Seventeen Chernihiv residents received the status of victims of human trafficking

How do state and non-governmental structures of the Chernihiv region counteract manifestations of modern slavery? This was discussed on March 29, 2016 during a press conference dedicated to summing up the implementation of the project on the implementation of the National Mechanism for Interaction of Entities Counteracting Human Trafficking in Chernihiv Region.

The project to improve coordination between relevant state and non-governmental structures in the Chernihiv region was funded by the European Union and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights in partnership with the Department of Family, Youth and Sports of the Chernihiv Regional State Administration from October 2014 to March 2016.

The press conference was attended by:

Svitlana Skyba – Deputy Director of the Department of Family, Youth and Sports of the Chernihiv Regional State Administration;

Volodymyr Oleynyk – Deputy Head of the Department for Combating Crimes Related to Human Trafficking, Main Directorate of the National Police in Chernihiv Region;

Nataliya Piddubna – Program Manager of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights.

The Department of Family, Youth and Sports of the Chernihiv Regional State Administration coordinated regional events within the framework of the project “Implementation of a Mechanism for Interaction of Entities Implementing Measures to Counter Trafficking in Human Beings in Chernihiv Region”, assisted in technical support of information campaigns, and provided organizational support. The project was implemented by the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights.

In order to coordinate the efforts of the subjects of the National Mechanism for Interaction, 7 round tables were organized and held in the regions of the region, covering 140 people. During the project implementation period, thorough training was conducted for the subjects of interaction in the region. In total, 25 events (trainings, seminars) were held, covering more than 700 people.

Since March 2015, an information campaign has been held under the slogan “Every victim has the right to help!” The goal of the campaign was to inform the population of the region about the possibility of receiving help in case of finding themselves in a situation of human trafficking. Radio appearances were made on the issues of human trafficking, on the issues of establishing the status of a person who is a victim of human trafficking (VHT), and information was disseminated about the risks and dangers that residents of the region may encounter.

Informing the population about the possibility of receiving assistance in case of falling into a situation of human trafficking took place during the implementation of the project through the placement of articles in local media, on the website of the regional state administration, the department of family, youth and sports, the regional and district CSSSYM, in regional libraries, in employment centers, through the distribution of developed and published posters, booklets on the possibility of receiving assistance to PTL, an information and methodological manual was issued for specialists.

During the implementation of the project, assistance was continued to PTL who had already received the status. The number of people who received the status in Chernihiv region: in 2013 and 2014 – 9 people, in 2015 – 6 people, in 3 months of 2016 – 2 people, the number of refusals – 0. In total, in Chernihiv region in 2014 – 2016 – 17 people received the status of PTL. This is one of the largest figures in Ukraine. Chernihiv region ranks 2nd in terms of the number of statuses established after Zakarpattia.

7 people received reintegration assistance from the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, the International Organization for Migration and other international organizations in 2014-2015, and another 5 people submitted documents for assistance in 2016.

The project activities contributed to increasing the capacity and professional competence of interaction subjects in identifying and effectively providing assistance to victims of human trafficking.

Until now, in Ukraine in general and in Chernihiv region in particular, assistance to victims of human trafficking was provided mainly by public and international organizations. However, since the fall of 2012, in accordance with new legislation, the National Mechanism for Interaction of Subjects Counteracting Human Trafficking has been operational in the state. The European Union, USIAD and IOM are helping to implement it more effectively in certain regions of Ukraine. During the period 2012-2015, 164 persons were granted official status as victims of modern slavery, which enabled them to receive assistance from Ukrainian state authorities.

For reference:

Ukraine remains a country of supply, transit and is gradually becoming a country of destination for trafficking in persons. According to estimates by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Office in Ukraine, since 1991, more than 120 thousand Ukrainians have been victims of various forms of modern slavery. New trends in this threatening phenomenon include an increase in the scale of trafficking in persons for the purpose of labor exploitation, an increase in the number of male victims, an increase in cases of exploitation of Ukrainians and foreigners on the territory of Ukraine itself, an increase in the risks of falling into a situation of trafficking in persons due to the armed conflict in the East of the country and mass internal migration.

The European Union and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are supporting Ukraine in establishing a comprehensive and modern system of assistance to victims of human trafficking, which would meet the best European standards. The activity contributes to the implementation of the National Mechanism for Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking in the regions of Ukraine, which involves combining the efforts of state and non-governmental structures to identify victims, provide them with the necessary assistance, protect their rights and guarantee access to justice.

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