Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urging young people to recognise the risks of human trafficking in the modern world.
"Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery that can affect anyone, regardless of age, education or social status. It can involve exploiting a person’s vulnerability, trust or lack of understanding of the potential risks," says the Ministry.
To raise awareness of human trafficking and to help the public recognise the risks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with its partners, including Latvian Television and Latvian Radio is continuing to run the information campaign “Don’t Let Yourself Be Used”, focusing this year on informing young people.
A year ago it produced this video clip, though it is pretty unremarkable and looks assembled from stock footage with a few captions slapped on top.
“Easy money. A fully paid trip.” Would you recognise the risks of human trafficking?
According to the Ministry, human trafficking can begin with a seemingly lucrative and tempting job offer, travel opportunity or similar proposition. It is essential to raise young people’s awareness of the potential risks and encourage them to speak up and seek help whenever an offer of work, easy money, a paid-for holiday or any other tempting offer seems suspicious. Initially, the offer may seem attractive, but the situation can change and the person’s identity documents may be taken away, their freedom of movement restricted, or they may be threatened or forced to carry out activities to which they have not consented. Such activities may include trafficking of illicit substances, criminal activities, sexual exploitation or other situations in which a person’s vulnerability, trust or lack of understanding of potential risks is exploited.
It is therefore important to look out for the following warning signs:
- Unusually favourable job or travel offers
- Promises of disproportionately high earnings
- Requests to hand over a passport or other identity documents
- Restrictions on freedom of movement or communication
- Pressure to carry out activities without consent
- Threats, control or manipulation
- Offers to travel abroad without clear information about the employer, working conditions or place of residence
“Just take this bag across the border”
A request to carry another person’s bag, parcel or other item across the border may seem harmless. However, if you do not know its contents and it is unclear why it needs to be delivered to another person, such a request may be linked to criminal activity, the Ministry points out.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises anyone who has doubts about an offer to verify it before accepting it. Do not hand over your identity documents to other people; find out about your employer and the terms of employment; inform relatives of your plans; and keep the contact details of Latvian diplomatic missions and support services readily available.
If you find yourself in a situation where you feel threatened, controlled or exploited, seek help. Even if you initially agreed to a job offer, a trip or any other activity, this does not mean you have to remain in an exploitative or dangerous situation.
Recognising the risk and seeking help promptly can be crucial in protecting yourself or someone else from human trafficking.
Seek help from:
- Police in the country where you are located (the single emergency number in the European Union is 112) or from the Latvian State Police (+371 67075344 or 112)
- Latvian embassies or consulates, or the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by calling the 24-hour emergency service phone (+371 26337711) or by email at palidziba@mfa.gov.lv
- Association “Shelter “Safe House”” (+371 67898343, +371 28612120, drosa.maja@gmail.com)
- MARTA Centre (+371 67378539, centrs@marta.lv)
- OPEN Creative Centre for young people in difficulty (+371 22028398)
For more information on preventing human trafficking, visit the national anti-trafficking website: www.cilvektirdznieciba.lv.
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