Over the next month, a Kyiv metro train will inform passengers about the dangerous and very real phenomenon of slavery and trafficking. The initiative was launched by IOM to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which takes place this Sunday, 30 July.  

Each carriage of the train will tell a different story related to labour or sexual exploitation and forced child begging and will provide an opportunity for passengers to see the full version in videos filmed as part of the nationwide campaign "They Used You".  

The initiative has been supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Justice of Sweden, as well as by local stakeholders – the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and Kyiv City Administration.

“Faced with the direct or indirect impact of hostilities, displacement and economic downturn, the population has become more prone to trafficking and more vulnerable to other forms of exploitation,” said IOM Ukraine’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Marco Chimenton. “Every second Ukrainian is ready to accept at least one risky offer that could lead to human trafficking or exploitation. This significantly increases vulnerability both among those who were forced to seek refuge in other countries and among those who remained in Ukraine.”

Since the outbreak of full-scale war, IOM has intensified its prevention activities through the work of the National Migrant Advice and Counter-Trafficking Hotline 527. The government hotline 15-47 is also available to counter human trafficking and abuse.

According to IOM estimates, over 300,000 Ukrainians have suffered from human trafficking since 1991. Since 2000, IOM together with a network of partner NGOs throughout Ukraine has provided tailored comprehensive reintegration assistance to over 19,700 trafficking survivors, which includes, but is not limited to medical and psychosocial support/counselling, transportation, shelter or safe location, legal services, in-kind material support or cash assistance to meet basic needs, advocacy for access to services, vocational training and income-generating support. 

For more information about the campaign and to learn more about how to get help, click here: https://www.stoptrafficking.org