Two
girls apply make-up at Kandapara, a brothel in the city of Tangail,
Bangladesh. A man offered them to find them jobs, but instead sold them
to Kandapara. (2009)
Lockdowns,
travel restrictions, resource cutbacks and other measures to curb the
spread of the new coronavirus are putting victims of human trafficking
at risk of further exploitation, while organized crime networks could
further profit from the pandemic, according to the UN Office on Drugs
and Crime (UNODC).
New
analysis from the agency shows that the crisis is having an impact on
the lives of trafficking victims before, during and even after their
ordeal.
“With COVID-19
restricting movement, diverting law enforcement resources, and reducing
social and public services, human trafficking victims have even less
chance of escape and finding help”, said Ghada Fathi Waly, the UNODC Executive Director.
As countries have closed their borders due to the pandemic, some
victims are unable to return home. Others face delays in legal
proceedings, as well as a reduction in the support and protection they
rely on. Some are also in danger of further abuse or neglect by their
captors.
“Human trafficking is the result of the failure of our societies and
economies to protect the most vulnerable”, said Ilias Chatzis, chief of
the UNODC section that works to combat this crime.
“They should not be additionally ‘punished’ during times of crisis.”
Children in danger of new forms of abuse
UNODC said its partners report that due to the pandemic, more
children are being forced onto the streets to search for food and money,
thus increasing their risk of exploitation.
School closures have not only blocked access to education but also a
source of shelter and food for millions of children. The UN recently
reported that some 370 million students worldwide are now missing out on
school meals, often their only reliable source of nutrition.
Meanwhile, a UN independent human rights expert has underlined the urgent need for child protection services during the pandemic.
Thousands
of men, women and children fall victim each year to human trafficking, a
serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. The 18-year-old
girl pictured was taken to Almaty, Kazakhstan, and promised work as a
housekeeper but forced to become a sex worker. UNICEF/UN045727/Pirozzi
Mama Fatima Singhateh, fears the reported surge in violence against
children, coupled with new forms of sexual exploitation and abuse, will
have “devastating” lifelong implications for millions of youngsters
worldwide.
Even before the crisis, as many as 66 million children were already
living in “a precarious socio-economic situation”, according to Ms.
Singhateh, who is the Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual
exploitation of children, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
‘Drive-thru’ services for child sexual exploitation
Ms. Singhateh said travel restrictions have spawned new ways to
sexually exploit and abuse children, such as attempts to establish
“delivery” or “drive-thru” services. There has also been a spike in
people trying to access illegal websites featuring child pornography.
“Producing and accessing child sexual abuse material and live-stream
child sexual abuse online has now become an easy alternative to groom
and lure children into sexual activities and to trade images in online
communities”, said Ms. Singhateh. In common with all the UN’s
independent rights experts, she is not a UN staff member nor does she
receive a salary from the Organization.
Organized crime could benefit
UNODC warned that the pandemic has also created new opportunities for organized crime to profit.
“Traffickers may become more active and prey on people who are even
more vulnerable than before, because they have lost their source of
income due to measures to control the virus”, said Mr. Chatzis, chief of
the agency’s Human Trafficking Section.
Some countries have diverted resources meant for fighting crime to
the battle to defeat COVID-19. At the same time, services to assist
trafficking victims are being reduced or even shut down.
“We know that people in a vulnerable situation are more exposed to
contracting the virus, and they have less access to healthcare if they
get sick,” said Mr. Chatzis.
“So it’s alarming to hear that, in some places, trafficking victims
no longer have access to shelters, some refuges have even closed down
due to the virus and others lack protective equipment - putting both
victims and staff at risk.”
UNODC steps up support
As the pandemic deepens, UNODC is constantly monitoring the situation through its network of field offices and global partners.
It is also ramping up support, such as helping anti-trafficking units
to get protective equipment, and assisting countries in evaluating the
impact of the crisis on resources for victims, law enforcement and
justice systems.
“As we work together to overcome the global pandemic, countries need
to keep shelters and hotlines open, safeguard access to justice and
prevent more vulnerable people from falling into the hands of organized
crime”, said Ms. Waly, the agency’s chief.
UNODC further recommends that governments act to ensure that while
current restrictions on travel and freedom of movement are respected,
access to essential services for victims of human trafficking is
guaranteed without discrimination.
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Self-isolation has driven more and more
children to move online during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an
unprecedented rise in screen time and raising safety risks for millions
of young people, the UN said on Tuesday.
Independent UN human rights experts have called on States to
boost child protection measures to help safeguard the welfare of
millions of children who may be more exposed to violence, sale,
trafficking, sexual abuse and exploitation during the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic.
Mama Fatima Singhateh, fears the reported surge in violence against
children, coupled with new forms of sexual exploitation and abuse, will
have “devastating” lifelong implications for millions of youngsters
worldwide.
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