Four out of five human trafficking victims cooperate in criminal processes

Four out of five clients who became victims of human trafficking in Finland cooperate with pre-trial investigation authorities. The assistance and support provided to the victims of human trafficking through the National Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking (NAS) help to bring human trafficking crimes to light. This support plays a significant role in the criminal process for the victims involved.

Senior Adviser and Team Leader Terhi Tafari from the NAS reviewed statistics from a new perspective. In 2025, 141 individuals were admitted in the NAS as clients, having been victims of human trafficking in Finland. Of these, as many as 81 percent cooperated with pre-trial investigation authorities. A total of 43 percent of the clients filed a police report after joining the NAS and receiving help. In these cases, the report was made with the client’s consent by either the NAS, the client themselves, or another supporting party. 38 percent of the clients were enrolled in the NAS when the exploitation they had faced was already known to pre-trial investigation authorities. A total of 19 clients chose not to file a police report. Conversations regarding filing a police report are still ongoing with eight clients.

Those human trafficking victims who do not wish to report the crime committed against them or cooperate with pre-trial investigation authorities, may equally be admitted as clients.

In 2025, a total of 271 new clients were admitted in the NAS. Of these, 141 had been victims of human trafficking in Finland or their case involved human trafficking related to Finland. 130 clients had been victims of human trafficking outside Finland, and the exploitation they experienced did not continue in Finland, nor was it related to Finland. For clients trafficked abroad, investigation requests are generally not made, unless the client specifically requests it. In such cases, the human trafficking is not related to Finland, has not continued in Finland, and the perpetrators are not known to be in Finland. In these cases, the human trafficking crime cannot typically be investigated in Finland. However, the NAS evaluates each case to determine whether an investigation request would be justified.

Detailed statistics:

Cooperation with pre-trial investigation authorities for victims in Finland

• 61 individuals, for whom a police report/investigation request was made after joining the NAS or another party (43%)
• 53 individuals whose crime was known to pre-trial investigation authorities before joining the NAS (38%)
• 19 individuals who decided not to file a police report (13%). Of these, 17 did not wish to file a report, and in two cases, a report was not made (for other reasons, such as the client disappearing, the case closing, or the client returning to their home country).
  
  Additionally, there were eight individuals for whom discussions about filing a police report are still in the early stages or have not been initiated because the assistance case is too recent.