Nigerians, Finns and Ukrainians most represented in the assistance system for victims of human trafficking

In early 2015, 31 persons were placed in the assistance system for victims of human trafficking. The number is clearly larger than in the same period in 2014, when the number of new clients was 21.

Of the new clients, 71 per cent (22 persons) were women. There were no minors. As in previous years, the largest individual group by nationality were Nigerians (six persons). Finnish nationals (five persons) were second and Ukrainians (less than five persons) were third.

This information can be seen in the overview prepared by the Joutseno Reception Centre. The assistance system for victims of human trafficking is coordinated from the Joutseno Reception Centre.

Exploitation at work often in the background

Almost half (15 persons) of new clients had been exploited in their work. Almost all (12 persons) of them had been exploited in Finland.

The second largest group, consisting of 11 persons, were assessed to have been victims of sexual exploitation. Ten of them had been exploited abroad, but with some, the exploitation had continued in Finland.

Several cases of forced marriage

The assistance system also took in several persons who had been subjected to a forced marriage. The marriage had usually been arranged in the victim’s home country, from where the victim had been sent to Finland as a spouse against the victim’s will. It is the opinion of the assistance system that forcing someone into a marriage alone can be a violation of human dignity, thus constituting human trafficking.

Individual clients were also taken into the assistance system because they were assessed to have been victims of human trafficking due to having been forced into crime.

The extent of human trafficking is likely larger

The figures in the overview only include cases known to the assistance system. They do not therefore give the whole picture of the extent of human trafficking in Finland. There are likely more victims than what the figures show.

The assistance system provides its clients with services and support such as legal advice, crisis support, health services, interpreting and translation services, as well as lodging, income support and safe return arrangements.

A proposal to take a person into the assistance system can be made by an authority or organisation that suspects human trafficking, or by the victim him- or herself. During the first half of the year, most proposals have been received from the authorities, but the organisational field has become more active than before.

The duties of the assistance system for victims of human trafficking were expanded from 1 July 2015

Legislation expanding upon assistance for victims of human trafficking came into force on 1 July 2015. Previously, the duties of the assistance system included mainly offering advice and basic services to suspected victims.

From the beginning of July, the duties were expanded, and today, the assistance system has the authority to, for example, identify a client as a victim of human trafficking on a legal basis, and to grant him or her time for recovery and consideration. Time for recovery and consideration is granted if the victim needs to recover from his or her gruelling experience before making the decision on whether he or she wishes to cooperate with the pre-trial investigation authorities.

Further information for the media

Senior Adviser Katri Lyijynen, Assistance system for victims of human trafficking, Joutseno Reception Centre, tel. +358 29 546 3223, e-mail: ihmiskauppa.auttamisjarjestelma@intermin.fi

Attachments

• Overview of the assistance system for victims of human trafficking 1.1.–30.6.2015 pdf, 184,7 kB (in Finnish only)
• Assistance for victims of human trafficking and the duties of the assistance system for victims of human trafficking as of 1 July 2015 pdf, 796,3 kB (in Finnish only)

Press release by the Finnish Immigration Service and the Joutseno Reception Centre, 30 July 2015