Russia’s War Has Created a Human Trafficking Crisis, Says U.N. Envoy

Russia’s War Has Created a Human Trafficking Crisis, Says U.N. Envoy

Russia’s War Has Created a Human Trafficking Crisis, Says U.N. Envoy

Refugees from Ukraine wait for a bus after crossing the Polish border on March 7, 2022. Russia’s war in Ukraine is rapidly leading to a human trafficking crisis. (Maciek Nabrdalik/The New York Times)

Patten sounded the alarm on the incidence of conflict-related sexual violence being committed in Ukraine. “Although there is never accurate bookkeeping on an active battlefield,” she said, “it is clear that in the context of Ukraine, all the warning signals for the commission of atrocity crimes, including conflict-related sexual violence, are flashing red.”Patten spoke at an event at USIP on June 6. The event was part of a series of high-level discussions being convened by the Institute on “holding perpetrators accountable for crimes against humanity and for violations of humanitarian and human rights during the conflict in Ukraine,” said USIP President and CEO Lise Grande.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in an unprovoked act of aggression. Almost seven million Ukrainians have fled their country since the start of the war, 4.7 million of which are scattered around Europe, according to the United Nations. The war, meanwhile, is now mostly concentrated in the eastern part of Ukraine.

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