Human Trafficking in Times of Conflict

As of today, August 23rd, 2024, there are more than 110 armed conflicts happening right now. That’s right, 110. Everyday, women and young girls are thrusted head first into conflict across the globe. The burdens of warfare are often disproportionately placed on the backs of women, with the constant threat of sexual violence, human trafficking, and exploitation looming over their heads.

One of the most current examples of exploiting times of conflict is the case of Ukraine. Since Russia’s invasion, Ukrainians in Russia-occupied areas are subjected to forced labor, forced conscription, torture, and extortion with rates expected to rise.

 Meet Galyna, a Ukrainian woman who fled to the United Kingdom to escape Russian conflict however, she was instead trafficked by the same man who promised to help her start a new life. Using her desperation and confusion, he moved her from place to place, forcing her to have sex with him. When she refused to meet his demands, he dropped her off at a nearby council building without as much of a second thought. Hungry, alone, and confused Galyna wandered the streets of London looking to find some kind of help. Thankfully, a local charity took her in and helped her find her way in the U.K., warning her about sexual manipulation tactics. Galyna’s story is far from unique, people taking advantage of others' distress is nothing new and happens constantly. 

While the problems of sexual abuse have been apparent to women for decades, any kind of legislative solution to these problems seem to have been scrapped entirely. In active war zones such as Ukraine, policies made to combat these eminent issues are almost nonexistent and accountability for those participating is even smaller. With the United States Presidential election creeping up, we must vote for the candidate that confidently addresses these global challenges. Sexual crimes thrive in darkness, the only way to put an end to the suffering of our most vulnerable is to shine a spotlight on it.