Support to victims

The Danish Action Plan to combat trafficking includes several areas of activity:

- Strengthen the investigation of kingpins so they can be prosecuted.
- Support the victims – extending the term for repatriation up to 100 days, stay at a crisis centre/shelter, dialogue, medical,
   psychological and legal aid, upgrading of skills, and planned return.
- Prevent trafficking.
- Improve international cooperation.

Support to women who are victims of trafficking
Pro Vest is primarily involved in supporting the victims, but thanks to the knowledge acquired through our contact with victims we also contribute to preventive efforts.

The police contact Pro Vest
When in the course of their duty the police encounter a woman they suspect or know to be a victim of trafficking for prostitution or other form of exploitation, they contact the nation-wide Hotline. The Hotline arranges for Pro Vest or a similar social organisation to be present at the police station in order to support and inform the woman of her rights.

At the police station Pro Vest acts as the woman’s assessor. We inform the woman about rights and options. If the woman wants to be accommodated at a crisis centre/shelter, we accompany her there together with the police.

Stay at crisis centre
During the woman’s stay at the crisis centre we cooperate with her and the centre. We support the woman through dialogue and help to plan her return. As needed, we involve other relevant professionals, for example a clergyman.

Health check
The woman is offered a medical examination for sexually transmitted diseases or other health concerns. The examination takes places at Pro Vest’s Health Clinic.

Upgrading of vocational skills
The woman is also offered upgrading of skills through trainee work and short courses that are relevant to the woman’s possibilities on her return.

Return – repatriation
If the woman wants a prepared repatriation – i.e. being met by an NGO at the airport, getting a place to stay for the first few months, or assistance to start working – the repatriation is planned in cooperation with the Centre against Trafficking and IOM (International Organization for Migration).

If the woman wants to return on her own, we also offer her the assistance she requests. This could be help with the practical planning and other issues relating to her return.

Arrest
Women who cannot be identified as victims of trafficking or who do not want to make use of the offers of the Acton Plan are placed under arrest/in prison by the police until their departure can be arranged. During that period Pro Vest visits the women and supports them as requested, e.g. with various necessities, getting in touch with their families and friends as well as discussing the details regarding the return to their home country.

Children
Children who are forced into begging, theft, prostitution, or any other form of exploitation are also covered by the offers in the Action Plan. But in addition, there are special provisions applying to children, one of them being that, after the initial interview, a personal representative is appointed to assist them. If the child is identified as trafficked, he or she will get a professional representative.

The prepared repatriation involves, among other things, a thorough investigation to establish whether there is a family member, an organisation or others who can offer the child special assistance to start a new life in the home country. Besides, the child may be offered financial support for enrollment in education, the purchase of teaching materials, or – if necessary – the purchase of medicine or psychological treatment.