Ukrainian Children at Risk of Human Trafficking at the Ukraine-Poland Border

human trafficking at the Ukraine-Poland border

At present, human trafficking at the Ukraine-Poland border is a rising concern since 90% of the over 3.6 million Ukrainian refugees are women and children. Both are at a greater risk of trafficking as they are the most vulnerable amid the chaos and crisis that ensued due to the on-going war. Internally displaced children traveling alone and crossing the Ukraine-Poland border are at risk of getting exploited by traffickers.

Many organisations and charities are attempting to organise safe passage for orphaned children in Ukraine’s foster homes and orphanages, but countless children are unaccounted for. It’s giving rise to the dreaded notion that they have already fallen prey to human traffickers.

Children Suffering from Human Trafficking at Ukraine-Poland Border

Salam, a charity helping Ukrainian refugees, has surmised that the children being dropped at the Ukraine-Poland border by charities and helpful organisations are being targeted by traffickers. Since these children are looking for assistance, refuge, food, etc., they are easy prey for trafficking rings. If an adult has food or refuge on offer, the scared children will go with them.

Smugglers and traffickers wearing reflective vests and pretending that they belong to relief organisations are ensnaring children in their rings. These are advanced traffickers with well-financed networks that have been operational for a long time now. They are well-versed at what they do and are able to inflict damage during peaceful times, making them doubly threatening in the current chaotic and disorderly times.

Orphans at Risk of Human Trafficking

Even though Ukraine is not allowing most men aged 18-60 to leave the country and demanding them to fight in the war, men with three or more children can pass through its borders. That said, the country is not properly vetting such men crossing the Poland-Ukraine border, ensuring that the kids they are passing with are, in fact, their children.

Ylva Johansson, the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, delivered a speech recently in which she voiced her concern that criminals are taking orphans from Ukrainian orphanages and crossing borders with them while pretending to be their relatives and then trafficking them. Moreover, the absence of precise vetting processes for volunteers helping house refugees crossing the border further compounds human trafficking risks.

What Is Happening to Protect the Children from Human Trafficking?

Currently, there is no paper trail of what is happening to the children who are crossing the border. However, the Ukrainian authorities are now creating a system with the help of NGOs to process the displaced children and set up safe havens in the east of the country.

Initially, the countless children who were lost either became war casualties, victims of human trafficking or crossed over the border. It was chaotic as there was no system. Today, many children are already being evacuated to the east in the Lviv region, where NGOs are sheltering and feeding them.

There’s still a risk of human trafficking at the Ukraine-Poland border, especially for children travelling without a legal guardian. The UNODC is working with multiple NGOs, UN entities, and law enforcement authorities to respond to this risk. It’s working on ensuring these refugee children have access to healthcare and education. But the risk of human trafficking will not be resolved easily. It will require large-scale anti-trafficking efforts, early trafficking detection, prevention strategies, etc.

Rules on Bringing Food Products into the UK from the EU

restrictions of food imports to the UK

The aftermath of the post-Brexit transition period saw the UK make several changes to its policies and regulations regarding imports from and exports to and through the EU.

One of the most key policy shifts that the UK has mandated following the post-Brexit transition period is the regulatory activity surrounding bringing food products into the UK from the EU. This article will outline the rules for bringing food products into the UK and how they affect traders, carriers, and frontier operators.

Non-Restricted Food Products for Import into the UK

The following food products and animal products can be imported into the UK from any country, including any EU member state, without any restrictions:

  • Bread (but not sandwiches that have meat or dairy products inside)
  • Cakes (but without fresh cream)
  • Biscuits
  • Chocolate and confectionery (but not those made with a lot of unprocessed dairy products)
  • Pasta and noodles (but not if filled or mixed with meat products)
  • Packages soup, stocks, and flavourings
  • Processed and packaged plant products, including packaged salads and frozen plant material
  • Food supplements, including those containing small amounts of animal product, such as fish oil capsules

Restricted Food Products for Import into the UK

Following the post-Brexit transition period, the UK mandated policies that placed restrictions on meat, dairy, fish, and other animal products imported into the UK from other countries, particularly EU member states.

The rules on bringing meat, dairy, fish, and other meat products into the UK depend on the country you are getting them from.

From the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands

While you cannot bring meat, fish, dairy, or any other meat or animal products to the UK from other countries via a connecting flight, the following food products can be brought into the UK from the countries listed above for personal usage:

  • Meat
  • Dairy
  • Fish
  • Other animal products – such as eggs, honey, etc.

Non-EU Member States

If you are bringing food or animal products into the UK from a non-EU member state, the following rules will apply:

  • You cannot bring meat or meat products into the UK
  • You cannot bring milk or milk-based products into the UK. The exceptions to this rule are powdered infant milk or food required for pets or medical reasons

However, you can bring in up to 2kg per person of the following food and animal product

  • Honey
  • Shellfish – such as mussels or oysters
  • Snails – these must be preserved or shelled and must be transported in a cooked state
  • Frogs’ legs – Must be the rear legs of the frog with the skin and organs removed
  • Insect meat

Lastly, you can bring in up to 20kg per person of the following fish products:

  • Fresh fish – must be gutted
  • Fish products
  • Processed fish – must be dried, cooked, cured, or smoked
  • Lobsters
  • Prawns

Final Words

In the wake of the post-Brexit transition period, the UK has mandated several changes to its import policies. Many of these changes are regarding the restrictions placed on food and animal products imported to the UK from EU member states and other non-EU countries.

Brexit and Family Law: What Do You Need to Know?

A couple sitting in front of a divorce lawyer

Could Brexit and family law changes affect your current divorce case?

At present, we are in a transition period where all petitions filed before 1st January 2021 will proceed under the old rules. Any case that is registered after that will go through changes. Some of these rules are still under consideration. There is a chance that the UK will adopt The Hague Convention for Service 1965, in any family law matter concerning individuals linked with the EU.

That said, international family law practitioners are keen on reviewing all previous and current policies beforehand.

Here are things we want our clients to know:

 

1. Divorce Proceedings

 

At present, the Brussels II law makes cross-border divorce cases pretty straightforward. It allows couples to choose a jurisdiction depending on their location and advantages it provides. Without a proper agreement in sight, no deal Brexit might cause problems for couples affiliated with the EU.

Their dual-citizenship could create complications as they are compelled to handle divorce with limited choices. They might also face injustice regarding the division of offshore assets and other notable resolutions.

Our lawyers can mitigate the risks by considering all the possible options and ensuring that clients get the best deal at the end. We also ensure that all legal proceedings are processed according to current and post-Brexit guidelines.

What about prenuptial agreements?

If your spouse holds dual-citizenship (i.e. British citizenship and EU nationality), you might need to review your contract. Your lawyer can guide you through this process, modifying anything that puts your rights at risk after Exit Day.

 

2. Child Custody & Abduction

When it comes to child custody, one or both parents are responsible for their children’s wellbeing. This also implies that one parent can’t relocate their children without the other’s permission (unless the court grants them the right to do so).

Post-Brexit, Brussels II rules regarding child custody and abduction will no longer be applicable. It is why the court will most likely work according to The Hague Convention (1996). It might be a setback since it does not have the same provisions or rulings about how soon the court can act.

Thus, it could lead to unwanted delays.

3. Brexit and Family Law: What Should You Do Before Exit Day?

As the year 2021 approaches, it is better to seek early consultation for all family matters. That way, you will understand the consequences of filing a divorce before and after Exit Day. It might also be useful to weigh in current advantages over potential legal changes in the future.

Here are some things to ask when you hire an international family lawyer:

  • Whether filing a divorce in 2020 is a good option for you?
  • Should you register your financial orders before Exit Day?
  • Should you review “choice of court” agreements before Brexit?
  • How long will it take to receive a verdict for family law proceedings after Exit Day?
  • Will your parental rights change after Brexit?

Your best bet is to know about all legal complications and issues when dealing with Brexit and family law. Otherwise, you risk losing more than you bargained for during family disputes, divorces, and financial distributions. Not to forget that your child’s custody rules might also change in the future.

In a Nutshell

At present, uncertainly in the post-Brexit legal rule may cause EU-centric family cases (i.e. divorce, settlements, custody disputes, etc.) to undergo many obstacles. They are more likely to be costly and highly complex. Due to this, it is more practical to hire international family lawyers that are well aware of Brexit implications than collaborating with any other lawyer.

Do you have more questions about Brexit and family law? Contact us today for further details and professional consultation.