Your Rights — Your Protection: Assistance and Support for Victims of Human Trafficking

The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Secretariat, together with the International Charitable Foundation «Caritas Ukraine», has presented the updated guide «Your Rights — Your Protection: Assistance for Victims of Human Trafficking».

Under martial law and forced displacement, risks of falling into exploitation have increased substantially. The purpose of this guide is to raise awareness about personal safety, help recognize threats early, and provide a clear plan of action for obtaining state protection and support.

Forms and Indicators of Exploitation

Human trafficking involves recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons through deception, fraud, extortion, or abuse of vulnerability for exploitation. Key forms include:

• Labor exploitation: forced labor, withheld pay, passport confiscation, or working merely for food/shelter.
• Sexual exploitation: coercion into commercial sex acts through blackmail, threats, or deceptive job offers.
• Forced begging: compelling individuals, particularly children and people with disabilities, into street begging.
• Involvement in armed conflict: forcing civilians to perform military labor, wear uniforms, or act as human shields.
• Involvement in criminal activity, illegal organ removal, surrogate exploitation, and child trafficking.

Crucial Rule: Victims are NEVER at Fault

The perpetrators of exploitation are criminals. Victims of human trafficking bear no guilt and have the unconditional right to comprehensive assistance and protection regardless of their citizenship.

Rights and State Assistance

Official victim status granted by the state provides:

• Free professional assistance: medical, psychological, social, and legal aid.
• Safe shelter: temporary accommodation and basic provisions.
• One-time financial assistance: state payment equal to 3 subsistence minimums for the relevant demographic category.
• Assistance with job placement and vocational training.
• Individuals can apply even without identification documents. Reporting to the police or participating in criminal proceedings is not mandatory to receive status.

Step-by-Step Algorithm to Obtain Status

• 1. Application: submit an application to the local military/state administration or social protection department.
• 2. Confidential interview: conducted by a specialist within 3 working days without pressure or re-traumatization.
• 3. Immediate aid: shelter, medical, and psychological care are provided promptly if required.
• 4. Decision & certificate: National Social Service of Ukraine approves status, and a certificate is issued within 5 working days.

Information Brochure «Your Rights — Your Protection»

You can view and read the full official brochure below:

Helplines and Support Contacts

• 1678 — Ombudsman Hotline (hotline@ombudsman.gov.ua)
• 527 — National Anti-Trafficking & Migrant Advice Hotline (free from mobiles) or 0 800 505 501
• 1547 — Government Hotline against Trafficking in Persons
• 102 / 112 — National Police / Emergency Services
• Caritas Ukraine — network of 7 regional assistance centers.