The Chernihiv Regional State Administration discussed how to combat human trafficking

On July 24, 2018, a round table was held at the premises of the Chernihiv Regional State Administration on the topic “Combating human trafficking as one of the components of the activities of united territorial communities in the Chernihiv region” with the participation of subjects of the national mechanism of interaction of the region and representatives of united territorial communities.

In Chernihiv region, as in Ukraine as a whole, the process of creating united territorial communities is currently actively underway. In the newly created ATCs, a development strategy is being formed to implement local programs and government policies in various areas of public life and economic development.

That is why such an event is designed to intensify the activities of all interested parties and achieve the main goal – to do everything to identify victims of human trafficking in order to restore their rights, ensure their interests, so that they can fully return to society, as well as make maximum efforts and inform the maximum number of people about the potential danger.

Opening the meeting, Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration

Natalia Romanova

emphasized that the course of state policy in the field of combating human trafficking requires the establishment of effective interaction of all subjects: both relevant state bodies, local governments, and public associations. “Our task is to organize the fight against human trafficking, identify victims, provide them with prompt and comprehensive assistance, and inform the maximum number of people about the danger,” said Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration

Natalia Romanova

.

In turn,

Nina Lemesh

, Director of the Department of Family, Youth and Sports of the regional administration, recalled the effective mechanisms of interaction of the subjects of the national mechanism of interaction and asked to pay due attention to the issue of the feasibility of introducing at their level mechanisms for coordinating work on combating human trafficking, violence, neglect and abuse of children, which sometimes leads to tragic cases. The creation of such councils (consultative and advisory bodies) in the united territorial communities and ensuring the work of such councils (consultative and advisory bodies) is a guarantee of ensuring effective coordination of actions of all structures on the prevention and counteraction of human trafficking, domestic violence, gender equality, etc.

Deputy Head of the State Children’s Service of Ukraine in Chernihiv Oblast

Volodymyr Rudnytskyi

drew attention to the situations that arose in connection with visa-free travel and legalization of foreign citizens on the territory of Ukraine.

According to the Deputy Head of the Children’s Service of the Regional State Administration

Yulia Olyfirenko

, there are more than 1,100 children in difficult life circumstances registered with the regional children’s services: “Every child living in a family where violence occurs, where parents neglect the rights of the child and evade their parental duties, requires increased attention and preventive work from officials of village, settlement, city councils of united territorial communities as guardianship and care bodies. This is a necessary condition for preventing such children from getting into situations related to human trafficking.”

For the social and legal protection of children who have suffered from abuse, including human trafficking, as well as children who have found themselves in other difficult life circumstances, orphans, and children deprived of parental care, the creation of children’s services at the ATC level is envisaged. Currently, 17 children’s services have been established in ATCs of Chernihiv Oblast.

Alla Kot

, director of the Chernihiv Oblast Center for Social Services for Families, Children, and Youth, said that the newly created structures of the Centers for Social Services in communities should also provide assistance to persons who have suffered from human trafficking. The regional center provides maximum assistance to the newly created structures, and if necessary, they can seek help from the district or regional center.

Lyudmila Kuzmina

, Head of the Department of Registration of Regulatory Acts, Legal Work and Legal Education of the Main Territorial Department of Justice in Chernihiv Oblast, informed those present about the project “I Have the Right”, within the framework of which explanatory work is carried out with residents of the region.

Nataliya Kulikova

, Program Manager of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, emphasized that

July 30

the world community celebrates

World Day against Trafficking in Persons

. It aims to raise public awareness of this global problem and draw attention to the plight of millions of women, men and children from all over the world who have become victims of human trafficking, as well as to encourage people to actively help and counteract this crime.

This year, on July 30, an information campaign will be held under the slogan

“Against Human Trafficking”

in all regional centers of Ukraine and in the city of Kyiv, and an

art installation “Labyrinth of Opportunities”

about the risks of falling into a human trafficking situation if risky offers are accepted will be opened. To reach out to residents more widely, Nataliya Kulikova suggested that representatives of the AHC create similar information corners where information about the problem of human trafficking and opportunities for receiving assistance can be posted.