Human trafficking is one of the most horrific human rights violations in the world

Human trafficking is one of the most horrific human rights violations in the world, a topic that is more relevant than ever in times of war.

33 participants gathered in Mukacheve to learn the latest mechanisms for combating human trafficking. Among participants were representatives of non-governmental organizations, the media, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, youth councils, and other institutions.

The first training session immersed participants in the topic of the training: an overview of the situation in Ukraine regarding human trafficking was conducted, and concepts such as "slavery", "labor exploitation", and "human exploitation" were defined. During discussions, attention was repeatedly drawn to the relevance of working against human trafficking, especially during martial law in Ukraine.

Despite numerous trainings and educational events, the topic of countering human trafficking is shrouded in myths and stereotypes that have firmly taken root in society. These were discussed during one of the sessions on the second day.

One common misconception is that victims are usually socially vulnerable citizens. However, stubborn statistics tell us otherwise. Therefore, it's important to raise public awareness to protect people from falling into such situations.

Human trafficking involves the transportation, recruitment, and harboring of people for various forms of exploitation, typically carried out through coercion, abduction, fraud, bribery, etc. To avoid falling into such situations, it is necessary to know certain markers that will allow an objective assessment of the situation.

What "red flags" should alert you, for example, when processing documents for studying or working abroad?

- The type of visa does not match the purpose of the trip. Remember - a work visa does not entitle you to study and vice versa.
- Insufficient information. Phrases like "website under development", "social networks not yet created", "reviews can only be obtained by the phone numbers we provide" should immediately raise suspicions.
- Upon arrival, you are asked to hand over original personal identification documents.
- The potential salary is too high for the indicated position or workload.

Take care of yourself and remember - if something seems wrong, it probably is. Arm yourself with information and implement your plans safely.

The event was held in the frames of the "Peace Building and Conflict Resolution in Ukraine – Step Forward" project, implemented with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office’s funds by IFA (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen), Funding programme zivik.