WHDC Side Event - The Nexus between Disabilities and Human Trafficking
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Research, court cases, and testimonies from survivors indicate that disability is a vulnerability factor to trafficking in human beings. The proposed side event aims to shed light on this critical issue, raise awareness among stakeholders, inform on the research the OSCE is carrying out, and accelerate actionable solutions.
The OSCE 2021 Survey Report identified specific targeting of people with developmental/physical disabilities by traffickers as an emerging trend. According to information provided by OSCE participating States in the survey regarding trafficking involving persons with disabilities, 13 out of 41 responding States (31%) reported cases in their judicial processes or under investigation, and in five of these thirteen countries, NGOs stated that they had reports of traffickers targeting people with disabilities.
Wars and conflicts further exacerbate the vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities, including heightened exposure to risks of human trafficking. For example, a 2023 OCHA report estimates that 15% of 15.4 million individuals in Ukraine in need of protection services have a disability and that women and girls with disabilities are at high risk of human trafficking.
To strengthen the evidence base of critical issues faced by persons with disabilities as victims of trafficking, the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings is researching the intersection between disabilities and human trafficking in the OSCE region. The research aims to provide an overview of the links between disabilities and trafficking in human beings, how persons with disabilities are affected by trafficking, and to what extent legal standards, policy frameworks, and anti-trafficking measures integrate concerns associated with disabilities.
To learn more, join us at this Warsaw Human Dimension Conference Side event on 12th October 2023, 2.00 – 3.00 p.m.