Not Statistics, but People: How the Coalition Sets Priorities for 2026

Three days of strategic work, taking stock, and making concrete decisions on how to move forward in the context of a full-scale war. We deliberately began this discussion with facts, because without an honest assessment of the real situation, it is impossible to speak about effective policy and systematic assistance.

According to information from the National Social Service, as of 12 December 2025, 426 people in Ukraine have been granted official status as victims of human trafficking (out of 454 applications submitted).

• 376 men, 42 women, and 8 girls;
• mixed forms of exploitation prevail — 348 cases; cases of labor exploitation (40), sexual exploitation (11), use in armed conflicts (16), in the pornography business (6), begging, and criminal activities have also been recorded;
• human trafficking has both an internal (249 cases) and cross-border nature (177 cases);

Over the course of three days, the participants of the meeting summed up the Coalition’s activities in 2025 – from implemented projects and analytical work to financial transparency. They also discussed the key challenges faced by organizations on the ground in their work with survivors.

A particular focus – the creation of an advisory body with the involvement of survivors. The work was carried out based on international standards and a trauma-informed approach. As a result of the meeting, Regulations and an Implementation Strategy for the advisory body were developed – not declarative intentions, but a clear framework of action. The key principle agreed upon by all participants: no decisions about survivors – without survivors.

Part of this discussion became a topic at the General Assembly of the Coalition. We do not view statistics as "comfortable", on the contrary, we see them as a signal that there are blind spots that need to be addressed systematically.