Nataliya Kabatsiy and Evheniya Meles, participants of the charitable organization “Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattia”, took part in a meeting on combating human trafficking and preventing domestic violence, which took place in the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration.

The meeting was also attended by heads of social services, social protection departments, child services, law enforcement officials, representatives of district state administrations, city executive committees, united territorial communities and Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Serhiy Nizhynsky.

“The figures on the victims of human trafficking and domestic violence in Ukraine are shocking. During the last year, the number of human trafficking cases increased fourfold. According to the Ministry of Social Policy, 150,000 cases of domestic violence have now been verified, and more than 860 persons have suffered from human trafficking,” the official said.

Among the ways to solve the problems raised, a representative of the Ministry named the activities of mobile crews, which make it possible to prevent the aforementioned crimes promptly, and to adopt relevant legislative acts, in particular, regarding the implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU. Yes, it was about building shelters – temporary shelters or dormitories for housing victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.

In Zakarpattia, in 2019, 3218 reports of domestic violence were received from the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Zakarpattia oblast, and the relevant department was approached by 11 persons who considered them to be victims of trafficking, of which four were granted corresponding status. Instead, there are no specialized institutions for housing victims of domestic violence and appropriate facilities for abusers. The latter, according to the State Agency for Emergency in the Zakarpattia oblast, more than 2 thousand people are registered.

CAMZ is always an active participant not only in interagency meetings and workshops but also in the process of adaptation and rehabilitation of representatives of vulnerable groups. This is one of the priorities of the organization. While international activity allows us to borrow successful cases of our Western partners, participation in internal sectoral meetings allows us to form a general idea of the situation in the regions and highlight specific features of the implementation of social policy in Zakarpattia.