Stephanie Hepburn and Rita J. Simon . The first daughter joined the secretary of state for the report's launch as the Trump administration tries to find its footing on human rights. For example, during the FIFA World Cup in Russia, many construction workers could have suffered trafficking, but instead, their employers denied them wages and … Alternative has made progress with the support of the criminal investigations department in Moscow. In June, Ella, a Nigerian woman who worked in a Moscow brothel, was rescued by Alternative. “Language is the key to isolating a woman,” she said. Alternative’s requests to put up billboards displaying their free hotline number next to airports were rejected. FIFA’s “FAN IDs” provided millions of football fans with visa-free travel to Russia for the World Cup – but also proved a boon to criminal people-trafficking networks. France 24 screenshot | People abandoned by human traffickers gather outside a youth hostel in Central Moscow. But experts dispute whether such events intensify the problem of human trafficking. Nigerian officials have already expressed concern that traffickers will take advantage of the World Cup and are taking measures to prevent potential victims from leaving Nigeria’s borders. In 2003, President Vladimir Putin introduced laws making human trafficking a crime. FRANCE 24's Elena Volochine and Gulliver Cragg report. In 2003, President Vladimir Putin introduced laws making human trafficking a crime. Most of the time their families do not know or care — or are complicit themselves. Image Credit: Flickr. According to a question in a 2007 survey, only one-third of the participants agreed human trafficking in Russia was a substantial problem. Since then, Russia has not introduced any further anti-trafficking laws. The IOM’s Kim said many women are forced into prostitution across Europe after being promised careers as hairdressers. Picture taken February 21, 2019. Twenty-five percent of Russia’s GDP on average comes from the shadow economy, but that number skyrockets to 60 percent in some regions and economic sectors. It was, however, concluded that focusing on only one type of human trafficking led to a narrow There were reports that sexual exploitation had risen by 30 percent in connection with the World Cup in Germany in 2006, and 40 percent at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. 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Yet, in 2013, just 28 people were convicted of sex trafficking and forced labor. Latin American history offers a clear lesson to the United States: Ban Donald Trump from running for election ever again. REUTERS/Maxim Not that Russia needs to import sex workers. When she arrived at the airport in Moscow, she was met by Rose, who turned out to be her madam. Kehinde moved to Moscow in 1989 as a student and has been there ever since. The three previous World Cups -- in Brazil, South Africa and Germany -- had countrywide anti-trafficking campaigns aimed at educating fans about the effect of human trafficking. On arrival, a madam typically confiscates the women’s documents, advertises them on Russian sex websites, and imprisons them in apartments. Following the collapse of the … The department collects information about diasporas and criminal groups, and it carries out extensive investigations. Despite the tireless work of NGOs to combat human trafficking, political clashes between the Russian and U.S. governments have made their work more difficult. The vast majority of trafficked women come from Nigeria, where so-called recruitment agencies lure people in with promises of a good job in Russia. Report it and you could be put prison for lying.”. They’re often psychologically abused into staying silent.”. “This time, we were much more prepared,” Siluyanova said. Human Trafficking Around the World. During the 2018 World Cup, Russia relaxed its visa requirements, allowing all Fan ID holders to enter and exit Russia without a visa through December 31, 2018. Argument: Issued on: 30/07/2018 - 11:34Modified: 30/07/2018 - 14:53. This article has multiple issues. Victims are immediately deported back to their country, where they’re almost guaranteed to be in danger and face rejection by their community.”. Julia Siluyanova, a coordinator for Alternative, explained that traffickers mostly force non-Russian-speaking women into prostitution because they are easier to silence. Efforts to end modern slavery have bipartisan support — but the State Department is still missing an ambassador-at-large to monitor and combat trafficking in persons. Florence Kim of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said, “It can be extremely difficult to identify human trafficking because of its invisible nature, and even more so because victims are afraid to denounce their traffickers. Human trafficking is one of the most critical humanitarian issues of the century and virtually operates everywhere in the world. Prior to the World Cup in Germany in 2006, there was considerable international concern that this event would contribute to a sharp increase in trafficking for Whether or not the numbers have increased dramatically during the 2018 World Cup, Russia is no stranger to human sex trafficking. This study was published by International Organisation for Migration (IOM) with financial support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and was conducted between June and September 2006. World Cup 2014: On myths and reality of sex trafficking. Human rights violations in the context of the World Cup 2014 go beyond human trafficking and child sexual exploitation. “We don’t know who you are, and it’s not our business,” was the government’s response, according to Siluyanova. The majority of police officers are still unaware or simply ignorant about the extent and gravity of human trafficking. Sex trafficking from Nigeria is a growing problem throughout Europe. While the world of sports continues to be a magnet for human trafficking, it also has used its platform to shine a light on this horrific crime. The Moscow-based anti-slavery NGO Alternative has accompanied police on raids of hidden brothels and discovered hundreds of women who are potential victims of trafficking. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article is based partially or entirely on public domain works of the U.S. government, and thus may require cleanup. FIFA’s “FAN IDs” provided millions of football fans with visa-free travel to Russia for the World Cup – but also proved a boon to criminal people-trafficking networks. As the 2010 FIFA World Cup approaches, attention is increasingly focussed on one of the most pervasive crimes expected to accompany the boom in the South African tourism industry: human trafficking. The madams — many of whom were trafficked to Russia themselves — fear deportation, and angering the Nigerian diaspora. Many Russians blame the victims for falling into prostitution, which is why fighting human trafficking remains a low priority in government. Her father threatened to throw her mother out of their home in Nigeria if Ella did not continue working. However, many enslaved people’s focus is already on Qatar—because they are there, building the new infrastructure in forced labor camps. The 2018 World Cup ended on July 15 with the country’s authorities proud of a successful tournament. As the 2018 World Cup final match came to a close in Russia, the world’s focus moved to 2022 and Qatar, where the next World Cup will be held. Many Russians blame the victims for falling into prostitution, which is why fighting human trafficking remains a. The state has cooperated with NGOs in busting trafficking rings, most notably during the World Cup held in Russia in 2018, the report said. In response to another question from the same survey, around 41 percent of the respondents blamed the victims for their situation, while another 41 percent believed women were duped by criminal gangs or sold into slavery by parents and friends. Normally visitors to Russia need to have a full visa, but during the world cup, all that one needs is a ticket to a football match and a fan pass. But beneath the buzzing, celebratory atmosphere lies a black market of human misery. The crowds at large sporting events are usually predominantly composed of men and this year’s FIFA World Cup was no different. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says there are plans by human traffickers to use the World Cup as a ploy to traffic Nigerian youth abroad. Human rights supporters around the world are working to fight human trafficking in Russia, and in turn, reduce the number of slaves illegally moved around the globe. Traffickers exploited this system to bring foreign sex trafficking victims into the country, especially from Nigeria; NGOs report many victims remain in Russia.