Early and immediate assistance
Available assistance for victims of human trafficking
The first point of assistance for the victim is a counsellor from the SIB-coordinated human trafficking prevention and victim assistance counselling line. During nighttime, the 116006 crisis hotline team may also be involved.
The human trafficking victim counsellor provides the victim with initial crisis counselling, ensures that the victim is heard and provides emotional support. Additionally, the counsellor assesses security risks and prepares an initial action plan for risk mitigation. This includes assessing the victim’s need for supervision and suicide risk. As part of the call, the counsellor informs the victim of their rights and further assistance options, and agrees on follow-up actions with the victim.
If deemed necessary, the counsellor organizes 24-hour supervision for the presumed victim. In cases of THB related to sexual abuse or rape, the counsellor can arrange assistance from a gynaecologist working at a sexual violence crisis centre.
Services to victims are centrally coordinated by SIB in collaboration with other authorities to ensure assistance to victims of human trafficking. Services available for the victims include:
- Safe temporary accommodation
- Food, and necessary material assistance
- Social counselling
- Psychological counselling
- Legal counselling, including representation in court
- A support person service. The services includes vocational training and support in accessing the labour market, in cooperation with the Unemployment Fund
- Medical help
- Translation services
Services can be provided for formally identified victims as long as they have need for them, even if criminal proceedings have been finalized. The services can include for instance counselling, legal counselling and facilitating assistance with the local government.
The family members of the victim are also entitled to assistance, if they have a need for them. The state budget allocatesspecific funding for assistance services.
If there are no grounds for a human trafficking investigation, presumed victims can receive services from the state under the Victim Support Act.
Assistance to children
Child victims of human trafficking are entitled to receive additional assistance measures.
Child welfare authorities and social services are actively involved in providing support to underage victims of trafficking. This includes:
- Case management
- Access to social benefits,
- Family support services
- Assistance with reunification efforts where appropriate.
Child victims are also entitled to a guardian if they do not have one or the guardian participates in the exploitation of the child. The guardian is appointed automatically according to the Estonian Family Law Act. The local municipality where the child has their official residence assumes the role of guardian. If the child does not have official residence in Estonia, the municipality in which the child is located becomes the guardian, taking on the legal responsibility for making decisions relating to matters on child’s best interest, such as healthcare, education, and overall welfare.
Safe accommodation
Estonia does not currently have specialised shelters for victims of human trafficking. However, SIB has contracts for safe temporary accommodation with five hotels. In addition, SIB can work with municipalities to find safe accommodation.
All victims can be directed to the safe temporary accommodation, including children, if this is deemed necessary.
The contract with the hotel involves strict safety and data protection rules and accessibility provisions. Hotel staff are trained in how to receive victims. SIB announces a new procurement every year, which makes existing services more efficient and enables the provision of services from different partners, organizations, and institutions.
Child victims
Safe accommodation for child victims of human trafficking may be organised as a substitute care service by the local authorities or as a victim support service by the SIB. The appropriate accommodation varies case-by-case.
If the child is unaccompanied, the Social Insurance Board will be responsible for preparing a case plan and organising the necessary assistance.
In cases involving child sexual abuse, the Social Insurance Board shall provide services combined with the measures under of the Child Protection Act (§ 29; assistance in children’s houses).
Risk and needs assessment
The initial needs assessment should be done by the first responder. Based on this assessment, victim support is involved. Upon providing services to the victims, SIB further assesses the needs for assistance. Victims are informed on the available services that can only be provided with the victim’s consent.
SIB cooperates with the police in assessing the risks for the victim.
Reflection period
The recovery and reflection period is regulated by Estonian Aliens Act (Articles 204 and 205). A recovery and reflection period, so-called “cooling-off period”, may be granted to a foreign victim or witness of human trafficking and related offences by a prosecutor or an investigator upon a prosecutor’s request.
The duration of the recovery and reflection period is 30-60 days. The recovery and reflection period allows the person concerned to decide whether they wish to co-operate with the investigative authority or prosecution.
The recovery and reflection period is only granted to victims or witnesses in an open criminal procedure.
Upon giving a victim a recovery and reflection period, the Prosecutor’s Office or an investigative authority needs to inform the victim of the services offered during this period. The information should include the possibility and conditions to receive a temporary residence permit for the purpose of the victim’s participation in criminal proceedings or an international protection procedure.