How the Khmilnyk Community Is Learning to Recognise the Risks of Human Trafficking and Exploitation

Such circumstances can increase vulnerability to exploitation, human trafficking, and recruitment. At the same time, danger does not always have obvious signs: a situation that initially seems ordinary may conceal serious risks.

To help people recognise threats in time and understand how to respond, the NGO “Source of Hope of Ukraine” conducts information and awareness-raising activities in the Khmilnyk urban territorial community of Vinnytsia region.

The NGO “Source of Hope of Ukraine” is a member of the Counter-Trafficking NGO Coalition. Preventing protection-related risks is one of the areas of its work.

Over the course of two months, the organisation’s team held 24 mini-trainings in the Khmilnyk community, involving around 500 participants.

• countering human trafficking and exploitation;
• safe employment and migration;
• non-violent communication and peaceful conflict resolution;
• the risks of recruitment for involvement in criminal activity.

Participants gained practical knowledge and clear guidance on how to act in potentially dangerous situations.

The mini-trainings are based on working through specific examples that may arise in everyday life.

The practical format makes it possible to discuss questions and possible courses of action immediately. This helps people learn to apply the information they receive to real-life situations, recognise danger earlier, and act with greater confidence when a threat arises.

The mini-trainings were conducted as part of the project “Ensuring a Comprehensive Response in the Khmilnyk Urban Territorial Community of Vinnytsia Region to Protect People Affected by Human Trafficking or Exploitation, Gender-Based Violence, Conflict-Related Violence, and People Whose Rights Have Been Violated as a Result of the War, as well as to Raise Awareness and Strengthen the Community’s Capacity to Reduce Protection Risks.” The project is implemented within the IOM Ukraine Protection Programme with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through KfW Development Bank.