Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity presents State Targeted Social Programme to Combat Human Trafficking Through 2030

The Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine presented the State Targeted Social Programme to Combat Human Trafficking for the period up to 2030, which the Government had approved in September this year.

The event was held with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and was attended by First Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Liudmyla Shemelynets, UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten, EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator Diane Schmitt, and representatives of international and civil society organisations, among others.

In her speech, Liudmyla Shemelynets stressed that the full-scale war has significantly increased the risks of human trafficking. Forced displacement, loss of housing and jobs, family separation, and Ukrainians' stay abroad create additional circumstances in which people may end up in situations of exploitation.

At the same time, the methods used to commit this crime are changing. Recruitment increasingly takes place through social media, messengers, and online job search platforms. Offers of employment, help with relocation, or quick earnings may conceal labour or sexual exploitation.

Liudmyla Shemelynets also addressed the protection of Ukrainian children, who in wartime face the risks of forced displacement, deportation, exploitation, and involvement in unlawful activity, including through digital channels.

"Official statistics do not reflect the full scale of human trafficking. It is a crime that often remains hidden. A person may not realise that what they have experienced is exploitation, may be afraid of threats, or may simply not know they have the right to assistance. That is why one of the key tasks of state policy is to create conditions in which victims are identified in a timely manner, and seeking help is clear, accessible, and safe," said Liudmyla Shemelynets.

The new State Programme defines the areas of work through 2030, including preventing human trafficking, identifying victims in a timely manner, ensuring their protection, and improving coordination between responsible institutions.

Another area is improving the mechanisms for protecting Ukrainians abroad. In particular, this involves developing cooperation with host countries and victim referral routes, and using the potential of the Unity Hubs to inform citizens about the risks of exploitation and available assistance.

In addition, the Ministry is working on legislative changes to establish the institution of the National Rapporteur on Combating Human Trafficking.

"We must understand how effectively we identify victims, whether they receive the necessary assistance, where barriers arise in cooperation between institutions, and what solutions are needed to remove them. This approach should underlie the implementation of the State Targeted Social Programme through 2030," the First Deputy Minister emphasised.

According to Liudmyla Shemelynets, communities play an important role in implementing the Programme, as it is at the local level that a victim first comes into contact with the assistance system.

As a reminder, the Ministry of Social Policy, together with the International Organization for Migration Representation in Ukraine and the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations to Combat Human Trafficking in Ukraine, continues the nationwide information campaign "Does This Look Familiar To You?"