Finland Times

 

File Photo Lehtikuva.

A large proportion of victims of human trafficking had been exploited for work with Finns forming the second largest group in the victim assistance system, the Finnish Immigration Service said in a statement.

 

The human trafficking assistance system for victims had 89 clients in 2015, said the service. 

 

The number of female clients was almost twice as high as the number of male clients.

 

According to the Immigration Service, the number of new victims in the assistance system in 2015 was 52.

 

About 62 per cent of the new clients had become victims of human trafficking in 2015 in the country, rising from 42 per cent in the previous year.

 

In their case, the exploitation had taken place, started or continued in Finland. Finns are the second largest group among all clients of the assistance system.

 

“In Finland, the identification of Finnish victims of human trafficking has improved. There is a greater awareness of the fact that human trafficking exists also in Finland and that even Finns can become victims,” said Adviser to the Immigration Service Terhi Tafari in the statement.

 

The increased number of asylum seekers did not have a substantial impact on the assistance system. 

 

On an average, the number of clients within the assistance system is approximately 40–60 every year.