Roma and Human Trafficking
by Vera NYGARD
Human Trafficking and Roma
Human trafficking is a problem which spans the entire globe. Since it is such a widespread issue, there is also a wide range of misconceptions which surround it. One such misconception is that there is a certain type of victim of trafficking; a misunderstanding which may conjure a particular image of an individual- for example, someone sitting in a basement with chains around their wrists. The truth is, however, that a large portion of situations involving the exploitation of individuals are easily overlooked and are the result of vulnerabilities which go unnoticed and unaddressed for years and sometimes even generations.
Roma populations and communities experience a great number of these vulnerabilities, which has rendered them particularly susceptible to international and internal trafficking. Such vulnerabilities include structural forms of ethnic and gender discrimination, low educational achievement, domestic violence, and substance abuse. Children in street situations are especially prone to becoming victims of trafficking as well, as they often lack any form of protection. For Roma populations as a whole, the absence of official documentation can render them ‘invisible’ to state authorities, which drastically limits the avenues available to turn to for help to get out of an exploitative situation.
Although there are no official figures regarding the number of Roma trafficking victims due to the lack of separation of ethnic groups in statistics, Roma are significantly overrepresented among trafficked people in some countries according to studies by the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC), Roma are trafficked for several reasons, including sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, forced begging, and organ trafficking. Due to gaps in the implementation of protection frameworks and policy forces which rarely identify Roma as trafficked persons, combating instances of trafficking is very difficult. This is exacerbated by the fact that very few Roma would report themselves to the police due to a fear of reprisal from law enforcement or from traffickers themselves.
The need to be loved and the desire to provide for one’s family are shared by all humans, uniting us across borders despite differences in background, religion, or belief. Traffickers exploit these needs and desires for their own gain, often using promises of a better life to lure individuals into their schemes. This is why improving access to basic rights is key in the fight against human trafficking. If such vulnerabilities are reduced, then the ability for traffickers to capitalise upon them will be impeded.
Tags: Europe