What Is Human Trafficking?

Trafficking in human beings is a serious crime against individual freedom and a violation of human rights. Offenders place their victims in a subordinate position and exploit them for financial and other gain. Offenders restrict their victims’ freedom to make decisions about their life and actions.

The many forms of human trafficking crimes

A trafficking crime may involve a single offender or several offenders. The crime may be related to international or local organised crime operations, smaller networks or even a single employer or the victim’s family member.

A trafficking victim may be trafficked to another country for exploitation, or the entire chain from recruitment to exploitation may take place within a single country. People may fall victim to human trafficking in their own home town, via the Internet or in many other ways.

Human trafficking usually involves long-term exploitation

Trafficking offenders exploit their victims’ vulnerability or weak position. Offenders may also cheat(deceive) a person in order to make them fall victim to exploitation.

Human trafficking offences do not normally happen in a day. They involve a long process during which the victim gradually falls under the offender’s control. The longer the exploitation continues, the harder it is for the victim to leave the situation without outside help.

Forcing an underage person to fall victim to human trafficking is a crime, even if the victim has agreed to act as requested at every stage.

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Give A Tip If You Suspect Human Trafficking

You can contact the Human Trafficking Victim Support System confidentially, without disclosing your name or location. We serve in Finnish, Swedish, and English. Interpretation is possible for other languages.

The call cost is a regular mobile phone charge or local call charge.

In life-threatening or safety-threatening emergencies, call the general emergency number 112.