Ukraine has worst human trafficking record in Eastern Europe.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has reported that more people have been trafficked from Ukraine than from any other Eastern European country, since the fall of the Soviet Union. The report states that 117,000 women, children and men have been trafficked since 1991 into forced labour, begging and prostitution. Destinations have included Russia, EU countries and the Middle East. Many of the victims were promised jobs abroad, but on arrival their travel documents were removed and they found themselves in a situation of slavery.

The EU recently announced funding of 2 million Euros for an IOM project supporting and re-integrating victims of human trafficking in Ukraine and Moldova. For more on this and related subjects, please visit the International Herald Tribune by clicking here.