28
NOV

“The nexus of human trafficking, asylum seekers and refugees"

“Refugees at Risk: UNDOC uncovers human trafficking at camp in Malawi.” – UNDOC, May 2022.

“IOM warns of increased risk of trafficking in persons for people fleeing Ukraine.” – IOM, March 2022.

“Girls sold into forced labour. Largest group of trafficking victims identified by IOM in Bangladesh refugee camps” – IOM, October 2018.

Human trafficking, or trafficking in persons refers to “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of persons; through force or other coercive means; for purposes of exploitation” - 2000 Palermo Protocol. Perpetrators of human trafficking take advantage of people’s vulnerable positions to force them into situations of exploitation, including manual labour, sexual services, and domestic servitude. And among the most vulnerable of people are those on the move and fleeing from conflict, war, violence, famine, and other forms of persecution. While human trafficking has seen increased research and policy focus, the threat of human trafficking during flight, asylum seeking and in refugee camps/settlements has received lesser attention.

People fleeing their homes leave behind belongings, documentation, and social networks and are subsequently left with limited resources and livelihood options. While attempting to reach safety through irregular pathways, they may find themselves at the mercy of human smugglers who subject them to human trafficking should they fail to cover the cost of passage, or simply as an opportune commodity. And when they do ultimately arrive in a safe country or a refugee camp, unfavourable conditions may put them at further risk of human trafficking. Delays in processing asylum claims and denial of refugee status result in failure to access legal documentation, gainful employment, educational opportunities, and social services. Reservations to rights such as freedom of movement and access to employment limit self-reliance further, making the task of human traffickers even easier.

The mandate of dealing with human trafficking has primarily been left to agencies such as UNDOC. However, with the realization that asylum seekers and refugees are at high risk of human trafficking, IOM and UNHCR have taken steps to assist with identification and assistance of victims of human trafficking among asylums seekers and refugees through a joint protocol, “IOM-UNHCR Document Framework on Developing Standard Operating Procedures to Facilitate the Identification and Protection of Victims of Trafficking” – June 2020. Solutions in the protocol for identified victims include voluntary repatriation, assisted voluntary repatriation, resettlement in a third country and local reintegration.

However, solutions are still needed to prevent trafficking among people on the move, asylum seekers and refugees to begin with and these may include:

1.Advocating for and providing safe & regular passage for people fleeing from conflict, war, disasters, and persecution.

2.Ensuring timely processing of asylum claims to enable people to access livelihood opportunities.

3.Promoting local integration of refugees, which encourages self-reliance.

For stories on the link between human trafficking and people on the move, asylum seekers and refugees, click on the following links:

· “Refugees at Risk: UNDOC uncovers human trafficking at camp in Malawi.” – UNDOC, May 2022. https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/Webstories2022/refugees-at-risk_-unodc-uncovers-human-trafficking-at-camp-in-malawi.html

· “IOM warns of increased risk of trafficking in persons for people fleeing Ukraine.” – IOM, March 2022. Https://www.iom.int/news/iom-warns-increased-risk-trafficking-persons-people-fleeing-ukraine

· “Girls sold into forced labour. Largest group of trafficking victims identified by IOM in Bangladesh refugee camps” – IOM, October 2018. Https://www.iom.int/news/girls-sold-forced-labour-largest-group-trafficking-victims-identified-iom-bangladesh-refugee-camps

“The nexus of human trafficking, asylum seekers and refugees"

Post Categories

Posts by Tags

“The nexus of human trafficking, asylum seekers and refugees"

Follow us

Post Categories

Posts by Tags