the 21st century. It is defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receiving of persons, by means of threats, use of force or other forms of psychological pressure for the purpose of further exploitation.
Exploitation can take the following forms:
- Labour exploitation or forced services
- Sexual exploitation
- Involvement in criminal activities
- Forced begging
- Domestic servitude
- Illegal adoption
- Child / teen pornography
- Organ removal
- Slavery or practices similar to slavery
- Forced marriage
Essentials things to know if you want to help people who have been forced to leave their country due to the war can be found in this link. You can report any suspicion of human trafficking at TELVERDE ANITIP 0800.800.678 (in Romania) or at the eLiberare Crisis Textline 0757.749.845.
Signs which may indicate a refugee is or could be exploited by a person claiming to help them:
They:
- are offering a job with an unrealistically high salary;
- are forcing the refugee to perform work, services or sex without their consent and/or using psychological pressure and manipulations to gain their consent;
- have removed or are withholding the refugee’s passport or other identification document(s);
- have removed or are withholding the refugee’s personal means of communication (mobile phones, laptops, etc).
- are making the refugee comply with strict rules or controlling them by limiting their sleep/rest/food or water intake/denying medical care or isolating them.
- are restricting their ability to move freely or forcing them to live or work in locked premises.
- are asking the refugee to undertake labour, services, or sex acts to repay ‘debts’ (sometimes they may make the ‘debt’ harder to pay off or make the refugee think they cannot leave until it is paid).
- employing the refugee but they are not respecting the basic working conditions of a labour contract, and/or if they are not paying the refugee, and/or are only paying the refugee some of what was promised or they keep control of the refugee’s money.
What can you do to limit refugee’s vulnerability to trafficking?
- Inform them of their rights and where they can access services, help, and support.
- Encourage refugees to maintain possession of their documents at all times.
- Encourage refugees to keep in touch with people who may support them (if possible those from their community, family, friends, other support structures).
- Encourage refugees to ensure that they have enough information about who they are travelling with, what route they will take, the address they will be staying and anyone else who may be there too, any workplace or employer they may be going to and share that information with other trusted persons.
- Encourage refugees to develop a secret ‘safeword’ or phrase that they have given to trusted person(s) that they can use later so they know if the refugee is in trouble.
Tips for Drivers
Drivers are playing a very important role in receiving refugees, representing the hospitality, generosity and trustworthiness of the Romanian society. When you are offering transportation to the refugees, you become the most important and trusted person to keep them safe.
- Avoid any stops on the way, except for emergencies. If you do stop, make sure to count everyone before and after leaving bus to ensure that nobody is left behind.
- Don’t allow anyone else on the bus except those that were assigned to you on the table.
- To have a valid RCA (insurance) and ITP (periodic technical inspection).
10 practical tips for organizations, initiative groups or volunteers supporting Ukrainian refugees in Romania:
- Ensure that refugees are aware of their rights and that they have completed the legal asylum application procedure in Romania:
- https://dopomoha.ro/ro – here you will find information in Romanian, Ukrainian, English and Russian.
- LOGS – Social Initiatives Group has a 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 – 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 (on WhatsApp) for asylum information (English, Russian and Ukrainian) + 𝟒.𝟎𝟕𝟔𝟓.𝟖𝟔𝟏.𝟖𝟖𝟖.
- Make sure that the places where the refugees will be housed are checked and that there are decent living conditions. Please note that the situation in Ukraine is indefinite and the need for accommodation may be long-term. Constantly communicate with the authorities and
- Consider the need to communicate in Ukrainian – many of those who come to our country are people who do not speak another language and also make sure that you receive their consent for any kind of support you offer / suggest. Use accessible language and simpler words to be easily understood.
- Recognize the signs of exploitation and encourage those you come in contact with to find out. More details in Romanian, Ukrainian, English and Russian here
- Establish a relationship of trust by presenting your / the organization you represent, describing the role and the type of support provided.
- Report any suspicion of human trafficking to 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐏 𝟎𝟖𝟎𝟎.𝟖𝟎𝟎.𝟔𝟕𝟖 (in Romania) or to 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞-𝐮𝐥 𝐞𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝟎𝟕𝟓𝟕.𝟕𝟒𝟗.𝟖𝟒𝟓.
- Be sensitive to cultural differences. Ukrainians will need help to adapt to the new context in which they find themselves and to navigate the situations they will encounter in Romania.
- In public communications and posting on social networks, keep in mind the importance of maintaining the dignity of the people you help (this can be done by editing pictures so that faces, especially of children, are blurred, do not use their names in public posts etc.).
- Maintain constant communication with the authorities and look for ways to coordinate with other initiative groups in your city/area so as not to duplicate efforts – together we can do more!
- Keep in mind that Ukrainians who have crossed the border into Romania have experienced major traumatic events, and the effects of these traumas may appear later. If you need support in managing certain situations, ASproAS – The Association of Social Workers in Romania has a 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 – 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 for social and psychological counseling for Ukrainians who have already taken refuge in Romania +𝟒.𝟎𝟕𝟒𝟓.𝟏𝟑𝟗.𝟕𝟒𝟕.
Source and for more information: Platforma Protect on Facebook