A nationwide anti–human trafficking campaign has launched in Kyiv

2 December – International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. A day when we do not just talk about the problem, but face it — real, painful, and still insufficiently visible. At Kyiv’s Central Railway Station, IOM Ukraine unveiled a thematic installation as part of the large-scale information campaign "Does this feel familiar to you?"

This is not just an exhibition — it is a reflective space where visitors confront what usually remains hidden: typical exploitation scenarios that do not start with a “drama in the movies,” but with a simple promise of work, opportunity, or “easy money.”

Why the railway station? Every day, thousands of people travel to and from here in search of work, education, or new opportunities. At this stage — on the road, into the unknown, fleeing difficult circumstances — they become most vulnerable to fraud and exploitation.

• National Hotline for Countering Human Trafficking and Migrant Counseling – 527
• Information resource: http://stoptrafficking.org

The scale of risks today is unprecedented. Full-scale war, forced relocations, job loss, attempts to find temporary work or go abroad — all of this creates the perfect environment for exploiters.

• 36,683 calls were processed;
• 44% of inquiries came from internally displaced persons;
• the most common questions concerned border crossing, institutional support, and risks of exploitation;
• 24 calls led to the initial identification of individuals who may have been subjected to human trafficking, exploitation, or violence.

The campaign is being implemented by IOM in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine, the National Social Service of Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine, and the All-Ukrainian Coalition of Civil Society Organizations against Human Trafficking. The campaign was made possible thanks to funding from the Government of Sweden.