US puts Russia on human trafficking and child soldier lists
July 19, 2022, 7:55 pm

US puts Russia on human trafficking and child soldier lists

Russian missiles in Vinnytsia killed 20 adults and 3 children on June 14. Among the killed is 7-year-old Maksym and his mother who at the time of the explosion were in the clinic - Euromaidan Press

The United States on Tuesday (July 19) placed Russia on a list of countries engaged in a “policy or pattern” of human trafficking, forced labor, or whose security forces or government-backed armed groups recruit or use child soldiers, the i24 news reported, citing Reuters.

In its annual report on human trafficking, the US State Department included for the first time a “State-Sponsored Trafficking in Persons” section, the report said.

Russia appeared frequently throughout the report because of its invasion of Ukraine and what the document called the vulnerability to human trafficking of millions of refugees who fled their country.

In March, it was reported that at intake centers around Ukraine – such as in Poland – some who offer their services to refugees are instead looking to exploit the situation, kidnapping and trafficking them instead of taking them to a promised destination.

Many of those feeling are women and children, leaving behind their husbands who stayed to fight Russia’s assault.

“Russia is responsible for inciting genocide and perpetrating atrocities that show an “intent to destroy” the Ukrainian people, a new legal analysis signed by more than 30 independent experts concluded - Euromaidan Press

Those women and children are vulnerable to falling victim to being coerced into prostitution or other forms of exploitation, according to the report.

The Russian embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment on the allegations, Reuters mentioned.

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In addition to Russia, the new section listed Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and five other countries for participating in human trafficking, forced labor in state-affiliated sectors, sexual slavery in government camps, and the employment or recruitment of child soldiers.

Back in 2017, the US listed China, Sudan, and North Korea as the world’s worst human trafficking offenders.

Source: i24news

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