Sexual violence: Women and children are not safe in overcrowded shelters for Ukrainian refugees
Women and children living in Dutch shelters designated for Ukrainian refugees are facing an increasing risk of sexual violence, according to research conducted by the organization Opora, which focuses on the conditions of Ukrainians in the Netherlands. In recent months, the organization has documented 30 reports of sexual violence against women, and nine cases where children were victims, according to the newspaper De Telegraaf.
Incidents range from physical assault to rape, and the perpetrators were among partners and former partners, other residents in shelters, staff, and outsiders. Maria Shaidrova from the Opora organization said: "What worries me most is that this may just be the tip of the iceberg; bad things happen much more frequently."
One of the shocking cases occurred in the spring of last year when a Ukrainian woman posted a desperate plea on TikTok after being raped in her room inside the shelter. She said she needed a lawyer and expressed her belief that there were other victims afraid to speak out. In another case this summer, police raided a house in the city of Maassluis and found three Ukrainian children being lured into sexual work. Two men from Rotterdam were arrested on charges of human trafficking. The children were living in Mrija, a large shelter in the city of Vlaardingen.
Overcrowding increases the severity of risks. According to the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG), nearly 100,000 Ukrainians currently live in shelters managed by municipalities, while about 300 new people arrive each week. Most of the residents are women and children, with a few men. Shaidrova said, "When you gather such a large number of people together, including those suffering from trauma, it requires special care to protect the most vulnerable." She noted that victims often hesitate to report their experiences or do not know where to turn, even though the Netherlands has a strong support system, including centers for combating sexual violence.
Shaidrova suggested practical steps that could improve safety, such as appointing guides at each location, eliminating shared bathrooms, and providing translators to break down language barriers. She said, "It is certainly not ideal to have to explain extremely painful experiences to a caregiver via Google Translate." At the same time, the Association of Municipalities (VNG) asked the government to consider stricter rules to determine who is entitled to shelter. The Minister of Immigration in the caretaker government, Mona Keizer, confirmed that options are under review.