IJM research finds unemployed Ukrainian refugees are more vulnerable to trafficking
21st February 2025
As we approach the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine, we can’t forget refugees who have fled the country – many of whom remain at risk of trafficking.
Last year, IJM implemented an extensive data collection programme to understand the risks of trafficking and exploitation faced by Ukrainian refugees in Romania.
40 professionals from IJM’s partner institutions were interviewed, while 495 Ukrainian refugees responded to an online questionnaire collecting information about their experiences in Romania, perceived risks, and willingness to report these risks to the authorities.
The data analysis revealed an increased vulnerability of unemployed Ukrainian refugees. The majority of refugees who answered the questionaire (63.63%) do not have stable employment, making them highly vulnerable to exploitation.
Approximately 64% of respondents stated that they understand the risks of human trafficking. Overall, the analysis shows that women appear to be slightly more aware of these risks compared to men.
Interestingly, for both genders, understanding of human trafficking seems to decrease consistently with age. Among men aged 18-35, 70% reported understanding the risks of human trafficking, while for those over 64 years old, this percentage dropped to 33.33%.
“These differences may have several explanations. Younger people are more active, have easier access to a variety of information online and actively participate in information campaigns about the risks of human trafficking.
“Older people believe that they have enough life experience and the probability of something happening to them is lower, or older people understand that trafficking is a complex phenomenon with various risks and are more cautious in saying that they understand all the risks, being aware that someone who is challenged economically, professionally or socially is always facing risks.
“Vulnerability analysis can provide useful details about the type of information or services that can be provided to Ukrainian refugees”, explains Cristina Panov, Project Manager - Regional Response to Trafficking in Persons within the Ukraine Crisis, IJM.
Language barriers and social isolation are vulnerabilities that also impact Ukrainian refugees in Romania. Approximately half of refugees who answered the questionaire said they speak only Ukrainian or Russian and do not understand the risks associated with human trafficking.
Moreover, the language barrier is considered the biggest obstacle in obtaining a job that could ensure a decent living.
Among the surveyed refugees, single women with children and large families represent high-risk categories, especially when financial resources are lacking and there is limited knowledge of legal rights. These groups are at risk to becoming targets for traffickers, due to their dependence on others for basic needs and limited access to essential resources such as education and healthcare.
Additionally, the uncertainty regarding the source of funding for accommodation is a difficulty that Ukrainian refugees in Romania face, according to the data collected and analysed.
Another essential element for understanding the risk associated with human trafficking is refugees' awareness regarding the importance of identity documents.
Since the start of the war, IJM has directly provided support to Ukrainian refugees in Romania in over 7,000 cases. From immigration, integration and medical support to housing and transportation, IJM has helped reduced vulnerability to human trafficking.
Find out more about IJM's work with Ukrainian refugees >>
