Human trafficking – a form of modern slavery and human rights violations, which doesn’t lose relevance in the twenty-first century for any country, including Ukraine. Exploiters profit through control and exploitation of others. This problem can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, education or social status. Every year about 600 – 800 thousand people in the world are sold abroad for exploitation (according to the US government). The exploitation can take place both within the country and abroad, and recruiters are often familiar people – those trusted. Trafficking can occur in various forms:
According to estimates of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Ukraine, more than 160 000 Ukrainians became victims of human trafficking since 1991, making Ukraine one of the main countries of origin of victims of modern slavery in Europe. Most of the victims, who in recent years have received assistance from IOM are young people under 35 years. 60% of victims of trafficking, who appealed to the IOM in 2016 are male, over 80% of victims have higher or technical education. The youngest victim was 3 years old and the oldest – 83.
You can prevent slavery – preparing to go abroad, follow the advice on safe migration!
www.stoptrafficking.org – In order to prevent human trafficking and modern slavery, Counter-Trafficking Programme functions within IOM Ukraine, it has a web-page on which you can find out more about safe migration rules to be followed when travelling abroad.
Here are some of the basic rules:
Safe travel rules:
Preparing for travel:
- Verify information about the future place of residence, conditions of work / study / living in details;
- Sign only those documents, the language of which you understand
- Make and take with you the copies of all important documents (passport, ID, health insurance, visas, agreement on work/schooling, etc.). Keep them in a safe place separate from the originals;
- Leave your relatives or close friends the copies of the documents, recently made photograph and information about the future place of residence;
- Pre-arrange the “code phrases” with relatives that will signal that you in danger;
- Check the laws and traditions of the area where you’re going.
During the travel:
- Trust your documents only to authorized officials (State Border Guard Service, the police);
- Do not leave your passport or ID document as collateral and does not give it to your employer for “registration” or for other reasons;
- Register at the Embassy/Consulate of your country in Ukraine if you plan to stay in the country longer than three months;
- Maintain regular contact with relatives and tell them about changing your location or employment;
- Try to have a mobile phone and money for a return ticket home at all times.
- For legal work abroad, you must have: a valid passport, appropriate work visa, labor agreement (contract) with a foreign employer and work permits in the country of destination;
- The employment contract must be drawn up in a language you understand and contain sufficient information about responsibilities, work schedule, the amount of wages, medical and social insurance, holidays and weekends;
- Working on tourist visa or guest visa is against the law;
- Usually it is impossible to obtain a work visa through intermediaries. Check with the appropriate consulate whether mediation in visa obtaining is possible and that the cost of the service;
- Do not agree to provide false documents or false information during an interview with a consular officer