Specialists of the Chernihiv Regional State Administration will contribute to the National Mechanism for Interaction in the Field of Combating Human Trafficking

On November 18-19, 2014, a training on the dissemination of the National Mechanism for Interaction of Subjects in the Field of Counteracting Human Trafficking was held in Chernihiv for specialists from the family, youth and sports sectors/departments of the district state administrations of Chernihiv region.

The trainers of the event were the head of programs of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights Natalia Piddubna and the trainer of the Western Ukrainian Center “Women’s Perspectives” Olena Kalbus, who has 10 years of experience in this field.

During the training, experts familiarized participants with the features of the current legislation on the definition of the concept of human trafficking in Ukrainian and international legislation, responsibility for human trafficking and the use of forced labor; informed about the types of labor migration and its consequences; considered all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and illegal trafficking of children, forced or compulsory labor, including forced or compulsory conscription of men and children for use in armed conflicts, the use of women for prostitution, the production of pornography or pornographic performances, other illegal activities, especially for the production and trafficking of drugs.

In particular, the trainers noted that since 2012, when Ukrainian legislation on granting the status of a person who has been a victim of trafficking came into force, many cases of human trafficking have been identified, and this figure is increasing every year. However, data from the International Organization for Migration indicate a much higher number of such persons. This fact suggests that very often victims of human trafficking do not seek help from state authorities, considering it shameful, and keep quiet about the problem and try to live with it.

“In the conditions of a difficult socio-economic situation, hostilities and forced internal migration, the Ukrainian population is increasingly likely to suffer from human trafficking, especially among the poor, displaced people who are in difficult living conditions,” said Natalia Piddubna. “Today, it is very important to strengthen preventive and information work to combat human trafficking among risk groups. That is why the work of specialists from the family, youth and sports sectors/departments of the district state administrations of Chernihiv region is important in this regard, because they know the problems in the hinterland best.”

The training was organized by the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration, the European Union and thanks to the support of the American people through the project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).