An Information Session on the Prevention of Human Trafficking in the Context of the Refugee Situation from Ukraine was Held in Burgas
On May 12, 2022, the Local Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (LCCTBH), Burgas, in partnership with the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings /NCATH/ and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), held an information session for volunteers and employees of the regional and municipal administration, NGOs, social services, humanitarian centers from Burgas, Nessebar, Primorsko, Sozopol, Pomorie, Bulgarian Red Cross, in order to get acquainted with the current situation with refugees in the country and the region, as well as with the indicators to recognize victims of human trafficking among them.
During the session, the refugee situation of people seeking refuge from the war in Ukraine, the need for protection and prevention of human trafficking, identification and referral of victims were discussed.
In recent months, more than 60,000 Ukrainians have been registered and accommodated in the Burgas region, almost half of them continue to reside in Sunny Beach, Pomorie, Sozopol, Primorsko and Kiten. NGOs and informal organisations and volunteers, as well as local administrations in Burgas and the region, are making a huge effort to accommodate and support Ukrainian citizens fleeing the military conflict.
The National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and the Local Commission in Burgas, warn of security risks related to the vulnerability of Ukrainian refugees, some of whom have yet to seek employment and care for themselves in Bulgaria. The majority of Ukrainian nationals are women and children, particularly vulnerable to being caught up in a trafficking situation. In our country, unfortunately, there are criminal groups that try to deceive people in vulnerable situations by promising to help them, but in reality they intend to control them and involve them in human trafficking schemes, using them for various purposes such as labour exploitation, sexual exploitation, forced begging, for various criminal activities.