Ukraine Support and Updates

28 June 2023 - Kakhovka Dam Response

Last week we expanded our Ukraine response campaign, to share safety information with people who were affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam.

According to official information, more than 40,000 people must evacuate due to the explosion of the Kakhovka Dam.

Because of this collapse, many people in Ukraine lost their homes and were forced to move to other areas in the country and beyond.

We believe that through our awareness campaign and safety advice, they will be able to protect themselves from individuals who may want to exploit them, especially during such a vulnerable time.

We hope that our quick response to the incident will help people who have been displaced find a safer place for live.

This campaign will reach audiences through Facebook and Instagram-sponsored adverts. We aim to reach individuals in the affected regions in Ukraine like Kherson and neighbouring areas.

The landing page contains information on how to keep yourself protected from exploitation, which questions to ask if someone offers help and a list of trustable support organisations on the ground.

You can visit our informative landing page here.

21 June 2023 - Launching our first TikTok campaign

In June, we launched our first TikTok campaign targeting Ukrainians affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and have been displaced into European countries. Our main goal is to inform them about the STOP APP, an incredible resource that allows individuals to report suspected cases of exploitation and suspicious activity (for example fake job adverts). The app also offers support for people who are seeking advice.

Where is the campaign running and why those areas?

The campaign is currently running in eight European countries: Romania, Hungary, Italy, Spain, UK, Poland, Czech Republic, and Germany. These countries provide a temporary home to many Ukrainians who could face significant risks of exploitation, particularly during the summer work season (farm season/tourist business season).

With the STOP APP, they can report incidents safely and anonymously from different parts of the world with their mobile devices – and, crucially, find help and support.

What impact have we had so far?

Our pre-campaign poll, launched ahead of the campaign, received over 33,476 votes. It showed that 82.1 % (or 27,477) of Ukrainian people reached said that they would not know where to report suspected exploitation. This highlights the need for information on where to go for support.

At the time of writing, we have been running the main campaign for only a few days and we have already reached 434,722 Ukrainian people. 5,691 have clicked to download the app.

What do the early results tell us?

The post-survey revealed that a significant number of Ukrainians are unaware of how to report cases of exploitation. Being stranded in a foreign country can make these types of people vulnerable to exploitation and so providing them with information on how to spot the signs is crucial.

What will we be doing with the results and what comes next?

We monitor all reports submitted to the STOP APP and, if necessary, we will refer individuals to the support organisations we collaborate with in these countries. All data will be processed by our investigators and, if required, shared with law enforcement agencies. We will also analyse the data received, which can influence the future development of our campaigns.

Further information about our STOP APP

The STOP APP enables anybody who knows, has seen or even heard a situation that they believe to be human trafficking, to talk about it in a safe and secure space.

You can report the incident anonymously and securely through the app. There will be no record of the report submitted on your phone. The STOP APP is also available in Ukrainian language.

Importantly, the STOP APP is not a substitute for law enforcement. If you have information about a crime that is happening now, or it is clear that someone is at risk, you should tell the authorities first and STOP THE TRAFFIK second.

Stop App links

IOS – The STOP APP on the App Store (apple.com)

Android – STOP APP – Apps on Google Play

31 May 2023

STOP THE TRAFFIK Group and the International Compliance Association continue to support Ukrainian people who were displaced due to the war in Ukraine.  

At STOP THE TRAFFIK Group, we support initiatives to upskill Ukrainians so they can find legitimate employment. This meets our objectives of reducing the recruitment of individuals into exploitative work.

We are also keen to upskill individuals in financial crime analysis, to support careers in this sector where human trafficking can be detected in money flows and, ultimately, disrupted and prevented.  We are offering a unique scholarship programme that provides an opportunity to learn and become active in stopping the flow of the proceeds of crime.

So far, we have supported seven displaced Ukrainians through this scholarship and continue to receive requests from people.

One of our learners said:

Thanks to the STOP THE TRAFFIK Group scholarship, I received the opportunity to gain knowledge in compliance, receive a certificate issued by the International Compliance Association, and demonstrate my commitment to further development to potential employers.

Please read the details about this program in a blog post here.

5 April 2023

This week we launch our Online Safety campaign, to share safety information with parents and caregivers in Ukraine.

This campaign will reach audiences through Facebook and Instagram-sponsored adverts.

The landing page contains information on how to keep children safe online and how to discuss the topic with them. We believe by understanding how to fix this problem, Ukrainian parents will be able to protect children and young people from harm.

The campaign has been derived from the results of the surveys we ran, which indicated a lack of knowledge of this topic and a need for further information.

You can read information about the survey results here.

You can visit our informative landing page here.

You can also view our campaign video in Ukrainian language below.

13 March 2023

IBM, LEAD, London Tech Community and STOP THE TRAFFIK Group recently organised an event for Ukrainian women who are interested in pursuing a career in the tech industry

The event was aimed at providing them with training and coaching to help them develop the necessary skills for the industry. It was a great opportunity for women to learn more about the tech industry and to network with other professionals.

“We need to support Ukrainian women who have fled the country due to war because they have faced significant challenges. I believe that providing them with opportunities for education and employment can help them rebuild their lives and contribute to their new communities,” – Ilona Oleksiuk, Ukraine Prevention Project Manager.

You can read useful information here.

You can view our video below.

@stopthetraffik Together with IBM, LEAD, London Tech Community we hosted an event in London for Ukrainian women looking to work in the technology industry. #internationalwomensday #womenintechnology #embraceequity #ukraine #ukrainianwomen #IBM #womenempowerment #tech ♬ original sound – STOPTHETRAFFIK

24 February 2023

Today marks a year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Tragically, during the last 12 months, the war has claimed the lives of thousands of people, with millions displaced, fleeing their homes, and seeking safety.

What we are seeing at the start of 2023 is that the conflict is entering a new phase, and shows no sign of slowing.

As a Ukrainian herself, our Ukraine Project Manager, Ilona reflects on an unimaginably difficult year and looks ahead to the future with hope. Read Ilona’s blog here.

20 January 2023

Today we launch our Ukraine Border crossing campaign, to share safety information with people from Ukraine, who are fleeing the Russian invasion.

This campaign will reach audiences through Facebook and Instagram sponsored adverts. We aim to reach individuals and families travelling to, and waiting at, the border points between Ukraine-Poland, Ukraine-Moldova and Ukraine-Romania, with specific information about how to stay safe and avoid exploitation.

You can visit our informative landing page here.

You can view our video below.

Both the video and landing page available in Ukrainian language.

22 December 2022

As we approach the end of the year, we would like to say thank you to our supporters. We are grateful to you for being on this journey with us. Your support inspires us every day and we could not do the work we do with you.

We also want to say a special thank you to the partner organisations who have collaborated with this year to reach people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Partnerships are key to our prevention programmes. By working together, we have kept people safe from exploitation and signposted individuals to legitimate support.

Here is a story of a woman we supported, along with UK based organisation Opora, who help Ukrainians to sustainably rebuild their lives by offering emergency assistance and long-term support for Ukrainians in the UK.

Olga* came to the UK from Kharkiv in Ukraine and was exploited by the farm owners she accepted work from. The Farm owners were also her ‘sponsors’ and threatened her with eviction if she refused to work long hours, 7 days a week.

Olga was unaware of her rights; she had no documents and knew nothing about the benefits for Ukrainians who fled the war. Without English skills, it was even harder to find support. When we spoke to her, she felt depressed and scared. Our Ukraine Prevention Project manager spoke to her in Ukrainian language, explained her rights and provided her with the support she needed to leave the farm. After connecting Olga with her local council, she was able to find new, safe accommodation.

Being alone, in another country, without English language knowledge, I urgently needed to find accomodation. STOP THE TRAFFIK explained my rights and gave me significant support.

STOP THE TRAFFIK continues to support Olga, and many others like her, by sharing updated information about their rights, options and how to access support.

*Name changed to protect identity

19 October 2022

Since March 2022, STOP THE TRAFFIK Group, including Traffik Analysis Hub, has run an intelligence-led, Europe-wide, geo-targeted digital prevention campaign that provides vital safety information to those on the move as a result of the war in Ukraine.

Over the last eight months, STOP THE TRAFFIK Group has worked with its partners and collaborators across multiple sectors to deliver this prevention campaign that has reached over 4 million people! This report outlines our intelligence-led approach in action.

We have compiled the findings and results of our work in our Ukraine Impact Report, which can be read here.

“I am convinced that the real success will be if people use this resource to inform their work and continue to fight trafficking as short-term assistance subsidies and risk increase.”

– Ilona Oleksiuk,
STOP THE TRAFFIK Group’s
Ukraine Emergency Prevention Project Manager.

29 July 2022

Throughout our campaign, we have been working with over 18 NGOs, across 12 countries. Our work has been possible because of the trusted partnerships and collaborations that have shared data, taken action led by insight and sought to support each other.

On the 13th of July 2022, 37 of us met online to celebrate each other, but more importantly to talk about how to accelerate our learning and our shared ability to take action. We all know something, but only by sharing are we building a rich picture everyone can use.

28 July 2022

This month, we conducted a focus group among Ukrainian nationals who had recently fled the war due to the Russian invasion, and are now living in the UK. The aim was to listen to the participant’s experiences and hear their feedback to guide our work. Participants were presented with information about the organisation and our Ukrainian campaign resources in the form of a presentation. We asked for their feedback about our landing pages and our social media posts, and how we can improve our communications with the community.

The participants discussed the experience of Ukrainian nationals who recently moved to the UK, travelled through other European countries and the problems they have faced.

We strongly believe in doing work ‘with’ a community and never ‘to’ a community. Therefore opportunities to shape our work with target groups is essential. The focus group is an integral part of our work and was invaluable and will guide our future trafficking prevention programs.

The group confirmed there is a great need for practical advice and safety information for their community living in the UK and across Europe.

17 June 2022

From March 2022, STOP THE TRAFFIK and Traffik Analysis Hub have run a Europe-wide, geo-targeted digital prevention campaign that is providing vital safety information to those who are on the move as a result of the conflict in Ukraine.

Our response is now the STOP THE TRAFFIK Group’s longest-running campaign to date and has reached over 2 million people.

We have compiled the findings and results of our work in our Ukraine Impact Report, which can be read here.

“Two million reach is a really important milestone particularly when you consider many of these two million will represent family groups. This suggests we have had some influence on the behaviour on a significant proportion of the refugee set. Their stories and an analysis of their stories equate to the intelligence we need to focus our work going forward. Our partners are fundamental to this process.”

– Neil Giles
The STOP THE TRAFFIK Group
Director of Intelligence

26 May 2022

STOP THE TRAFFIK and Traffik Analysis Hub have shared a campaign update on their Ukraine Emergency Response.

“WORK SAFE IN SOUTHERN EUROPE, the third in the series of prevention campaigns, targets the countries across Southern Europe from the “TRAVEL SAFE, STAY SAFE” and “TRAVEL SAFE, WORK SAFE” campaigns alongside the places believed to be where people will move to settle.

This campaign focuses on providing people with crucial safety information as they seek work. This is another stage when traffickers will try to exploit so STOP THE TRAFFIK and Traffik Analysis Hub’s presence at this time is essential.

20 May 2022

 

Our campaign work (“TRAVEL SAFE, STAY SAFE” and “TRAVEL SAFE, WORK SAFE“) across Europe has allowed us to gain insight into where it is resonating the most.

Above are the heat maps of the activity. As you can see there are certain hotspots of where there is interest into the resources we’ve made available.

Our campaign has reached over a million people across Europe and we’re not slowing down. Help us keep this work going by donating here.

12 May 2022

To coordinate the response to the Ukraine crisis STOP THE TRAFFIK and in collaboration Hope for Justice have created STAY SAFE IN THE UK, a comprehensive resource for NGOs to use and share for Ukrainians in the UK who have been displaced because of the conflict.

Read more about this resource and download the web pack HERE.

6 May 2022

STOP THE TRAFFIK & Traffik Analysis Hub regularly monitor events that will likely impact operational, human rights, and supply chain risk and provide briefing notes. With the recent invasion of Ukraine leading to severe disruption of supply chains and causing a refugee crisis in Europe, STOP THE TRAFFIK & Traffik Analysis Hub has provided an updated downloadable briefing of our investigation.

Continue to read the full briefing HERE.

26 April 2022

STOP THE TRAFFIK and Traffik Analysis Hub have shared a campaign update on their Ukraine Emergency Response.

“TRAVEL SAFE, WORK SAFE”, the second in the series of prevention campaigns, continues to target the countries across Europe from the “TRAVEL SAFE, STAY SAFE” campaign alongside the places believed to be where people will move to settle. This campaign focuses on providing people with crucial safety information as they seek work, financial means, or community integration. This is another stage when traffickers will try to exploit so STOP THE TRAFFIK and Traffik Analysis Hub’s presence at this time is essential.

Read the full update HERE.

21 April 2022

STOP THE TRAFFIK Group Statement on UK Government Rwandan Proposal

The UK government has announced plans to force some asylum seekers to be relocated to Rwanda in order to counter the business model of the human smugglers or traffickers.

We are pleased that the Home Office is keen to break the ‘business model’ of the traffickers and exploiters.

STOP THE TRAFFIK (STT) recognise that whether individuals are being trafficked or smuggled at different points of their journey, criminals see profit and opportunity. However, the details of the Home Office’s methodology are unclear and STT believes that this plan could in fact increase the potential profit to the traffickers and risk to those vulnerable to being exploited.

Read the full statement HERE.

13 April 2022

STOP THE TRAFFIK & Traffik Analysis Hub regularly monitor events that will likely impact operational, human rights, and supply chain risk and provide briefing notes. With the recent invasion of Ukraine leading to severe disruption of supply chains and causing a refugee crisis in Europe, STOP THE TRAFFIK & Traffik Analysis Hub has provided an updated downloadable briefing of our investigation.

Continue to read the full briefing HERE.

12 April 2022

STOP THE TRAFFIK and Traffik Analysis Hub have released a poster promoting The STOP APP. Trusted by 16,000+ users, it puts the ability to help stop misinformation in the hands of people on the ground.

Download the ENGLISH poster HERE.

Download the UKRAINIAN poster HERE.

Download the POLISH poster HERE.

Download the RUSSIAN poster HERE.

29 March 2022

A Call for Reports on The STOP APP

The STOP APP is one way we can help get a richer picture of what’s happening on the ground. You can download The STOP APP at the App Store or at stopthetraffik.org/stopapp.

Read on here.

25 March 2022

STOP THE TRAFFIK and Traffik Analysis Hub Launch TRAVEL SAFE, STAY SAFE Resource Campaign

 

Today, STOP THE TRAFFIK and Traffik Analysis Hub have launched a Europe-wide prevention campaign that will provide vital safety information to those who are on the move as a result of the conflict in Ukraine.

‘TRAVEL SAFE, STAY SAFE’, the first of a series of prevention campaigns, seeks to bring immediate preventative information into the hands of those at high risk of exploitation. The campaign targets countries across Europe including Romania, Latvia, Poland, Moldova, Hungary, and Austria in three languages: English, Ukrainian and Russian.

Check out our TRAVEL SAFE, STAY SAFE resource below:
TRAVEL SAFE, STAY SAFE Ukrainian Language
TRAVEL SAFE, STAY SAFE Russian Language
TRAVEL SAFE, STAY SAFE English Language

22 March 2022

STOP THE TRAFFIK Ukraine Briefing 22 March 2022

STOP THE TRAFFIK & Traffik Analysis Hub regularly monitor events that will likely impact operational, human rights, and supply chain risk and provide briefing notes. With the recent invasion of Ukraine leading to severe disruption of supply chains and causing a refugee crisis in Europe, STOP THE TRAFFIK & Traffik Analysis Hub has provided a downloadable briefing of our investigation.

Continue to read the full briefing here.

End of year message

As we approach the end of the year, we would like to say thank you to our supporters. We are grateful to you for being on this journey with us. Your support inspires us every day and we could not do the work we do with you.   We also want to say a special thank you to the partner organisations who have collaborated with this year to reach people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Partnerships are key to our prevention programmes. By working together, we have kept people safe from exploitation and signposted individuals to legitimate support.   Here is a story of a woman we supported, along with UK based organisation Opora organisation helping Ukrainians to sustainably rebuild their lives by offering emergency assistance and long-term support for Ukrainians in the UK.     Olga* came to the UK from Kharkiv in Ukraine and was exploited by the farm owners she accepted work from. The Farm owners were also her ‘sponsors’ and threatened her with eviction if she refused to work long hours, 7 days a week.   Olga was unaware of her rights; she had no documents and knew nothing about the benefits for Ukrainians who fled the war. Without English skills, it was even harder to find support. When we spoke to her, she felt depressed and scared. Our Ukraine Prevention Project manager spoke to her in Ukrainian language, explained her rights and provided her with the support she needed to leave the farm. After connecting Olga with her local council, she was able to find new, safe accommodation.   Being along, in another country, without english language knowledge, I urgently needed to find a new home. STOP THE TRAFFIK explained my rights and gave me significant support.   The STOP THE TRAFFIK Group continues to support Olga, and many others like her, by sharing updated information about their rights, options and how to access support.   *Name changed to protect identity

3 March 2022

STOP THE TRAFFIK and Traffik Analysis Hub Statement on the Conflict in Ukraine

We are extremely concerned and saddened about the escalating situation and ongoing military action in Ukraine.

Alongside the devastation we feel for the loss of civilian life, we are increasingly concerned about the impact this conflict will have on the exploitation and trafficking of those whose vulnerabilities will have been exacerbated by this conflict.

Continue to read our full statement here.