According to the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, 119 citizens have been affected by human trafficking since the beginning of 2024.
Since the beginning of 2024, 119 citizens have been granted the status of a person affected by human trafficking: 44 women, 65 men and 10 children (5 boys and 5 girls).
According to the statistics:
- 13 people were affected by sexual exploitation;
- 8 – by labor exploitation;
- 7 – by being drawn into begging;
- 3 – by being drawn into criminal activity;
- 1 – by the sale of a child;
- 17 – by use in armed conflicts;
- 70 – by other forms.
By type of trafficking, 72 people were affected by domestic trafficking, 45 by trafficking in other countries and another 2 by other types.
On 30 July, the World Day against Trafficking in Persons established by the UN General Assembly, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine reminds everyone that anyone can fall victim to this crime, regardless of age, social status or level of education.
In 1998, Ukraine became one of the first countries in Europe to establish criminal liability for human trafficking. Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery and a violation of human rights that remains relevant in the 21st century for every country in the world.
Today, under martial law, Ukrainians face an even greater risk of falling into a human trafficking situation, both within the country and abroad. Many people have moved from combat zones to other regions or abroad and are looking for new jobs.
While the term “human trafficking” used to mean mostly sexual slavery, today it covers a wide range of forms, from labor exploitation to illegal organ transplantation.
That is why today it is important for everyone to know that if any of the following was done to a person, these are signs of human trafficking:
- their passport or other documents were taken away;
- they were deprived of freedom of movement and contact with their family;
- they were promised a well-paid job (abroad or in Ukraine) and then were not paid the promised money;
- they were threatened, beaten, raped, abused or subjected to psychological pressure;
- they were forced through physical or psychological violence to do work they did not want to do;
- they were forced to work off fictitious debts;
- their labor was used without paying all or part of the promised wages;
- the person could not quit the job of their own free will;
- they were forced to work overtime, and the actual working conditions were much worse than promised;
- against their will, they were forced to beg or engage in criminal activity, or were used in an armed conflict, and other similar actions.
Anyone can become a victim of human trafficking, regardless of gender, age, social status, level of education and so on. However, the following groups are at particular risk:
- unemployed people of working age;
- rural residents;
- people with low incomes;
- people working abroad illegally;
- people who leave the country illegally or illegally enter and stay in the territory of another country;
- people who use dating websites and apps or seek intermediaries to arrange sham marriages;
- people working in the entertainment industry;
- people who have previously been victims of human trafficking;
- children, including orphans, neglected children, children deprived of parental care and others.
It is important to know what to do if you or your loved ones are in danger
First of all, call the government hotline on countering human trafficking and preventing and countering domestic violence, gender-based violence and violence against children – 15-47.
You can also get help at the following numbers:
- 0 800 500 202 / 102 National Police of Ukraine hotline;
• 0 800 213 103 contact center of the free legal aid system;
• 527 hotline on countering exploitation;
• 0 800 500 335 or the short number 116 123 hotline on preventing domestic violence, human trafficking and gender discrimination;
• 0 800 500 225 or the short number 116 111 national children’s hotline.