UN: Russia Must End Systemic Abuse of Migrant Women
UN experts have issued a strong call to action for Russia to end what they describe as decades-long trafficking and forced labor of migrant women in Moscow’s Golyanovo district, The Gaze reports.
According to the experts, credible evidence shows that women from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan were lured to Russia with false job offers, only to have their documents seized and be forced into grueling, unpaid labor — working up to 20 hours a day in abusive conditions.
Many suffered torture, sexual violence, forced abortions, and the abduction of their children.
“This is not just exploitation — it’s a deeply entrenched system of modern slavery, enabled by the Russian state’s inaction,” the experts said.
Despite repeated complaints since the 1990s, Russian authorities have allegedly failed to launch effective investigations, often refusing to register cases or dismissing them by claiming the women had “consented.”
The experts criticized Russia’s lack of a comprehensive anti-trafficking law and its policies criminalizing support for undocumented migrants, which they say silences victims and hinders civil society.
The European Court of Human Rights recently ruled in a landmark case that Russia violated its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights by failing to protect victims of trafficking.
The UN called on Moscow to open a full investigation, work with Central Asian governments, and ensure accountability and justice for survivors.
Read more on The Gaze: Russia Hired African Farmers to Make Shampoo—Then Sent Them to War