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Caritas Ukraine, Caritas Moldova and Caritas Romania launched new cross border project aimed to
assist Ukrainian refugees, potential victims of human trafficking and returnees.
The goal of this project is to mitigate the negative effects of the war on the vulnerable population
of Ukraine in transit and reduce the negative trends of human trafficking in Ukraine, Romania and Moldova.
Despite on-going war in Ukraine there is a tendency to return to Ukraine of Ukrainian citizens who
left the country at the beginning of war, especially in Romania and Moldova. Monitoring data of Caritas
Romania shows that only in the period April-September 2024 27% of the beneficiaries of Caritas programs left the country, most of them back to Ukraine (while we estimate that more or less the same number of new refugees arrived in Romania).
According to recent studies published by IOM and UNHCR, Ukrainian refugees in Moldova prefer
constant short visits to their home country rather than for permanent return; thus, only a minority have
returned voluntarily to Ukraine. Due to its proximity, Moldova is considered as a transit or temporary host
country. Refugees who settled in Moldova since the start of the war express their intention to return once
it is safe and conditions are improved in Ukraine. Moldova was facing already economic challenges even
before the war and the level of emigration was high among its own population. This means that socio-
economic integration opportunities are limited for Ukrainians. These challenges are determining refugees
to consider secondary migration to other EU countries while others hope for an eventual return to Ukraine.
Significant war-related population displacement has increased the risks of human trafficking, as
noted in a report by the Office of Monitoring and Combating Human Trafficking at the US Embassy in
Ukraine. Human traffickers tried to exploit refugees at border crossing points and transit centers.
The war and its economic impact increased the individual vulnerability to human trafficking even of
those Ukrainians who did not become displaced persons. One of the surveys for 2022 showed that more
than half of Ukrainians are at risk of exploitation and are ready to accept risky job offers that can lead to
exploitation. This group includes Ukrainian men, as well as, increasingly, educated Ukrainians who want to provide for their needs. The recruitment of Ukrainian women and girls for sexual exploitation abroad has become more frequent.
Across Europe, Ukrainian refugees are at risk of forced labour, particularly in domestic work,
childcare and seasonal agricultural work, although only a few confirmed cases of trafficking have come to light. There are also many signs indicating that large numbers of refugees from Ukraine are working in their host countries without legal work contracts, opening doors to abuse, very low salaries not respecting legal minimum salaries and exclusion from legal and social protection.
Ukrainian refugees often cross borders uninformed of their destination or rights. Cross-border
cooperation allows for harmonized potential victim identification, safe return, and support services.
In order to mitigate negative consequences of war for the vulnerable population of Ukraine in
transit, to influence negative tendencies of human trafficking in Ukraine, Romania and Moldova, Caritas
Ukraine, Caritas Romania and Caritas Moldova are committed to work together on development of joint
program activities.
Prepared by Natalia Holynska,
project manager of cross border project
Caritas Ukraine
nholynska@caritas.ua
https://caritas.ua/