New report on human trafficking in the Baltic Sea Region highlights the broader effects of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine

A new CBSS publication, the Human Trafficking – Baltic Sea Region Round-Up Report 2022 , has been launched today by Lilian Tschan, the German State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. 

Published by the Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (TF-THB) of the CBSS, the round-up report shows the current state of human trafficking in the Baltic Sea Region. The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and its broader effects and repercussions on the region is the special focus of this edition.

“The fate of displaced persons, and how we respond to their immediate and long-term needs, concerns all of us,” said Veikko Mäkelä, the Project Officer at the TF-THB, adding that the Russian war in Ukraine has increased the risk of human trafficking in the Baltic Sea Region. 

Close to 8 million Ukrainians have been displaced so far, internally and externally. With an estimated 2.7 million refugees having sought shelter in the Baltic Sea Region , some of the CBSS countries are particularly affected by the influx of refugees. 

Since the beginning of what has now become a severe humanitarian crisis, the TF-THB has been working on preventing the exploitation of arriving refugees and providing assistance to those who have been victimized in the conflict zone or during transit. 

“The measures developed in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis must encompass both a gender-sensitive and human rights-based approach, recognizing the specific needs of both human trafficking victims and vulnerable persons under the risk of being exploited,” said Mäkelä. “This is what we are currently addressing in the CBSS Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings.”

The round-up report notably presents the actions taken by the CBSS member states against trafficking in human beings in the context of the refugee flows.

“In the CBSS countries, the solidarity with Ukrainian refugees has not only been demonstrated through the initiatives taken by governments but also by NGOs and the private sector,” said Mäkelä.

The new report also provides an overview of initiatives and projects in the CBSS member states that have particularly contributed to preventing trafficking in human beings. 

The round-up report was launched during the fall meeting of the Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings at the premises of the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in Berlin, Germany. Germany currently holds the presidency of the CBSS and has been chairing the meeting.