What is trafficking in human beings?
Definition of trafficking in human beings in section 133 of the Estonian Penal Code:
Placing a person, for the purpose of gaining economic benefits or without it, in a situation where he or she is forced to marry, work under unusual conditions, engage in prostitution, beg, commit a criminal offence or perform other disagreeable duties.
Keeping a person in such situation, if such act is performed through deprivation of liberty, violence, deceit, threatening to cause damage, by taking advantage of dependence on another person, helpless or vulnerable situation of the person is also punishable.
A vulnerable situation is defined in the Estonian Penal Code as a situation where a person lacks an actual or acceptable opportunity not to commit any of the acts.
The nature of the crimes of trafficking in human beings is also explained in this video clip.
Assistance in case of suspected trafficking in human beings
The central contact point for services for victims of trafficking in human beings is the Victim Support Department of the Social Insurance Board.
- Information hotline concerning trafficking in human beings: +372 6607320, 24-hour line if needed: 116006.
Assistance is provided free of charge in Estonian, Russian, and English. Legal and social counselling and assistance to the victims are also available.
If you need shelter, you can also contact the Human Trafficking Helpline.
More information can be found on the website of the Social Insurance Board in Estonian here and in Russian here.
For advice, you can write to [email protected].
Guidance materials
Here we have compiled guidance materials on trafficking in human beings for various parties.
- Explanatory dictionary on trafficking in human beings
- Mapping of central contacts for assistance and guidance for victims in the Council of the Baltic Sea States
- Description of the Labour Exploitation Business Model "Shady Business"
- An information session for entrepreneurs on the work of the Police and Border Guard Board’s migration advisors, the Labour Inspectorate’s advisory services, the Tax and Customs Board’s services, and the Social Insurance Board’s advisory services, with a special focus on foreign labour in English.
International co-operation projects
In 2015 Ministry of Justice participated in international project VISUP (Improving Victim Support During Criminal Proceeding: Anti-Trafficking Training for Criminal Justice System Practitioners). Here You can find a training materials of the project and information booklets for the victims. Project partners were Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Bulgaria.
Training materials for criminal justice system professionals
Booklets For victims of human trafficking
Last updated: 15.10.2021