By Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times) Mexico Permanent Representative, Juan Ramón de la Fuente (right podium) and (left) France Permanent Representative, Ambassador de Rivière, during press briefing outside the United Nations Security Council chambers at UN world headquarters on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine April 19, 2022.
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
UNITED NATIONS – NEW YORK – Because 90 percent of refugees and displaced persons in Ukraine are women and children, the risk of humanitarian trafficking is high. Nicolas de Rivière, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, and Juan Ramón de la Fuente, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations, briefed the UN Security Council Tuesday on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, warning members of risk of humanitarian trafficking.
“More than 1 in 4 people in Ukraine have now been displaced by the war of Russia against Ukraine. There are almost 5 million refugees and 7.1 million internally displaced persons. Ninety percent of refugees and displaced persons are women and children. The risk of humanitarian trafficking is high.”
-France, Mexico UN Joint Statement
Mexico and France’s ambassadors requested a briefing of the UN Security Council with international organizations for migration and the UN refugee agencies because of the high risk of humanitarian trafficking.
“We believe we have a collective responsibility to protect and bring assistance to refugees and displaced persons without any discrimination. And we must also increase our efforts to combat human trafficking.”
-France, Mexico UN Joint Statement
Humanitarian crises often lead to human trafficking
According to UNICEF, armed conflict, natural disasters and political unrest often lead to increased human trafficking. Girls and women are particularly vulnerable. “Human trafficking — the buying and selling of humans for exploitative purposes — is an industry that thrives on the vulnerability and desperation of its victims. The circumstances under which victims are coerced or deceived into being trafficked vary considerably, from war and natural disasters to poverty and political corruption. These conditions create chaos and fuel the desperation of the civilians affected by them. Humanitarian crisis is among these factors and finds itself creeping to the forefront as the number of global crises continues to rise.” – UNICEF.
