Standard Operating Procedures for ADULT Victims of Trafficking

MEASURE 1.3.

DETERMINING IMMEDIATE NEEDS

Victims’ immediate needs are established in the course of the risk assessment during the first contact with the trafficked person. This is performed through objective observation of the condition, appearance and behaviour of the victim or via an interview which is held when the victim is able to talk.

Step 1. Interviewing the trafficked person and explaining their rights/responsibilities and the possibilities for support

Trafficked persons need to be informed about the purpose of the interview in advance and to participate willingly in it. The interview should be sufficiently informative for both parties. During the interview, trafficked persons understand where they are, what their rights and possibilities are, and what the next steps will be. The interviewers should learn what victims’ immediate needs are and whether they are currently at risk.

The interview is not held in the presence of other people. Any information provided by the trafficked person which is not related to the investigation is confidential and cannot be disclosed to third parties without the person’s consent.

At this stage, the interview concerns the trafficked person’s condition and needs and should not touch upon issues related to the police work on the case. During the interview to establish the trafficked person’s immediate needs, the interviewer should ask questions about the person’s condition and not about the reasons that led to it. This interview is not about the situation of trafficking.

Step 2. Individual assessment of urgent needs

The assessment of the victim’s urgent needs is done by including questions in the interview related to: the trafficked person’s safety (see also Risk Assessment), their health, emotional state, urgent and immediate needs such as shelter, food, water, medicines, hygienic materials, toilet, sleep, etc., presence or absence of family relations, plans for the near future, other emergency matters.

Step 3. Development of a safety and support plan

The interview to define the immediate needs ends with a support and safety plan agreed with the victim.

In emergency cases, the plan is negotiated orally with the trafficked person. In all other cases, the plan is drawn up in writing and signed by the trafficked person who in this way shows their agreement with and voluntary participation in the implementation of the planned steps. The plan is updated when the trafficked person is referred to another organisation.

COOPERATION
DOCUMENTATION
REFERRAL
DETERMINING IMMEDIATE NEEDS
RISK ASSESSMENT
IDENTIFICATION

1

Social Inclusion (Re-integration)

2

Protection and Support

3

Identification and Referral