Human trafficking crimes on rise in Ukraine

16:44, 31.07.2017 1 min read

Ukrainian police recorded nearly 150 human trafficking crimes in H1 2017, which is more than twice as many as in the same period in 2016.

Victims included 119 women, 37 men, and 12 children. Police provided help to 156 such victims, the Ukrainian National Police press service said.

"In all, policemen uncovered 144 crimes (against 60 in 2016) under Ukrainian Criminal Code Article 149 (trafficking in humans or other illegal agreements regarding humans). Law enforcement has identified 69 offenders responsible for trafficking in humans," it said.

Forms of human trafficking unrelated to sexual exploitation have recently been increasingly more frequent, the National Police human trafficking crimes department said.

In particular, this concerns labor exploitation, which chiefly targets able-bodied men or people with apparent signs of disability, without permanent residence, or other low-income categories.