INVISIBLE CHAINS...
TODAY'S SILENT FORM OF SLAVERY
Russia: A Stage for Human Trafficking
Russia is ranked a Tier 3 country for sex-trafficking. (Tier 3 being the worst a country can be ranked.) It is believed that there are well over a million people in human trafficking ring in Russia today. Russia is a melting pot for migrant labor making it the second in the world in migration. Many of these people migrating into Russia to better their lives are very poor and do not have much as they had to leave a lot behind because they could not afford to bring it all. These factors makes it easier to traffic people for both labor and sex trafficking because they are desperate for money.
The Trafficking In Persons report released in 2018 by the U.S. Department of State, stated that the Russian Government “routinely detained and deported potential forced labor victims without screening for signs of exploitation, and prosecuted victims forced into prostitution for prostitution offenses". The report also stated the Russian Government “does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so” which is why it is Russia's sixth year in a row to be on the Tier 3 list.
A large amount of the victims recovered from trafficking ring busts come from Nigeria and other large African countries. It is found that these women are lured by being promised a good job when they arrive in Russia. The coordinator from and anti-slavery group known as the NGO Alternative explained that these non-Russian speaking women are more vulnerable to Russian traffickers because they can be silenced. She says, "Language is their key to isolating these women." Trafficking from Nigeria to Europe is becoming a growing problem. In the 2017 IOM report is was shown that 80% of the female immigrants arriving in Italy were coming from Nigeria. Once they arrive they are forced to hand over their documents and all of their belongings to their "madam", they are then advertised on Russian sex-trade sites and held in an apartment until they repay a debt they are told they owe. These debts range from $40,000-$50,000. These women are only let out for jobs and are tracked so there is no room fro escape.
During the same month the TPR was released, the World Cup Soccer Tournament was being hosted by Russia. Human trafficking trades, and busts, are starting to become more popular at these largely populated sporting events. It is common for countries that host the world cup to release anti-trafficking campaigns during the time of the event to help the public become more aware to the recruitment process and signs of trafficking. One of the more known campaigns was released during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Known as the "Red Card" campaign, they brought awareness to sex trafficking in Brazil. Russia did not make any effort to release campaigns such as Brazil during their time hosting the world cup. These campaigns are put out there to draw the worlds attention to this growing problem going on in society, Russia is continuing the conversation they are just ignoring it.