Victims of forced labour found their way into the Assistance System
The National Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking publishes a review of the first six months of 2023. During this time, more victims of human trafficking were referred to the Assistance System than ever before during a corresponding time period. In the first half of 2023, there was a 25 per cent increase in the number of referrals compared to the start of 2022. Most commonly an authority, such as the police or the Immigration Service, referred a victim of human trafficking into the Assistance System. Victims themselves reach out and ask for help in increasing numbers, as well.
During 1 January 2023 – 30 June 2023, a total of 231 persons were referred to the Assistance System. Referrals normally amount to 350 to 450 per annum. On June 30 2023, there were 1446 clients in the Assistance System.
This and other interesting information can be found in the latest Semiannual Review (download an accessible pdf-file here).
Forced labour identified in a growing number of industries
In the first half of 2023, 152 victims of human trafficking were admitted as clients in the Assistance System, along with their 16 children.
Of the 152 new clients, 75 adults and one child were estimated to have been exploited in human trafficking in Finland. Those exploited in Finland had experienced exploitation in forced labour (47 victims), forced marriages (13 victims) and sexual exploitation and exploitation in prostitution (12 victims). All these are forms of human trafficking.
Forced labour was detected in a greater number of industries than before. According to the clients’ experiences, risky industries include cleaning and sanitation, forestry, construction, restaurants and catering, beauty and welfare, mining, domestic labour and work in greenhouses.
The most common nationalities of those exploited in Finland were Chinese, Iraqi, Philippine, Moroccan, Vietnamese, Ugandan and Thai. More than half of the victims exploited in Finland were women.
Of the 152 new clients, 76 were estimated to have been exploited in human trafficking in a country other than Finland.
More information for media:
- Katri Lyijynen, assistant director, tel. +358 5463 223
- Terhi Tafari, project manager and team leader, tel. +358 5463 240
e-mail addresses are firstname.lastname@migri.fi