"Room where exploitation lives": the team of the "Light of Hope" NGO participated in the opening of an installation created as part of a nationwide information campaign to combat human trafficking.
A minimalist composition combining a lighthouse and a mirror cube has been placed in the Kyiv shopping mall. Visitors see only their reflection. But when they enter the code 527 on the panel, a hidden reality opens up for them. Namely, various objects that symbolize labor exploitation. Similarly, human traffickers lure victims with lucrative offers, using various manipulations, but in reality, instead of earning money or relaxing, people end up in slavery.
"We have many years of experience in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration in Ukraine, as an implementing partner in the Poltava region. Therefore, we clearly understand the local context. We cooperate not only in the preventive direction, but also identify victims and provide them with comprehensive assistance. In January of this year alone, our specialists identified ten victims of labor exploitation," said Anatoliy Pavlenko, Deputy Director of the Light of Hope NGO.
The composition was created by the team of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Representative Office in Ukraine. This is one of the activities of the new information campaign “Does this sound familiar to you?”, which is being implemented jointly with the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, the National Social Service Service of Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine, and the All-Ukrainian Coalition of NGOs to Combat Human Trafficking, with financial support from the Government of Sweden.
“The war has increased the vulnerability of Ukrainians and increased the risks of exploitation. Every second person in Ukraine is ready to accept a risky offer of work or assistance – and this shows how acute the problem remains. This campaign is designed to popularize the available resources where victims can get help. It is very important for people to know that they are not alone. The hotline 527 operates daily, from 7:00 to 22:00 and is a safe place where you can turn for help in a similar situation,” said Iryna Mydlovets, IOM Protection Programme Coordinator, during the presentation of the installation.
The installation "The Room Where Exploitation Lives" was first installed in Kyiv. Since then, it has been traveling through the cities of Ukraine so that as many people as possible can learn to recognize the signs of exploitation in time and avoid falling into slavery. The composition will be on display in Poltava until February 8 inclusive.
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