24/11/20 Cyprus Police
What is trafficking in persons
Trafficking in persons is the modern form of slavery. It includes the recruitment, transfer and/or harbouring of persons for the purpose of their exploitation, in particular sexual, forced labour or economic exploitation.
Traffickers control their victims through threats, violence, deception, deceit or threats of use of force against relatives and friends of the victims. More often, traffickers control their victims by creating virtual debt to them.
The hidden nature of the offence of trafficking in persons and the involvement of networks of organised crime make it very difficult to assess its true dimensions.
The majority of victims of trafficking are women and children.
Where Trafficking in Persons occurs, this can be anywhere when there is a demand for services. It can happen both in the cities and in the most remote areas and villages of Cyprus. It's probably happening in your closed society. So don't turn a blind eye to human trafficking.
If it comes to your attention or you know anything that makes you think it's probably human trafficking, contact the police, even if you want to remain anonymous.
Deeper causes. The root causes of the phenomenon of trafficking in persons in our country include increased demand for cheap labour, poverty of victims, their low educational level, lack of employment opportunities in their countries, inequality and discrimination on grounds of sex and ethnicity, as well as our own tolerance and ignorance.
Myths and misunderstandings The victim knew what he would do. The victim committed illegal acts. The victim was paid for services. The victim had freedom of movement. There were opportunities to escape but he did not. Cyprus cannot be victims and it is not possible to move The actions of traffickers are legal. It is not trafficking when the victim and the trafficker are in a relationship or are married.
Recognizing the victims
How to identify a victim
The victim appears unable to communicate in the local language, even in English. He doesn't have money or access to money. He shows bruises on his body or other signs of violence. He has no freedom of movement and is not free to leave his workplace. It shows signs of control, intimidation and unnatural psychological fear. He doesn't know where his travel documents are. It almost never moves alone but with the escort of other people who may be the traffickers.
How a victim reacts - He doesn't realize he's a victim of human trafficking. He probably does not present himself as a person who needs the help of the Government Services and in particular the Welfare Services, because he has accommodation, food, health care and works to earn money, as he perceives it.
He reacts with fear, suspicion, scepticism, mistrust, hesitation and hostility. He's learned to treat the authorities with disbelief. A victim from different social and ethnic backgrounds may feel fear and not trust the authorities and the police - e.g. fear of deportation. He is completely unaware of his rights or is intentionally misinformed about his rights in Cyprus. He doesn't see the police with positivity.
Victims can be identified working in restaurants, working in cabarets, pubs, bars, etc. Working as caregivers. Working as domestic workers. Working in factories. Working on farms. Working in the agricultural sector. Working on construction sites. Begging on the streets. Selling items at traffic lights
Don't turn a blind eye to human trafficking
Open your eyes
Trafficking in persons can also happen in our own community, in our own space, without us realizing it. The reason we do not understand its existence is because we have not yet understood what this crime is and what its nature is.
We must first understand what trafficking is and then help our family members as well as our friends understand it. Through knowledge and awareness of this issue we will all contribute together in preventing and addressing it.
That's what we have to do. We must first help the victims who exist in our own environment, thus helping to prevent the exploitation of more victims.
Let us remember
Trafficking in persons is a serious crime of violation of the human rights of the victim. Only with our contribution will these individuals be able to help themselves, who cannot help themselves.
Together we can stop the trafficking and exploitation of persons!
Together we can put an end to this. Let's not hesitate. Let's inform the police.
☎ 1460 -Citizen's Line
☎ 22-808063 - Anti-Trafficking Office
☎ 22-802222 - Nicosia Crime Detection Department
☎ 22-802525 - Morfu Crime Detection Department
☎ 25- 805057 - Limassol Crime Detection Department
☎ 24-804060 - Larnaca Crime Detection Department
☎ 23-803040 - Famagusta Crime Detection Department
☎ 26-806021 - Paphos Crime Detection Department
