Slovaks among victims of human trafficking

Dozens of Slovaks fall victim to human trafficking every year, according to statistics from the Interior Ministry. In 2018, Slovaks became victims of human trafficking and exploitation most frequently in Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Austria and Sweden. Head of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Slovakia Zuzana Vatráľová noted that people who travel abroad for work, which they most often in the summer months, are at risk of being trafficked. "Dozens of Slovaks become modern slaves every year. They're men and women, people of various ages, including children, from both standard social environments and low-income ones," she stated. The International Organisation for Migration has created several tools for increasing personal safety when travelling and working abroad. Its webpage and application include various tips for safe travel and on how to recognise the signs of human trafficking, among other things. The organisation has been battling human trafficking in cooperation with state institutions, NGOs and international organisations since 2003.