Sexual violence: Women and children unsafe in crowded shelters for Ukrainian refugees
Ukrainian women and children are regularly victims of sexual violence in shelters in the Netherlands, according to Opora, an organization that researches the position of Ukrainians in the Nehterlands. In recent months, Opora received 30 reports of violence or sexual violence against Ukrainian women, and another nine reports in which children were the victims of these crimes, the Telegraaf reports.
The reports all involve serious crime, ranging from assault to rape. The perpetrators include partners and ex-partners, other shelter residents, employees, and outsiders. “What worries me even more is that this is probably just the tip of the iceberg; bad things happen much more often,” Maria Shaidrova of Opora told the newspaper.
In the spring of last year, a Ukrainian woman posted a call for help on TikTok after being raped in her room at a shelter. “I need a lawyer. I'm sure there are more cases like this in shelters, but people are afraid to talk about them,” she said.
Early this summer, the police raided a home in Maassluis and found three Ukrainian children being enticed into sex work. Two men from Rotterdam were caught red-handed and charged with human trafficking. The girls live in Mrija, a large shelter in Vlaardingen.
Part of the problem is how crowded the shelters are. According to the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), nearly 100,000 Ukrainians are currently living in municipal-run shelters, and there are hardly any spaces available, while about 300 Ukrainians arrive in the Netherlands every week.
The residents are almost all women and children, plus a small number of men. “When you bring so many people together, including those with trauma, careful consideration is needed to protect the most vulnerable,” Shaidrova told the newspaper. “We notice that victims are always hesitant to report their experiences or don’t know where to go. While the Netherlands actually has a very good care system for women, including centers for sexual violence.”
Shaidrova thinks that even small changes can make a big difference in these shelters. She suggests support guides at all locations and an end to shared showers. Translators to break through language barriers can also help. “It’s certainly not ideal to have to explain very unpleasant experiences to a care provider via Google Translate.”
The VNG is considering ways to lessen the pressure on shelters. The association for municipalities has asked the government to investigate whether it can apply stricter conditions to who is entitled to shelter. Currently, every Ukrainian has the right to shelter in the Netherlands. The municipalities wonder if they could exclude people “who can reasonably provide for themselves.” Caretaker Minister Mona Keijzer of Migration is exploring the possibilities.
