Page 112 - GHES-3-1

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Human trafficking victim service providers

vocational training, or assistance in finding employment solely focusing on the crime, it is essential that they receive
and housing); cultural support (access to translation comprehensive support (Fernandes et al., 2021).
services and facilitation of religious practices); and assisted Thus, intervention requires a comprehensive and
return (access to programs that support reintegration into culturally sensitive approach, which includes ongoing
the community of origin or another chosen by the victim).
political and community awareness campaigns, alongside
Once identified, victims often have complex needs health care, legal aid, social support, and educational or
that require substantial, long-term care. This care is vocational training for victims (Ramnauth et al., 2018;
provided through a continuum of services, ranging Reichert & Sylwestrzak, 2013; and Sandhu et al., 2013).
from short-term to long-term assistance (Davy, 2015;
Hossain et al., 2010; Reichert & Sylwestrzak, 2013). 1.2. The Portuguese context
Providers conceptualize this continuum of care in three The National Trafficking Victims Support and Protection
phases: assessment and intervention, comprehensive Network (NTVSPN) was established in Portugal in
case management, and social reintegration (Couto 2013, reflecting concerns over the adequacy of assistance
& Fernandes, 2014; Hodge, 2014; Fernandes, 2020). provided to HT victims. This network brings together 23
The goal during the initial phase of assessment and governmental and non-governmental organizations across
intervention is to address the victim’s immediate needs the country, including prosecutor’s offices, public institutes,
and help them progress along the continuum – from inspectorate authorities, law enforcement agencies,
crisis to a stable, secure situation. Over time, victims non-governmental organizations, and international
experience increased stability and can eventually organizations. These are organized into five regional
reintegrate into society (Clawson et al., 2009; Fernandes multidisciplinary teams. Through comprehensive and
et al., 2021b; Reichert & Sylwestrzak, 2013). specialized treatments – legal, psychological, and social
Social reintegration is closely linked to the concept of assistance – the network aims to prevent trafficking, protect
social inclusion, which emphasizes restoring all rights that victims, and facilitate their reintegration. It also ensures
were violated during the trafficking cycle. Recovery is the that victims are referred to appropriate support agencies.
first step in this process (Fernandes, 2019). Social inclusion Currently, Portugal operates five makeshift shelters: two
improves the conditions under which marginalized for women and children, two for adults, and one for juveniles.
individuals participate in society by increasing When law enforcement officers encounter a potential victim,
opportunities, access to resources, voice, and respect for they conduct a preliminary, standardized risk assessment.
their rights. It is the opposite of social exclusion, one of the If a person is found to be vulnerable or at risk, they are
root causes of HT, and focuses on empowering survivors, referred to as one of five regional multidisciplinary NGO
ensuring their active participation in all decisions affecting teams for specialized care and support, which includes the
them (Fernandes et al., 2021). involvement of social workers and psychologists.
This perspective reinforces that the experience of While only law enforcement officers have the formal
trafficking is not a permanent condition and that survivors authority to confirm that an individual is a victim of HT,
can overcome it. Moreover, it calls for eliminating the frontline responders, such as police and non-governmental
term “trafficked persons,” as survivors should not be organizations, can identify potential victims and direct
permanently defined by their past experience (Human them to the appropriate resources. In the process of
Rights Council, 2019).
confirming a victim, police, judges, and prosecutors review
The victims of HT must be the focal point of any response the evidence and access for indicators of HT.
when providing support. Establishing an environment of Nevertheless, the number of reported cases each year
trust and respect is crucial to help victims regain control is far below the likely reality. One problem contributing
of their lives and move toward independence and self- to the misconceptions spread by social media is the lack
sufficiency (Pascual-Leone et al., 2017; Sandhu et al., 2013).
Ensuring victims feel supported and safe should always be of reliable, official, and comparative data (Cunha et al.,
2018). As a country of origin, transit, and destination for
the first priority. When this is achieved, victims are more HT, Portugal registered 1,630 potential victims – both
likely to offer valuable testimony and evidence during national and foreign – between 2010 and 2019, but judicial
prosecutions, aiding law enforcement in meeting key authorities confirmed only 330 cases (OTSH, 2011; 2012;
justice restitution goals (Farrell et al., 2012; Greenbaum, 2013; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017; 2018).
2016; and Kiss et al., 2015). For victims to believe that
service providers are interested in helping them overcome Portuguese nationals with low levels of education
their exploitation and achieve independence, rather than and poverty are particularly vulnerable to forced labor

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 104 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3215