Refugee flows are currently at the highest levels in history. Refugees already face perilous journeys, harsh living conditions in camps, and discrimination in host countries, but they are also at risk of a human rights violation too often insufficiently addressed in security and conflict prevention efforts: human trafficking.
Conflict-induced displacement increases the risk of trafficking. Capitalizing on their vulnerability, traffickers deceive refugees into fraudulent travel and employment arrangements.
Punitive immigration policies and lack of access to safe migration options further exacerbate refugees’ vulnerability. Many victims refrain from seeking assistance, fearing not only arrest due to their irregular migration status, but also retributive violence from their exploiters.
Without official documentation, access to resources, and awareness of their rights, they become easy targets of traffickers.