World Refugee Day 2024

120 million is the estimated number of forcibly displaced people in the world, according to UNHCR.

120 million people with dreams, hopes for a better future, and stories of great resilience.

Today, on June 20th, World Refugee Day focuses on the strength and resilience of people who have been forced to flee their homes and raises awareness about the issues that they continue to face – including the risk of being trafficked and exploited. Refugees who find themselves in highly unstable situations and without traditional protection mechanisms are at a significantly higher risk of being targeted by human traffickers. Traffickers prey on victims by exploiting their vulnerabilities. When we see people in need, traffickers see an opportunity to make profit.

For example, we know that young foreign women in a central European city’s red-light district were found to have been approached by the same agency in their home country which offered to assist them in obtaining asylum. After receiving their asylum status, and arriving at their destination, the agency then forced the women to reimburse it by providing sexual services – debt bondage. (UNODC)

At STOP THE TRAFFIK, we offer safety information to communities at risk of being targeted by human trafficking – crucially, displaced populations. The information includes advice on how to seek support and how to identify the signs of human trafficking. This year, our ‘Aman Safety Programme’ has identified Somali women and girls in Greece as being at risk of being exploited.

To build resilience in at-risk communities, we deliver crucial information in their language via geo-targeted social media adverts which point people to safe agencies on the ground who can help. With the knowledge gained from our adverts, we help vulnerable people avoid harm by offering alternative opportunities to find safety and support.  By reducing traffickers’ ability to recruit, we are disrupting their criminal business model and undermining their ability to make a profit.

On this World Refugee Day, let us fulfil our collective duty in upholding the fundamental rights of refugees.