Handbook for Assisting Victims of Human Trafficking Published

Stabilise and Assess – Tools for Helping Victims of Human Trafficking is a handbook aimed at providing social workers with knowledge, practical tools, and perspectives for engaging with victims of human trafficking. At the core of assistance work is ensuring the physical and psychological safety of the victim and building trust through a consistent, predictable, and respectful approach.

The handbook was written by Marjukka Nyström, social worker and Project Lead responsible for the Vake project component, together with Larissa Söderling, project specialist and psychologist. The publication is part of the Active Agency – Services Promoting Equality, Non-Discrimination, and Participation project. The project is implemented by the Wellbeing Services County of Vantaa and Kerava (Vake) in collaboration with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the University of Helsinki, the City of Kajaani, the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services county, Moniheli ry, Romano Missio ry, and Setlementti Tampere ry. The project is co-funded by the European Union.

Human trafficking is a serious violation of human rights and a criminal offense that causes long-lasting physical, psychological, and social consequences. While physical injuries generally heal over time, psychological scars often remain invisible and can continue to affect a person’s life even years later. Human trafficking is a process of exploitation involving power, control, and violence. Becoming a victim of human trafficking is often a traumatic experience. Psychological trauma may manifest as anxiety, shame, distrust, everyday difficulties, and challenges in emotional regulation. Recognizing these impacts is essential in social work to identify service needs and appropriately direct support measures.

The handbook is intended to support social work by increasing understanding of human trafficking as a phenomenon. It focuses on engagement and on how the effects of traumatic experiences can be taken into account in the client’s current situation and in assessing service needs. The aim of the handbook is to support social work and assist practitioners in meeting individuals who have experienced traumatic events. While the handbook is primarily designed for social work, its content is also highly applicable for other professionals and client groups. It is a valuable resource for anyone who encounters victims of human trafficking or individuals who have undergone other severe traumatic experiences in their work.