Human trafficking abroad: how Ukrainians can protect themselves

Human trafficking abroad

Since February 24, more than 14 million Ukrainians have gone abroad, among them mostly women and children. In such conditions, the risk of suffering from sexual exploitation or human trafficking increases.

How to protect yourself from this? What should you pay special attention to in order not to fall into the hands of thieves in a foreign country? But where to go if you feel danger? The Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, Oksana Zholnovych, and Svitlana Harashchenko, the head of the anti-trafficking initiative of the project “Supporting Governmental Reforms in Ukraine” funded by the Government of Canada, told Yuriy Gorbunov and Yehor Gordeev about this in the “Breakfast with 1+1” studio.

Woman Magazine

“Breakfast with 1+1” announced the creation of the Safe Women website and chatbot to strengthen protection against human trafficking

The guests of the broadcast presented a bot in Telegram – @safewomenbot, where there is a lot of useful information about the rights of victims and the actions of witnesses. It was created by the SURGe project together with the Ministry of Social Policy and the National Police. The chatbot format allows you to quickly get answers to the most common questions. 

What should alert you when looking for a job abroad

  • if there is no information about the details of the work;
  • no experience requirements;
  • unclear terms of payment or wages that are much higher than what is potentially possible;
  • attempts to collect documents;

Dangerous offers abroad

  • the promise of easy profit;
  • guilt manipulation;
  • uncertainty manipulation;
  • blackmail.

Signs of sexual exploitation

  • accommodation in exchange for indecent acts;
  • request to send intimate photos;
  • sexual services for debts.

Rules that will help protect against the situation of human trafficking

  • make copies or photos of your documents, send them to yourself by e-mail or save them  on the phone;
  • daily inform your loved ones about your whereabouts and the offers you receive regarding settlement and employment;
  • follow the rules of safe movement  (for example, if you need to get into a car with strangers, take a photo of their license plate number and send it to your loved ones);
  • do not leave your passport as collateral to a potential lender or employer.

What to do if you  pulled in  in the situation of human trafficking

In Ukraine, you should contact the police or the Government hotline 1547. When applying, it is advisable to describe all the details.

“If you are abroad, you should also contact the police or the hotline immediately. In EU countries, it is 112 – a common number for the entire union. The SafeWomen website also contains a selection of important contacts in twenty-eight countries who can be contacted in the event of human trafficking. Short and simple explanations online and contacts can also be found in our chatbot @safewomenbot”, – says Minister of Social Policy Oksana Zholnovich.

Where to contact regarding combating human trafficking:

  • 1547 – Government hotline in Ukraine
  • 112 – police number in EU countries
  • website: safewomen.com.ua
  • the SafeWomen chatbot, @safewomenbot 

We remind you that every year from November 25 to December 10, Ukraine joins the international campaign “16 days of activism against gender-based violence.” Around the world these days, many countries are drawing public attention to the problems of violence against women and human trafficking. 

Photo: 1+1 press service, Pexels


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