Short Description

The ICMPD Study Targeting Vulnerabilities: The Impact of the Syrian War and Refugee Situation on Trafficking in Persons – A Study of Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq assesses the effects of the Syrian conflict and refugee crisis on trafficking in persons in Syria and the surrounding region.

Executive Summary

This study, the first of this kind, examines vulnerability to trafficking and actual trafficking cases as a result of the conflict and displacement. The study was financially supported by the US Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP). For almost five years, Syrians have been fleeing their homes, moving repeatedly within the country or across its borders. The longer the war continues, the more people’s savings are depleted, and they become increasingly vulnerable to trafficking as they are no longer able to meet their basic needs. The ICMPD study shows that more and more families have no viable alternative for survival other than situations that could be defined as exploitation and trafficking in national and international law. In addition, refugees intending to seek safety in Europe must pay substantial sums of money to migrant smugglers. One major risk is that a situation of migrant smuggling can develop into human trafficking. The focus of governments, NGOs, international organisations, the EU and others must be to ameliorate people’s vulnerabilities and increase their resilience, giving them alternatives that are not merely the ‘least bad option’. This must be combined with investment in the hosting countries neighbouring Syria and safe legal avenues for resettlement in countries outside the region.