Amid ongoing global efforts to combat human trafficking for forced labour, KIND was honored to contributed to a high-level conference in Poland organized by Ministry of the Interior and Administration as part of Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. We are grateful to the Polish Ministry of Interior for highlighting the important themes of human trafficking and forced exploitation and for bringing together an esteemed group of national and regional policy makers experts, and civil society actors. The conference took stock of current responses, shared best practices, and explored actionable pathways forward in addressing forced labor across Europe. It was a prime opportunity for KIND to address gaps and challenges in protecting unaccompanied and separated children in Europe with a specific focus on children displaced from Ukraine.
“Whilst good practices have been developed, protection gaps remain, and new challenges have emerged, meaning that many children continue to be exposed to risks of forced labour and other forms of abuse and exploitation. We need to continue monitoring the situation.” said KIND’s Regional Director, Europe, Kirsty Thomson.
Children in migration, and in particular unaccompanied children, are particularly vulnerable to trafficking in human beings and child labor as they fall into multiple risk categories, due to their age, distance from home and separation from parents or caregivers. They have possibly already experienced extreme forms of violence and abuse and are often facing multiple psychological, economic, and social risks.
Recognizing and Responding to the Vulnerability of Displaced Children
The UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons and others at the global and European levels have highlighted the heightened risks of trafficking for unaccompanied and separated children and the need to ensure they have access to rights-based protection without discrimination; and their vulnerability to trafficking and forced labour was clearly highlighted again during the Polish EU presidency conference.
During the conference, several speakers, including delegates and civil society representatives, discussed the importance of involving the private sector in protecting these children, which KIND has long recognized. Over the years one of our key areas of focus has been activating and harnessing the power of the private sector in our work to protect the rights of unaccompanied children. In Europe, we count amongst our partners 51 law firms and corporate pro bono partners.
The EU Anti Trafficking Coordinator, Diane Schmitt, highlighted the good practices to be learned from the Ukraine response, which reduced risks for this displaced population. She noted that not only victims of trafficking from Ukraine but also from other countries had been identified, and commended Poland’s approach and response.
An important part of the response was the application of the Temporary Protection Directive activated for the first time across Europe, which provides immediate temporary protection to displaced persons, ensuring that millions of Ukrainians, including children, are not left in legal limbo but are instead granted a status that allows them access to essential services such as education, health care, and social welfare. It aims to reduce their vulnerabilities by providing them access to necessary support and services.
Emerging Challenges for Unaccompanied Children from Ukraine
Despite these good and comprehensive practices, we are seeing indicators of potential child labour and exploitation as reported by our staff and partners who work across Europe with groups from Ukraine, including children.
Children from Ukraine are not always registered for temporary protection or linked into other child protection structures and systems including national education systems that serve as protective factors. Most recently, KIND’s staff and partners reported that children displaced from Ukraine, especially those aged 16 and above can feel obliged to work to meet their needs, and the needs of family members. As they do not perceive themselves as children that require protection and do not understand or trust the national systems that surround them, they often remain unaware of their rights, including labour law rights. These children are therefore more likely to avoid being linked to any formal child protection systems or access support increasing their risks of exploitation.
Other examples that have been noted from the broader region include instances where teenage Ukrainian girls faced specific protection risks as they were reportedly carrying out domestic work for host families or their own families in coercive conditions.
Due to the complexity of these issues many entities providing direct and essential services to displaced Ukrainian children are facing unprecedented challenges without systematic solutions. There is an urgent need and real value to connect these frontline actors with civil society organizations, like KIND and other specialist organisations, that can offer targeted guidance. KIND is committed to sharing its expertise to assist these actors.
We must continue to strengthen collaboration across sectors, disciplines and nations, to reinforce child protection systems and involve children as active participants in developing solutions, ensuring that the rights of all children continue to be upheld across Europe and beyond.
As these displaced children face new challenges and risks, it is essential that we remain flexible and innovative in our approaches (whether in policymaking, protection frameworks, or training programs for practitioners) so that they can address current realities and provide effective solutions.
In this context, KIND has released a policy report outlining 10 key urgent actions needed to better protect and respect the rights of unaccompanied and separated children displaced from Ukraine. Find out more here.
