Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.
Sheikh Qassem: The government’s latest decision [on the disarmament of the Resistance] is non-charter-based, and if the government continues down this path, it is not faithful to Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Poland leaves Ukrainian refugees prone to human trafficking, sexual assault: Amnesty

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Mar 2022 14:16
3 Min Read

After a 10-day visit to Poland, the organization described fears that badly regulated government policies surrounding newcomers can lead to serious human rights abuses.

  • x
  • Amnesty: Polish authorities must ensure Ukrainians do not face additional suffering
    Ukrainian refugees waiting after arriving at the border in Medyka, Poland (AP)

The number of individuals escaping within Europe is at an all-time high since World War II, with Poland taking the lion's share. The primary obligation for supporting those fleeing Ukraine has rested primarily on regular citizens, non-governmental organizations, and municipalities, posing huge obstacles.

Nils Muižnieks, Europe Regional Director at Amnesty International, has expressed worry that Poland's lack of proper coordination may be a risk for refugees, depriving them of essential care, making them prone to sexual assault and human trafficking and increasing their chance of being preyed on by criminals. "The Polish government must now step up to meet these challenges and keep people safe.”

Amnesty International conducted a 10-day visit to Poland in which it found that in all places including reception points, government authorities left volunteers in charge instead of their own personnel. According to the organization, this is not a sustainable long-term solution for proper registration, accommodation, social support, or other assistance.

Particularly with non-Ukrainian nationals, the government should educate all those fleeing Ukraine about their legal status in Poland or the possibility of moving regularly to other EU countries.

Muižnieks said, “Many non-Ukrainian people, including those in need of international protection, are unsure of their status in Poland. Everyone fleeing the conflict must be treated with humanity and offered opportunities to carry on with their lives, regardless of their passport."

Susceptible to crime

Related News

'Israeli hooligans' provocative banner fuels clash with Polish fans

Poland faces scandal over EU funds misuse

A major worry in temporary reception facilities is their common reliance on private individuals to offer transport and accommodation to newcomers.

The risk of having newcomers improperly registered means an increased chance of being abused and exploited by criminals. Amnesty details how asylum-seekers were desperate to get help from any source-trustworthy or not.

According to reports, Wroclaw police detained a 49-year-old Polish man for allegedly sexually abusing a Ukrainian lady he volunteered to shelter at his apartment.

"There are many, very dangerous propositions": Concerns have increased recently over media reports that some female refugees from #Ukraine were being exploited by human trafficking networks in #Europe and "Israel."#Russia pic.twitter.com/Sh1XJnaOzH

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 20, 2022

Human rights organizations in Poland have also stated that they are getting allegations of further incidences of sexual assault, which are being kept private. They are citing fears of unaccompanied minors and other individuals falling prey to human trafficking.

Irena Dawid-Olczyk, President of NGO La Strada, said some children are being sent to live with family, and in the case of the adults escorting them being detained, they are continuing their journey alone and unsupervised.

Karolina Wierzbińska from Homo Faber told the police that a woman was offering money for people's passports in Lublin's train station. Men at the station were also seen aggressively offering Ukrainian women transportation and accommodation.

Muižnieks concluded by saying that authorities in Poland are responsible for ensuring that those who have fled Ukraine and are non-Ukrainian are treated with the same level of respect to protect their human rights and dignity. "Racism, hate speech, and attacks must not be tolerated and perpetrators must be held accountable."

Read more: UNHCR urges safety of African refugees crossing Ukraine

  • Poland
  • Russia
  • Ukraine
  • Amnesty International

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS