What is human trafficking?
Human trafficking is a form of human rights violation, which involves all actions that subject people to situations of abuse and exploitation, such as sexual or labor exploitation.
Various forms of violence (physical, psychological, economic and/or sexual) can serve as a means of human trafficking and force people in vulnerable positions to give in to abuse.
In Portugal, human trafficking is a public crime, so reporting these cases is a right and duty of citizens.
Are there people who are more vulnerable to trafficking in human beings?
Yes. People in a position of greater fragility (vulnerability) to trafficking in human beings are those who have no other option but to submit to the abuse in question, because they have no real or acceptable alternatives.
This position of fragility is more common in circumstances of:
- migration
- poverty
- Mental disability
- Dependence on alcohol and other substances
- Social exclusion and marginalisation
- Social and economic inequalities
What are the signs in the victim that can help recognize human trafficking?
Some physical, emotional and behavioural signs may indicate abuse of exploitation, including:
- have injuries such as bruises, cuts, wounds, burns
- appear to lack essential means such as food, water, lodging, and rest
- looking exhausted and looking unkempt
- Present:
- fear, nervousness, shame and guilt
- anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem
- suicidal thoughts
- having difficulty communicating, maintaining nonsensical speech, and showing signs of being controlled by someone
- Not having your personal documents
What actions can be considered a crime of human trafficking?
The crime of trafficking in human beings involves all actions that have the purpose of subjecting other people to situations of exploitation, namely through:
- recruitment
- transport
- transfer
- shelter or reception, including the exchange or transfer of control that is exercised over someone
To do this, there may be:
- Threats
- Use of force
- intimidation
- kidnapping
- Fraud or Traps
- abuse of authority or of the fragility of the person
- offering or obtaining payments or benefits to control you or have power over another person for the purpose of exploitation
It should be noted that although many of the victims are exploited outside their country of origin, there may be victims exploited within their country of origin, which is also a trafficking crime.
Is there recourse to violence in trafficking in human beings?
yes. Human trafficking can be done through various forms of violence, such as:
- Threats
- Use of force
- restriction of movement, isolation and abduction
- Withholding of wages and identification documents
What are the objectives of human trafficking?
A human trafficking crime can have several objectives, always with the purpose of exploitation, whether it is:
- Labor – forced labor or services, including begging, slavery, servitude, among others
- Sexual Exploitation – Exploitation of Prostitution
- of criminal activities
- through the removal of organs
What are the indications of labour exploitation?
There may be human trafficking for situations of exploitation at work, which are identifiable through certain indications, namely when the person who is the victim:
- You don't have the training and experience to work safely
- is forced to:
- Perform hazardous work without proper protective equipment
- carry out unlawful or humiliating activities
- working while sick or pregnant
- They don't have real representatives to negotiate their conditions in the workplace
- You have to work overtime without pay or to earn the legal minimum wage
- She is excluded from work because she refuses to work overtime and no longer has the opportunity to do so (blacklist)
- Works on a per-call basis (24/7)
- also works on the employer's private property
- You are not allowed breaks, days off, time off or access to benefits to which you are entitled, such as paid holidays
In addition, it is also considered an alert when the employer cannot present employment contracts, insurance or records relating to the workers or expects the employee to live in the same place where they work.
What are the signs of sexual exploitation?
There are several indications that point to a situation of sexual exploitation and prostitution, particularly when the person who is the victim:
- She is forced to have sex, in particular without using a condom, and without being able to refuse clients
- works around the clock, even if you're sick or pregnant
- Not allowed breaks, days off and free time
- have untreated sexually transmitted infections
- is forced to carry out illegal or humiliating activities
- She is always accompanied when she goes out, even to access health care or social service providers
- You don't bring money with you and/or you don't keep the money you earn and you have to hand it over to someone else
What conditions may indicate exploitation in a workplace?
It can be a warning sign when the victim is in a workplace where:
- The environment is unhygienic, has poor lighting and ventilation, has no heating or no access to sanitary facilities
- There are no safety or health warnings in the workplace, and there is a lack of equipment
- There is usually a group of people of one ethnicity, e.g. emigrants, who are over-represented in the workplace
What are the indications of exploitation of begging or other illegal activities?
In a situation of exploitation of begging or other illegal activities, suspicious indications are when a person:
- is transported from one place to another to beg
- is forced to beg all day long, even if she is sick or pregnant
- seems to have disabilities
- you are using/selling/hiding/transporting illegal substances or weapons
- Doesn't bring money with you
- You are accompanied by a child (infants)
- displays signs in Portuguese, but doesn't speak the language
In a situation of child exploitation, there are several indications, namely:
- Being unaccompanied
- not have access to their parents or legal guardians
- living with adults who are not the parents
- not having access to education
Who can report human trafficking?
In Portugal, human trafficking is a public crime, which means that, as citizens, we can and should all report a situation with signs of this crime. At stake is the need to protect victims and ensure fundamental human rights, such as freedom, equality and human dignity.
How can I report a case or suspicion of human trafficking?
Signalling involves the collection of evidence pointing to a probable situation of trafficking in human beings, and can be initiated by contactingthe health centre or hospitals:
- Support Centers for Children and Youth at Risk and Hospital Support Centers for Children and Youth at Risk
- Adult Violence Prevention Teams
These teams have national coverage in the National Health Service, with a total of 522 teams, which you can consult here.
You can also use the security forces:
- Public Security Police (PSP)
- National Republican Guard (GNR)
- Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF)
- Judiciary Police (PJ)
Or again, to the Specialized Multidisciplinary Teams for Assistance to Victims of Trafficking (EME) of the Association for Family Planning, coordinated by the coordinating entity of the National Plan to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Human Beings Through the contacts indicated:
- EME Alentejo – 918 654 106 ou email EME Alentejo
- EME Algarve – 918 882 942 ou email EME Algarve
- EME Centro – 918 654 104 or email EME Centro
- EME Lisboa – 913 858 556 ou email EME Lisboa
- EME North – 918 654 101 or email EME North
- National Team – 964 608 288
In the event of suspected trafficking, in the case of migrants, the investigating authorities will make a possible distinction between facilitating illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings.
Source: Directorate-General for Health (DGS)