Human trafficking is one of the most profitable and fastest-growing illegal trades in the world. For traffickers, it is a business where people are the commodity. Victims are abused, exploited, and forced to work or provide services through various – often inhumane – means. The traffickers’ methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and their ways of recruiting victims more deceptive.

Anyone can fall into the hands of traffickers. In Europe alone, tens of thousands of people become victims of human trafficking every year.

Update of the International Framework

The Council of Europe has recently updated the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings to address new trends and forms of exploitation. The revised framework now explicitly includes illegal adoptions, forced marriages, and the abuse of surrogacy arrangements as forms of human trafficking. The goal of this update is to strengthen protection for victims targeted by organized networks that exploit legal loopholes and humanitarian crises.

Situation in Ukraine and the Vulnerability of People “on the Move”

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the risk of human trafficking among refugees has significantly increased. The majority of those fleeing Ukraine are women and children, who are among the most vulnerable groups. People “on the move” – those fleeing conflict, in transit, or displaced – face heightened risks of abuse, exploitation, and forced labour.

Slovakia has long been a country of origin, transit, and destination for victims of human trafficking. Victims include both Slovak nationals and foreigners who find themselves in vulnerable situations within the country.

Forms of Human Trafficking

The most common forms include:

• Forced labour and exploitation mainly in agriculture, construction, and services,
• Sexual exploitation, forced marriages, forced begging,
• Forced criminality and trafficking in human organs,
• Illegal adoptions and abuse of surrogacy,
• New online forms of exploitation such as cybersexual exploitation, and forced cybercrime.

Causes and Contributing Factors

Traffickers respond to the demand for cheap labour and sexual services. Vulnerability increases due to poverty, lack of employment opportunities, weak social conditions, low education levels, insufficient awareness of migration risks, as well as armed conflicts and displacement.

IOM Activities in Combating Human Trafficking

IOM Slovakia has been addressing this issue since 2003, in cooperation with governmental, non-governmental, and international partners. Its main activities include:

• Prevention and awareness-raising, through information campaigns and the Safe Travel & Work Abroad mobile app, and the Don’t Become a Slave! campaign,
• Training professionals from public administration and support services,
• Developing information materials for educators and prevention specialists (films, brochures, and websites about safe travel and work abroad).

In the past, IOM operated the National Helpline for Victims of Human Trafficking (0800 800 818) and provided victims with comprehensive return and reintegration assistance.