Number of human trafficking victims in Finland on rise

The number of the victims of human trafficking in Finland increased significantly in 2020, according to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri).

In total, 244 potential trafficking victims and three persons who are witnesses in pre-trial investigations or court proceedings related to human trafficking offences were taken on as clients of the Assistance System in 2020, said Migri, quoting a recently published report of the Assistance System.

Additionally, 50 underage children of potential victims of human trafficking were taken on. A total of 297 persons were thus given access to the services.

Of the new clients, 123 had been exploited in Finland and 121 elsewhere.

The number of victims exploited in Finland is considerably larger than that in the previous years: human trafficking victims taken on as clients numbered 70 in 2019 and 52 in 2018.

At the end of 2020, a total of 916 persons were receiving Assistance System services. Of these, 704 are potential victims of human trafficking, and 212 underage children dependent on them. This total figure was 676 at the end of 2019 and 455 at the end of 2018.

The new clients include a particularly high share of those who were subjected to forced labour in Finland (78 clients).

In particular, they had worked in conditions indicating forced labour in the cleaning, restaurant and construction sectors, in seasonal work in the agricultural sector, and as domestic workers of private persons.

Of the new clients, 15 had been victims of human trafficking related to sexual exploitation in Finland, especially forced or coerced prostitution, and the conditions of 23 clients were assessed to indicate a forced marriage.

Five clients had been exploited in criminal activities, and two were victims of benefit fraud.

Trafficking for benefit fraud means that the victim is subjected to conditions that violate their human dignity, such as extreme poverty, to allow the exploiter to misappropriate the benefits paid to the victim and, for example, take out quick loans in the victim’s name.

While the exploitation may have taken place in 2020, some of the victims have also sought assistance regarding experiences indicating human trafficking that they had years ago.

People close to the victim or some other reference groups of the victim have often been in the background of the exploitation. Organised crime may have been behind some cases, whereas in others, the victim has been exploited by their spouses or romantic partners.

“This is the so-called the ‘loverboy’ method, in which the victim is controlled by their partners and forced to do what they want, and becomes exploited in prostitution, forced labour, or criminal activity, for example. In other words, there may be just one perpetrator,” said Senior Advisor Terhi Tafari in the Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking.

It was assessed that 11 of the new clients who were victims of human trafficking in Finland were trafficked when they were minors. In 10 cases, however, the victims only contacted the Assistance System once they became of age.

“It may sometimes take years before the victim dares tell anyone about their experiences, or identifies themselves as a victim of human trafficking or exploitation in general. Many of those who were exploited as minors may only talk about the issue once they are of age,” added Tafari.

The exploitation of minors uncovered in Finland has been associated with coercion to prostitution, forced labour, and forced marriages.