Page 113 - GHES-3-1

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Human trafficking victim service providers

networks originating in Spain and extending throughout related issues intersect with concerns about policy
Northern and Eastern Europe (OTSH, 2017). In 2018, responses and the provision of services to crime victims
authorities identified 203 potential victims and confirmed (Walklate, 2011).
49, compared to 171 potential victims and 4 confirmed
victims in 2017. Of the confirmed victims in 2018, 10 2.2. Measures
were children, 17 were women, and 32 were men, with We followed the data collection method detailed by
the majority being Moldovans coerced into forced labor Fernandes (2019), and the technique used was an electronic
(OTSH, 2019). In 2019, there was a sharp decline in the survey. This approach enabled us to reach all relevant
numbers, with 33 potential victims and 45 confirmed organizations, including the police, social workers, and
victims. Of the confirmed victims, 36 were from Moldova, NGOs, whereas ensuring the privacy and anonymity of
4 from Pakistan, 15 were women, 30 were men, and 1 participants, particularly for shelters whose locations are
was a child, all these individuals were exploited in forced confidential.
labor. Notably, no confirmed cases of sex trafficking were The instrument was specifically developed for this
reported in 2019, though 10 suspects were identified as study based on a literature review of the subject. The
potential victims. None of the confirmed victims were questionnaire was divided into five sections:
Portuguese nationals. Among the presumed victims
were eight children, eight Portuguese nationals, and four (i) Characterization of the participant
individuals exploited through forced begging (OTSH, (ii) Characterization of the assisted victim (type of victim,
2020). type of exploitation)
(iii) Services provided by the institution, along with
Victims’ rights, including those of their minor children, 22 Likert-type scale questions regarding the work
encompassed access to housing, medical care, psychosocial performed at the institution
support, legal assistance, translation and interpretation, (iv) Perceptions of the victims’ barriers in the help-seeking
education, and job training. However, due to the absence process (17 questions with Yes, No, or Do not know
of reliable and comparable official data, it is unclear how responses)
many victims accessed these services. Despite significant (v) Three open-ended questions on 1) intervention
investments to improve victim identification, referrals, dilemmas with HT victims, 2) differences between
and support, Portugal appears to have a low rate of victim HT victims and victims of other crimes (e.g., domestic
recognition assistance (Fernandes, 2019; Matos et al., 2017; violence), and 3) the definition of the victim’s “special
2019). Moreover, despite the guidelines of the National vulnerability.” In addition, participants were asked to
Plans against Trafficking in Human Beings, no studies have rank the needs of HT victims from a prearranged list
been identified that evaluate the effectiveness of victim of 13 based on their work experience.
identification and support interventions. Consequently,
it remains difficult to assess the quality, impact, and 2.3. Procedure
effectiveness of the support provided or the system’s This study was approved by the Ethics Subcommittee
capacity to recognize, identify, and assist victims.
for Social and Human Sciences under the code SECSH
This study aims to enhance our current understanding 038/2016. A total of 23 NTVSPN agencies were contacted
of these services by identifying the types of support electronically through email. Since 2008, Portugal has
available to HT victims. Do the service providers foresee had a National Rapporteur, whose primary duties include
obstacles for victims seeking help? What do care providers liaising with international organizations to combat
consider to be the victims’ primary needs? Are the needs human trafficking, fostering national and international
of HT victims distinct from those of other victims? What information networks, and proposing new laws to protect
challenges or barriers exist in providing these services? victims and address HT.
What do the service providers mean when they refer to the Participation in the study was voluntary, and the
victims’ “condition of special vulnerability”?
National Rapporteur only shared the study with the
2. Data and methods network after receiving proper authorization to collect
data. Their involvement did not influence the participants’
2.1. Theoretical framework power dynamics. Data collection took place from

As outlined by Fernandes (2019), this study is grounded in December 2016 to May 2017.
the framework of applied victimology, which is rooted in The inclusion criteria were that participants must
critical victimology. From a human rights standpoint, we be service providers employed by the network, who had
aim to explore the social context, in which victimology- assisted at least one presumed victim of HT, regardless

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 105 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3215