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According to the United Nations estimates, between 2 and 4 million people are trafficked worldwide every year. Though no accurate
or reliable data exist, it is well known that Ukrainian citizens make up a big number of trafficked persons who are deceitfully
exploited in bonded labour abroad and suffer from violence. As a rule, a deceit lies in disinformation about the conditions
and character of a promised work that, in combination with physical and psychological coercion, turns a person into a slave.
People can be trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation, forced labour in agriculture or domestic work, etc.
The phenomenon of human trafficking is essentially linked to the lack of legal channels for migration and employment abroad
not only for unskilled, but also for highly qualified workers whose very low income does not allow them to cross the poverty
line in Ukraine. Migration is considered by most of the population, and especially, young generation not only as a solution
to their temporary financial problems but also as a strategy of their life direction.
The majority of trafficked persons are women and girls, but men and boys also fall prey to traffickers. Whereas most trafficked
women and girls are exploited in the sex industry and through domestic labour, men are trafficked mainly for labour in agriculture,
construction and services. Trafficking for labour exploitation is at present poorly documented, but there is growing evidence
of its increase. Trafficking of children occurs for prostitution, pornography, begging, illegal adoption, and for the removal
of organs.
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During seven years (2000 – 2007) International Organisation for Migration in Ukraine alone provided assistance to over 4000
victims of human trafficking. Though statistics of international, governmental and non-governmental organizations addressing
human trafficking in Ukraine does not reflect the real situation of human trafficking in the country, it helps to see the
new trafficking trends and to find relevant preventive methods.
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The attached file contains IOM statistics last updated on 30 June 2007 about the number of trafficked persons that received
reintegration assistance in IOM and NGOs, kinds of assistance provided, the number of criminal cases filed against human traffickers,
types of exploitation, and also telephone numbers of Ukrainian NGOs that assist trafficked persons.
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