Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the refugee crisis that followed added a new feeling of urgency for working to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings, Deputy Premier Nicu Popescu stated on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Conference held under the theme “A year in conflict: joining forces to prevent a human trafficking crisis in the region”, IPN reports.

The Republic of Moldova welcomed over 650,000 refugees on the first days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and over 80,000 of them chose to remain in Moldova. “The refugees, including the women and children, are an easy target for traffickers who profit from their precarious situation in order to exploit them,” stated the official.

Nicu Popescu informed the international community that Moldova created a taskforce for protecting the victims consisting of representatives of the public authorities, civil society experts and partners.

The 29th OSCE Ministerial Council takes place in the Polish city of Lodz on December 1-2. Poland currently holds the OSCE Chairmanship.