State obligations in international human rights law on human trafficking : case study Poland

Abstract

This thesis aims to investigate the compliance of international and national (EU) laws on human rights, with a specific focus on Poland, regarding the extent to which they meet the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking. The primary research question examines whether international and regional efforts in protecting victims of human trafficking were inadequate before the conflict in Ukraine? Furthermore, the hypothesis claims that following the conflict between Russia and Ukraine (2022) worsened the challenges, exposing shortcomings in state initiatives and responses that failed to adequately address the region's increased vulnerability of trafficking victims, as evidenced by an examination of international and European obligations, legal frameworks, and victim protection mechanisms. This research proposes a link between geopolitical events and the efficacy of victim protection measures. Victim protection measures include a variety of governmental, institutional, and assistance programs designed to protect those who have been the victims of human trafficking. In order to prevent and combat human trafficking, these actions may include, but are not limited to legal requirements, law enforcement initiatives, victim assistance programs, and regional or international agreements. To shed light on their efforts on preventing human trafficking in Poland, we will analyze how geopolitical events, such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, have affected the efficiency of these victim protection measures. My research focuses on Poland because they have received the most refugees after the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, providing a good testing ground, due to Poland's dual role as a transit zone, coupled with pre-existing challenges in victim protection and human trafficking, has implications for its ability to safeguard trafficking victims and uphold international obligations. Despite the surge in vulnerable populations, the State's capacity to ensure safety and uphold international obligations regarding victim protection remains a critical concern, necessitating an in-depth examination of the State's responses and adherence to established human rights standards.