Early and immediate assistance

Available assistance for victims of human trafficking

A presumed victim of trafficking is entitled to receive a range of assistance measures. Threshold to receive assistance is low. Assistance is not dependent on whether the victim chooses to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities or act as a witness. 

The services available for victims of human trafficking include:

  • Information about their rights and available support measures
  • Legal assistance (a minimum of three hours of free legal aid to assess matters relevant to filing a report – one can also apply to the County Governor for an extension of the free legal aid grant)
  • A reflection period (six-month limited residence permit) and possibly further residence under specific criteria 
  • Necessary security measures (following a risk assessment)
  • Necessary healthcare
  • Safe and adapted housing
  • Financial support for subsistence and possible activity programs or employment-related measures
  • Assistance for a safe return and reintegration in their home country

Furthermore, a guardian can be appointed to adults, who need assistance to see to their own interests due to an injury, illness, or disability.

Victims can turn to different state or municipal authorities or NGOs to receive assistance or for referral to a relevant assistance provider.

Municipal services to victims include: 

  • Human Trafficking Support Oslo (HTSO), which is run by the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. It gives financial, housing and other support to persons identified as presumed victims of trafficking in Oslo. 
  • Pro Sentret, which is Oslo Municipality’s health and social service provider for persons with experience with selling or trading sex, and a national centre of expertise on prostitution. The centre provides a range of services to the target group, nationwide dissemination of knowledge, and guidance to support services. 

NGOs providing support and assistance to victims include: 

  • The Crisis Centre Secretariat through ROSA. The organisation operates the national helpline for victims of human trafficking and coordinates assistance and safe housing for presumed victims through crisis centres. Safe housing and follow-up support are offered in collaboration with other support services and organisations.  
  • Kirkens Bymisjon (Church City Mission) offers different types of support measures to victims, including the Nadheim Centres. It is a service to people who have experience with selling/exchanging sexual services or are victims of human trafficking, regardless of their gender, nationality, or life situation. The service is available in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, and Trondheim. Nadheim works through outreach and provides healthcare, guidance, and individual follow-up. Nadheim Oslo also offers a safe housing facility for presumed victims of human trafficking, called Lauras hus.
  • Caritas Norway has resource centres for immigrants in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, Drammen, Tromsø, and Arendal. They provide courses, individual guidance, and legal advice in multiple languages. The service is aimed at various target groups, including victims of human trafficking and individuals exploited in the labour market. They also offer advisory centres for au pairs and host families. Additionally, they operate a helpline for Ukrainians in Ukrainian and Russian.
  • The Salvation Army (Frelsesarmeen) has several initiatives aimed at presumed victims of human trafficking. Safe House Filemon in Oslo is a housing facility for men who have been subjected to forced labor or services. Filemon also provides individual guidance, follow-up support, and offers work practice opportunities. The Salvation Army also runs the Migration Centre in Oslo, a low-threshold service aimed at foreign nationals with limited rights in Norway. The centre provides individual guidance and legal advice in several languages. The service is aimed at various target groups, including victims of human trafficking and individuals exploited in the labor market. Additionally, the Salvation Army also conducts prison work (Frelsesarmeens fengselsarbeid), which focuses on identifying, advising, and guiding inmates who may be victims of human trafficking in Norwegian prisons. 
  • The Marita Foundation (Maritastiftelsen) conducts outreach work and provides individual guidance and follow-up support to individuals involved in prostitution and presumed victims of human trafficking in Oslo. They operate a night-time drop-in café, offer work practice opportunities, and have a safe housing facility for women who are presumed victims of human trafficking through Marita Women. 
Children

The Norwegian Child Welfare Act provides various measures that the Child Welfare Services can take to protect child victims. The services include:

  • Child protection measures for minor possible victims of trafficking 
  • Health care
  • Education
  • Help with everyday life
  • Judicial support
  • Legal guardian or legal representative
  • Help with tracing the family. 

Additionally, unaccompanied minors are entitled to a representative or guardian to safeguard the child’s interests. Unaccompanied minors who apply for asylum or a limited residence permit for presumed victims of human trafficking have the right to a representative, under the Immigration Act. The right to a guardian is outlined in the Guardianship Act. 

Both the local and central authorities have duties and responsibilities in the child welfare field. The municipality is responsible for performing those functions under the Child Welfare Services Act which are not assigned to a central government body. All municipalities must have child welfare services that are responsible for the day-to-day work pursuant to the Act.

The child welfare services are responsible for providing advice and guidance, undertaking investigations, and making administrative decisions pursuant to the Child Welfare Services Act. The Service shall as well prepare cases for consideration by the Child Welfare Tribunal, and implementing and following up child welfare measures. The Child Welfare Tribunal is an independent and impartial decision-making body, responsible for decision-making with regard to child welfare services.

The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir) and the Office for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufetat) are responsible for matters relating to state-funded child welfare services, family counselling and adoption. Bufdir operates the National Guidance Unit for Cases of Trafficking in Children.

Safe accommodation

Victims of human trafficking have access to accommodation in shelters operated by different organisations. These include:

  • The Crisis Centre Secretariat through ROSA coordinates assistance and safe housing for presumed victims through the crisis centres. Safe housing and follow-up support are also offered in collaboration with other support services and organisations. 
  • Kirkens Bymisjon (Church City Mission) Nadheim Oslo runs a safe house for female presumed victims of trafficking and their children, called Lauras hus.
  • Maritastiftelsen (Marita Foundation) runs a safe housing facility for women who are presumed victims of human trafficking, through Marita Women in Oslo.
  • The Salvation Army runs a safe house in Oslo called Filemon for men who have been subjected to forced labor or services. 
  • Human Trafficking Support Oslo (HTSO) at NAV Grünerløkka 

(Labour and Welfare Administration) has citywide responsibility for following-up possible victims in Oslo municipality and helps victims to access accommodation. 

Children

Protection and safe accommodation for child victims of human trafficking is arranged by government authorities. According to the Norwegian Child Welfare Act, a child at risk of being trafficked can be placed in an institution through an emergency decision. 

Unaccompanied asylum seekers who are under 15 years old are accommodated in care centres for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Bufetat operates child welfare centres for asylum seekers under 15 years of age and runs one of the two institutions in which presumed child victims of trafficking are placed. 

Unaccompanied children between the ages of 15 and 18 are the responsibility of the Directorate for Immigration (UDI) and are housed in asylum reception centres. 

Risk and needs assessment

In cooperation with assistance providers, the police can prepare a risk assessment for victims of human trafficking receiving assistance. Depending on the risks identified, protection measures can be introduced.  

Child welfare services must cooperate with the police to assess the child’s risk situation and needs, and implement necessary measures to ensure the best possible care and safety for the child. Specific procedures have been developed for cooperation between child welfare services and the police when there is suspicion of human trafficking involving minors.  

Reflection period

Presumed victims of human trafficking, who are willing to receive help from the assistance providers, can be granted a recovery and reflection period. The duration of the reflection period is six (6) months.

The purpose of the reflection period is to enable the victim to break ties with the trafficking environment. Victims have the right to access health care and other services during the reflection period. The reflection period also includes the right to work.

Applications for a reflection period must be submitted to the local police in person. Free legal assistance can be utilized to submit the application. Victims do not have to cooperate with the police on their possible criminal case during the reflection period.

The reflection period application is assessed and processed by the Directorate of Immigration (UDI). UDI also provides information on the application process. 

The reflection period cannot be renewed.