Right to be identified as a victim of trafficking
In order to be identified as a victim of trafficking and receive help, you do not have to report the crime to the police, and you do not have to cooperate with authorities in legal proceedings if you don’t want to. The identification process is carried out by anti-trafficking specialized services (such as NGOs or support services) and must:
- Take your personal situation into account
- Be carried out in a safe and sensitive way
This right exists to make sure you can access protection, support, and recovery services as early as possible, without pressure or fear.
Identification is the process by which specialised organisations or authorities, depending on the country, recognise that a person has been a victim of human trafficking. This recognition is essential because it gives access to:
- Legal protection and safety
- Medical, psychological and social assistance
- Access to support programmes and accommodation according to the situation
- Rights in criminal proceedings against traffickers
In practice, it is a step towards help and protection.
The identification is carried out by public bodies and/or specialised organisations working with victims of trafficking, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations specialising in anti-trafficking, depending on each country. These bodies have trained staff, such as social workers, psychologists and legal practitioners, who know how to support you through the process.
In Finland you can ask help from The National Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking.
The process generally includes confidential interviews where the person is listened to in a safe environment, without pressure and without risk of legal sanctions (for example, if you were forced to work illegally). Information is gathered on the situation of exploitation, threats suffered, coercive control, physical or psychological violence in order to help.
For the person concerned it means that it is not their fault, the law recognises the person as a survivor, not a criminal.
(Based on Article 10 of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings)
