COVID-19
VIENNA , AUSTRIA
COVID-19 AND ITS IMPACT ON TIP AND SOM
The COVID-19 pandemic affects first and foremost the most vulnerable , including victims of trafficking , victims of abuses in the context of migrant smuggling and people at risk of victimization and exploitation . Women and girls in particular are at heightened risk due to the current situation and measures taken to contain the virus . In a recent statement , the UN Secretary-General expressed grave concerns at the persistent gender-based violence against women and girls in these turbulent times and UNODC Executive Director , Ghada Fathi Waly said in May 2020 , “ As we work together to overcome the global pandemic , countries need to keep shelters and hotlines open , safeguard access to justice and prevent more vulnerable people from falling into the hands of organized crime .”
For victims of trafficking and migrants already exploited , the COVID-19 situation has , in many cases , reduced or limited existing services due to restricted movements , lockdowns , and government-mandated closures . Specialized support services for victims , such as accommodation , medical care and treatment , legal assistance , and psychiatric assistance has been more difficult to provide , with a shift to volunteer community support groups , remote telephone counselling , and alternative shelter arrangements . Furthermore , the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated migrants ’ vulnerability to exploitation and abuse , including human trafficking . The growing unemployment rate has increased competition and put additional pressure on migrant workers .
COVID-19 – AND GLO . ACT ’ S RESPONSE
COVID-19 has changed the way we work – but it has not changed our determination to combat Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants . Like many others , Austria and all five of the GLO . ACT partner countries have experienced a lockdown situation over the previous months . Despite the inherent drawbacks to travel restrictions , GLO . ACT sees the move to an online forum as an opportunity to extend our outreach and include key actors where it may not otherwise have been possible . An example of this is our consultative Women ’ s Network webinar , organized in order to further our understanding of the obstacles women face when combatting human trafficking and migrant smuggling .
To address the challenges posed by COVID-19 , the management of GLO . ACT proactively identified workflows affected by the pandemic and developed a contingency and mitigation plan ( May 2020 – September 2020 ). This plan contains information on steps taken to protect project staff in line with UN management and outlines measures to ensure continuity of project implementation given the new challenges . The plan was developed in close coordination with field offices and with inputs from National Project Officers , as well as from the International Organization for Migration ( IOM ), and it was continuously monitored and reviewed by the GLO . ACT management team .
For more information about UNODC ´ s COVID-19 response , please see https :// www . unodc . org / unodc / en / covid-19 . html
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