Counteracting Trafficking in Human Beings in Ukraine.

Trafficking in human beings constitutes one of the most complicated problems, which exceeded the limits of separate States long time ago and took one of the leading places in the field of international crime. According to the United Nations, by the amount of profits (from 8 to 12 billion US dollars annually,) this criminal business occupies the third place after trafficking in drugs and weapons. Enlargement of trafficking in human beings market is also attributed to the low level risk compared to other types of criminal activities. Illegal proceeds from trafficking in human beings are used to strengthen financial basis of criminal groups.

Notwithstanding efforts international community makes to counteract trafficking in human beings, this phenomenon has gone out of the limits of separate States and taken one of the leading places in the field of transnational crime.

Outspread of this type of crime in Ukraine, as in many other economies in transition, is explained, first of all, by insufficient incomes of the substantial part of population, particularly the youth and women.

According to the Center for International Crime Prevention of the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, there is a clear interrelationship between the level of economic development and the nature of trafficking in human beings. The poorest countries are, as a rule, countries of origin while the richest countries are countries of destination. The Center's data show that a significant number of women victims of trafficking in human beings are sexually exploited and that children account for a half of all cases of such trafficking.

Facts related to illegally moving children abroad and their failure to return back in Ukraine cause a particular concern. Ukrainian law enforcement authorities initiated a number of actions to intercept and stop crimes relating to the adoption of children. Throughout last years, there have been identified a number of individuals in Ukraine who contributed to the adoption of children and moving Ukrainian children abroad as a result of document falsification.

It should be noted that adoption of children, as a phenomenon, requires deeper examination and regulation because, according to the available information, international adoption turns into a multimillion business and thus becomes a subject for trafficking -in-human-being control.

It is worthy to especially mention a new trend in this field, namely moving abroad pregnant women to transfer their children to would-be "adopters" or to use them in the sphere of human organ transplantation. Today, Ukrainian competent authorities are attentively studying this trend in view of being able to prevent such crimes.

The third and perhaps the most horrible form of trafficking in human beings is trade in human organs. So far, this problem has not been very acute for Ukrainian law enforcement authorities; however world trends towards this kind of "business" development give ground to conclude that, in a few years, the problem of illegal transplantation and donors can affect our country either.

Modern emigration from Ukraine draws upon migration processes in view of employment. Ukrainian nationals leave Ukraine because of a difficult economic situation in Ukraine and substantial lack of job at the domestic labor market.

Seasonal, temporary employment, or so called "shuttle" travels abroad, in complicated economic situation of the transitional period have become, unfortunately, almost the essential measure for Ukrainian families to survive.

According to different estimations, 5 - 7 millions of our compatriots work abroad annually. For instance, up to one million of such workers find their jobs in Russia annually while, in "seasonal peaks," their number goes up to 3 million.

Pressing nature of this problem varies in Ukrainian regions. The most difficult situation is observed in western regions, specifically Rivne, Chernivtsi, Volyn, Trans-Carpathian, and Lviv regions, where several members of the same family are registered in employment centers. In Ivano-Frankivsk region, out of 1,460,000 residents, 250,000 work abroad. Unofficial data show that 150,000 - 300,000 residents of Lviv region work abroad. This situation is not better in other western regions.

Researches conducted by the State Institute for the Family and the Youth and by non-governmental organizations illustrate that citizens move abroad mostly from rural district capitals, towns, and villages. As far as the age groups are concerned, those leaving abroad include graduates of high schools and individuals of 25 - 27 years of age, most of the latter having families (50 - 60 % having children.)

On the one hand, employment abroad proves to be an important source for middle class formation and a way towards international labor market and integration into international community through human-to-human contact development, etc. On the other hand, mass migration of young people has a serious negative impact. Here, it comes to economic losses (absence of reliable mechanisms for transferring money earned abroad), social and labor losses (discriminatory labor and payment conditions, absence of legal protection of labor and social rights.) One of the major problems related to labor migration consists in disruption of family relations as a result of which children become deprived of parental care for several years.

Despite all of this, people are ready to go abroad without having knowledge of language, legal basics, qualification, even to take up illegal job, which make them potential victims of slave-trading.

"Live goods" are exported from Ukraine to Russia, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, republics of the former Yugoslavia, Hungary, Greece, Czech Republic, Arab Emirates, Israel, the USA, and other countries. Women are especially actively shipped to regions affected by armed conflicts. Men are exploited as builders, miners; women as domestic made, sewers, and dishwashers.

In addition to usual exploitation, women face one more form, i.e. sexual exploitation, which is the most profitable in the field of trafficking in human beings.

Attempts of potential migrant workers to move and find job outside the limits of the State trigger criminal group activities, the latter being focused on preparing exit documents and sending Ukrainian abroad in order to sell them.

Bringing individuals involved in such illegal operations to criminal responsibility constitutes a problem for Ukrainian law enforcement authorities because proving their involvement in committing such crimes turns to be practically unfeasible as "recruitment" and "agreement" with a future victim are made in the territory of one country while the crime itself, i.e. forced prostitution, is committed in the territory of another country. Therefore, there is a pressing need in cooperation between law enforcement authorities of countries in whose territory such crimes are committed.

When talking about Ukraine's efforts aimed at trafficking -in-human-being control, it should be noted that our State is one of a few countries which has adopted a law providing for criminal responsibility for committing the said crime.

Criminal responsibility for trafficking in human beings was established under the Law of Ukraine dated 24 March 1998, which added a new Article 1241 to the 1960 Criminal Code of Ukraine. This Article, for the first time, criminally and legally defines "trafficking in human beings" as openly or secretly taking possession of a human being related to legal or illegal movement of the human being with or without his/her consent across the State Border of Ukraine or without it in view of selling or any other paid transferring for sexual exploitation, using in porno business, involving in criminal activities, putting in a debt peonage, adopting for commercial purposes, using in armed conflicts, and exploiting his/her labor.

Decree # 367 of the President of Ukraine of 24 April 1998 approved the Corruption Control Concept for 1998 - 2005. This Concept provides for more active participation of the State in the elaboration of a draft international convention against transnational organized crime and preparation of Ukrainian proposals, including anticorruption ones, with regard to the draft convention on trafficking in children control. In 1998, under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, there was created a temporary unit for women procurement, prostitution and AIDS spread control. In 2001, that unit was upsized to the Division for crimes related to trafficking in human beings, while its responsibilities were extended to cover control of trafficking in human beings in view of their sexual exploitation or use in porno business.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, in its resolution # 1768 of 25 September 1999, adopted the Program for Women and Children Trafficking Prevention. This Program provides for implementation of a number of measures to settle issues of bringing back Ukrainian nationals - victims of crimes related to trafficking in human beings, sexual and other exploitation.

18 January 2001, the President of Ukraine issued the Decree # 20 "On additional measures to prevent disappearance of people and to improve interaction between law enforcement authorities and other public authorities in their search."

President of Ukraine's Decree # 22/2001 of 18 January 2001 approved the Program for Illegal Migration Control for 2001 - 2004.

Presidential Decree # 143 of 18 February 2002 "On measures to further strengthen the rule of law, protection of citizens' rights and freedom" defines trafficking in human beings as a priority for law enforcement authorities of Ukraine.

15 November 2001, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed the Law of Ukraine "On Prevention of Violence in the Family." This Law specifies legal and organizational principles of preventing violence in the family, bodies and institutions responsible for the implementation of measures to prevent violence in the family.

15 March 2002, the President of Ukraine issued the Decree # 258 "On urgent additional measures to improve morals in the society and promote healthy style of life." Under paragraph 6 of this Decree, central public authorities of Ukraine shall participate in designing and implementing coordinated actions aimed at preventing trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of women - Ukrainian nationals.

As of today, this crime is criminally punishable under Article 149 "Trafficking in human beings or any other illegal agreement in respect of transferring a human being" (2001 Criminal Code of Ukraine.) This Article was seriously revised and approximated to the provisions of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. The Article prescribes that selling or any other paid transferring of a human being, as well as executing in respect of such a human being of any other illegal agreement related to legal or illegal movement of the human being with or without his/her consent across the State Border of Ukraine in view of selling or any other transferring to another person (persons) for sexual exploitation, using in porno business, involving in criminal activities, putting in a debt peonage, adopting for commercial purposes, using in armed conflicts, and exploiting his/her labor, are punishable by deprivation of liberty for the period from three to eight years.

More serious sanction is applied for committing such acts in respect of a minor, several persons, repeatedly, with previous conspiracy by a group of individuals, with official authority abuse, or by a person on whom the victim depended materially or otherwise i.e. deprivation of liberty for the period from five to 12 years, with or without confiscation of property (second paragraph, Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine,) as well as for the said acts committed by an organized group or when such acts relate to illegally moving children abroad or their failure to return back in Ukraine, or in view of taking organs or tissues from the victim for the purposes of transplantation or forced donorship, or if such acts resulted in serious consequences - deprivation of liberty for the period from eight to 15 years with confiscation of property (third paragraph, Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.)

The Criminal Code of Ukraine provides for responsibility for a number of crimes which may relate to trafficking in human beings (women and children.)

Under Article 146 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, illegal deprivation of freedom or kidnapping is criminally punishable by limitation of liberty for the period of up to three years or deprivation of liberty for the same period.

Separate provision is devoted to criminal responsibility for illegal deprivation of freedom of, or kidnapping a minor. Such acts are punishable by limitation or deprivation of liberty for the period of up to five years (second paragraph, Article 146 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.)

Exploitation of child labor is prohibited in Ukraine on pain of criminal punishment. Thus, Article 150 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine qualifies as a crime exploitation of children who did not attain legally established employable age, through benefiting from their labor to obtain profits. Whenever such acts have been committed in respect of a number of children, or if they caused substantial damage to the health, physical development or educational level of a child or if they are associated with using child labor in a hazardous production, those guilty thereof may be brought to criminal responsibility and punished by deprivation of liberty for the period from two to five years with deprivation of the right to hold some positions or carry out some activities.

The Criminal Code of Ukraine, Article 303, provides for responsibility for forcing to, or involving in, prostitution i.e. providing sexual services for money, with the threat or use of violence, destroying or damaging property, blackmail or deception. Such acts are punishable by a fine ranging from five hundred to one thousand nontaxable minimums of citizens' income or arrest for the period of up to six months, or deprivation of liberty for the period from one to three years.

Such acts committed against a minor by an organized group are punishable by deprivation of liberty for the period from three to five years.

Presidential Decree # 143 of 18 February 2002 "On measures to further strengthen the rule of law, protection of citizens' rights and freedom" defines trafficking in human beings as a priority for law enforcement authorities of the State.

The Cabinet of Ministers, in its resolution # 766 of 5 June 2002, approved the Comprehensive Program for Counteracting Trafficking in Human Beings for 2002 - 2005. This Program provides for comprehensive settlement of the problem: preventing moving women abroad for exploitation in sexual service industry, children - for adoption, and people - for human organ donorship, return of victims of trafficking in human beings, their rehabilitation, protection and reintegration in the society, prosecution of traffickers in human beings.

Within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, there were created specialized units dealing with control of crimes related to trafficking in human beings, which resulted in some positive shifts in the field of this criminal phenomenon control.

In 2003, agencies of internal affairs revealed 289 crimes punishable under Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ("Trafficking in human beings or any other illegal agreement in respect of transferring a human being"), which was by 71 % more than in 2002. Two hundred individuals were suspected of committing these crimes, 99 out of them were brought charges. There were also detected 94 crimes related to trafficking in human beings, which were committed by an organized group. 377 victims were identified and brought back in Ukraine, 40 out of them were minors. 15 organized groups dealing with trafficking in "live goods" were neutralized.

In 2003, pre-trial investigation was finalized in 65 criminal cases, out of which 59 were referred to court while 6 cases were closed based on Article 6, second paragraph, of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine (absence of elements of crime.)

Throughout the first semester of the current year, agencies of internal affairs revealed 182 crimes punishable under Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ("Trafficking in human beings or any other illegal agreement in respect of transferring a human being"), which was by 21.3 % more than in the similar period of the last year. 74 persons suspected of perpetrating these crimes were brought charges. 178 victims of trafficking in human beings were identified, 6 out of them were minors. Operations of 13 criminal groups having elements of organized crime were repressed. Pre-trial investigation was finalized in 30 criminal cases against traffickers in human beings and these cases were referred to court.

In total, from the introduction of criminal responsibility for trafficking in human beings (March 1998), as of 1 July 2004, there were revealed 785 crimes of this category (in 1998 - 2; 1999 - 11; 2000 - 42; 2001 - 90; 2002 - 169; 2003 - 289; 1st semester 2004 - 182.)

Analysis of the said criminal cases shows that individuals perpetrated the crimes, groups of persons involved in previous conspiracy, and organized criminal groups. The accused used proceeds from trafficking in human beings for their own needs.

As a result of organizational and operational measures aimed at counteracting the negative phenomenon in question, the Security Service of Ukraine itself and together with other law enforcement authorities, within the framework of special operations, repressed, respectively, 12 and 28 channels of trafficking in human beings in 2002 - 2003; in 2003, 37 criminal proceedings were instituted based on elements of crime punishable under Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ("Trafficking in human beings or any other illegal agreement in respect of transferring a human being",) 64 persons were apprehended. An international investigation was conducted in each of those criminal cases. 142 criminal cases were opened against women procurers (Article 302 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine,) 29 - for involvement in prostitution and women procurement (Article 303, third and fourth paragraphs, of the Criminal Code of Ukraine,) and 134 criminal cases - for importing, producing, distributing, and marketing porno products (Article 301 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.) In 2003, 16 individuals were expelled from Ukraine for their involvement in trafficking in human beings.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) neutralized 20 channels of trafficking in human beings, apprehended 20 persons involved in the organizing and functioning of such channels, and deported 34 individuals during the first semester of the current year.

SBU's units as inquiry bodies prepared materials which laid the basis for instituting 21 criminal cases related to crimes punishable under Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ("Trafficking in human beings or any other illegal agreement in respect of transferring a human being".)

In order to prevent crimes related to trafficking in human beings, SBU's special units, in coordination with other law enforcement authorities, conducted 176 preventive actions in respect of business structure managers challenged with provision of services in the field of tourism and employment abroad. For violation of applicable legislation, two companies were fined for the amount of almost 2 million UAH and 5 firms deprived of licenses to carry out this type of activities.

In the field of trade in human organ control, the Security Service of Ukraine takes advantage of the entire range of measures as provided for by existing Ukrainian laws. Types of operational-search activities that the Security Service may have recourse to are specified in Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine "On Operational-Search Activities."

Administration of the State Border Service of Ukraine reinforced measures to control, at the State Border checkpoints, the way in which children and women groups exit Ukraine. The Administration keeps records of organized women groups (by regions and age) crossing Ukrainian border and carries out screening measures to identify persons apprehended at checkpoints for having come to Ukraine without documents, or deported nationals of Ukraine. Together with the International Women's Rights Center "La Strada-Ukraine," there were designed and are distributed, in aircrafts, trains, and motor car transport, leaflets containing information on prevention of trafficking in human beings and preventive measures, potential of the "La Strada-Ukraine" in assisting victims of the trafficking in human beings.

In 2003, courts pronounced 11 convictions in criminal cases against traffickers of human beings; these convictions have become res judicata. In practice, traffickers of human beings are sentenced to imprisonment for 2 - 9 years, sometimes - with confiscation of property. Under Article 75 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, courts take also decisions on the release on probation.

Activities carried out by law enforcement authorities in the field of trafficking in human beings are kept under control of the Prosecutor - General of Ukraine and his prosecutors, the Interdepartmental Coordination Council under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada on Human Rights, and deputies of the Verkhovna Rada.

Abiding to the principle of openness and transparency of their activities, which ensures public control to some extent, Ukrainian law enforcement authorities actively cooperate with the IOM, OSCE, Women's Rights Center "La Strada-Ukraine," "Winrock International," and other governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Representatives of local agencies of internal affairs take benefit of so called "hot lines" to prevent trafficking in human beings, exchange information, identify victims, commercial firms, criminal groups, and separate individuals involved in this type of crimes.

In 2000, Ukraine signed and, 5 February 2004, ratified the Convention of the United Nations against Transnational Organized Crime together with two protocols thereto, namely Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, as well as Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air, which represents one more consistent step towards Ukraine's integration in the world community in the field of crime control.

When preparing ratification of this UN Convention and Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children,, there was elaborated a draft Law of Ukraine "On Amending Article 149 ("Trafficking in human beings or any other illegal agreement in respect of transferring a human being") and Article 303 ("Prostitution or forcing to, or involving in, the prostitution") of the Criminal Code of Ukraine." This draft law is before the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Legislative Support for Law Enforcement Activities.

Relevant central public authorities of Ukraine have been permanently cooperating in improving procedure for the adoption of children who have legal grounds for the adoption.

The Interdepartmental Coordination Council on Counteracting Trafficking in Human Beings under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine was established to ensure streamlining and coordinating efforts exerted by public authorities and non-governmental organizations in the field of counteracting trafficking in human beings. The main responsibilities of this Interdepartmental Coordination Council consist in the following: organization of the preparation and submission, according to established procedure, of proposals for improving legislative acts and other regulations concerning counteracting trafficking in human beings; settlement of matters requiring interdepartmental cooperation, particularly in respect of prevention and control of trafficking in human beings, search for those who disappeared abroad, return and rehabilitation of victims of trafficking in human beings; participation in the articulation of mechanisms for counteracting trafficking in human beings; coordination of activities carried out by regional permanent commissions which were set up in all Ukrainian regions, in the field of focusing their efforts and exchanging information with regard to trafficking in human beings, etc.

Ukrainian Ministry for the Family, Children, and the Youth is entrusted with coordination of efforts of all central and local public authorities in respect of preventing and counteracting trafficking in human beings.

Regional permanent commissions, which were set up in all Ukrainian regions and deal with coordinating efforts and exchanging information with regard to trafficking in human beings, extend informational, consultative, and legal assistance to citizens going abroad.

Regional offices for the family and the youth, as well as centers providing social services to the youth orient their activities at preventing trafficking in human beings through informing the youth, particularly young women, on negative consequences of legal ignorance with regard to the search of job abroad, and on potential ways for the employment in Ukraine; they carry out activities to prevent violence in the family and the youth environment.

Under the Law of Ukraine "On Licensing Some Types of Economic Activities," the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, in its resolution # 1689 of 14 November 2000 entitled "On Approving the List of Licensing Agencies," specified the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy as a body entrusted with licensing intermediation services in the field of employment abroad.

Pursuant to the above-mentioned legal acts and Presidential Decree # 9 of 3 January 2002 entitled "On Amending the Statute of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of Ukraine," the Commission on licensing intermediation services in the field of employment abroad and issuing permits for employment in Ukraine to aliens operates within the Ministry. The Commission grants and cancels licenses if licensees do not respect Licensing Conditions and exercises control of their activities.

As of 5 June 2004, there were registered in Ukraine 406 operators of economic activities which obtained licenses of the Ministry of Labor to provide intermediation services in the field of employment abroad.

In the 1st semester 2004, 190 operators of economic activities were inspected in view of controlling how they comply with Licensing Conditions.

Following to those inspections, from January to June 2004, 74 licenses were canceled (in 2003 - 55), 51 orders were issued to operators of economic activities, these orders requiring eliminating violation within the prescribed period.

Whenever signs of violations of applicable legislation by operators of economic activities are detected, such violations falling outside the competence of a licensor, materials thereon are submitted to relevant central or local public authorities.

Ukrainian nationals who find the job abroad through licensed intermediaries represent the only category of Ukrainian migrant-workers who legally obtain an employment abroad. Operators of economic activities keep records of migrant-workers in accordance with requirements of statistical reporting of Ukraine in respect of the number of such nationals and receiving countries.

The Ministry of Labor, at a permanent basis, monitors advertisements published in mass media and related to providing intermediary services in the field of employment abroad. Such a monitoring allows the Ministry to detect advertisements of economic activities operators working without licenses, with expired licenses, or tourism licenses, and to warn managers of such companies that their employment operations are illegal and conducted outside the legal space of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Labor opened a web-page at its site where the Ministry regularly places its decisions on economic activities operators (granting and canceling licenses to provide intermediary services in the field of employment abroad.) Such information can be easily accessed and used.

The State Employment Service explains and prevents potential impact of trafficking in human beings during training the jobless in professions demanded at the labor market. Curriculums contain themes highlighting means and methods used by traffickers of human beings, explain dangers illegal migrants are exposed to as a result of exploitation, violence, and abuses against them. In the cycle of informational broadcast "The State Employment Service Informs…" which was on the air twice per month at the first channel of the National Radio Broadcasting Company of Ukraine, each broadcast ended with information intended to warn those willing to find a job abroad.

The State Employment Service prepared and published booklets entitled "If you want to find your destiny abroad, make sure that this is not dangerous!" and "Trafficking in human beings - the most horrible form of crime." A whole range of measures to counteract trafficking in human beings has been implemented. The system of social services includes vocational guidance of potential victims of unlawful acts, namely advising on the jobless' rights, including rights to material support, assistance in choosing jobs and vacancies, informing on opportunities to acquire, through the State Employment Service, professions and specialties in demand at the labor market, organizing and holding various seminars for the jobless. Main employment centers arranged tender corners.

To intensify and heighten the level of preventive activities in the field of migrant-workers and protection of Ukrainian nationals against fraud on the part of commercial structures, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of Ukraine cooperates with the International Women's Rights Center "La Strada-Ukraine" in the field of providing advises to the population by "hot lines."

A draft Law of Ukraine "On State Population Employment Program for 2005 - 2008" has been prepared (and submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for consideration.) This draft law determines strategic positions of the State in respect of governing labor migration and providing social protection to Ukrainian nationals who temporary work outside the limits of Ukraine. In particular, it is provided for that temporary labor travels of Ukrainian nationals abroad shall be regulated through:

- Ukraine's adhering to intergovernmental legal instruments;

- Concluding bilateral interstate and intergovernmental agreements and treaties on employment and social protection of citizens working outside the limits of the State;

- Cooperation between frontier regions of Ukraine and frontier regions of neighboring States in matters related to the development of transfrontier migration and mutual regulation of occupational activities of citizens working outside the limits of their States;

- Developing the institute of licensing economic activities related to provision of intermediary services in the field of Ukrainian nationals' employment abroad, in view of strengthening their social protection and preventing trafficking in human beings.

Implementation of these items will be ensured by plans of actions with regard to materializing the State Population Employment Program for 2005 - 2008, which will include specific measure in respect of realizing the said strategy.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Ukraine pays much attention to activities carried out in the field of trafficking in human beings prevention and efficient protection of women - Ukrainian nationals who left the country to study, work abroad, etc and were caught in the nets of sexual exploitation.

To find such nationals of Ukraine, the MFA consular service actively approaches competent authorities of foreign countries, initiates negotiations and consultations, concludes appropriate legal agreements, takes advantage of financial potential of international organizations, commissions influential lawyer companies, uses the institute of honorary consuls, takes informational and propaganda measures.

During the 1st semester 2004, Ukrainian consular posts assisted 267 Ukrainian women (who, when staying abroad, became victims of sexual exploitation) in returning back in Ukraine.

113 Ukrainian nationals were found, identified, and brought back in Ukraine by Ukrainian consular posts following to applications for the search of those disappeared abroad.

Explanatory work is conducted among our compatriots both in Ukraine and abroad at a permanent basis in view of making public details on negative consequences of illegal travels to find a job abroad. Most diplomatic missions of Ukraine in foreign countries, as well as MFA offices in Ukraine have opened at their web-pages sections devoted to legal information for Ukrainian nationals' attention, which includes, inter alia, details on the receiving country in the context of legal status of Ukrainian nationals, recommendations with regard to employment, relevant texts of Ukraine and receiving country's normative acts, etc.

An active informational and explanatory effort is made during day-to-day reception of Ukrainian nationals in the MFA (including by phone and e-mail). During such functions, our compatriots are provided free of charge legal consultations with regard to travels abroad in view of employment, study, etc.

Our State consecutively supports UN efforts aimed at trafficking in human beings control and is co-author of relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations and the UN Commission on Human Rights. Thus, at the 60th session of the Commission on Human Rights, Ukraine joined the family of co-authors of the resolution entitled "Trafficking in Women and Girls."

Pursuant to the resolution of the 57th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations entitled "Trafficking in Women and Girls" whose co-author was our State, the UN Secretary-General should submit, to the 59th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations for consideration, a proposal in respect of conducting an International Year or UN Year for the Control of Trafficking in Human Beings, especially Women and Girls.

Ukraine participates in elaboration of the European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. To prepare the text of such Convention, the CoE's Committee of Ministers set up an ad hoc Committee i.e. Committee on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (CAHTEH) whose mandate is effective till 31 December 2004. At meetings of this Committee, Ukraine is represented by V.V. KRYZHANIVSKY, deputy head of the Main Department for Foreign Policy Activities of the President of Ukraine's Administration.

This Convention is planned to be finalized and open for signature by the Member - States of the Council of Europe at the Third Summit of Member - States of the Council of Europe (May 2005, Warsaw.)

Reintegration of victims of trafficking in human beings in the society is among the most serious problems related to consequences of trafficking in human beings. Most women who returned back to Ukraine suffered mental disorders and different diseases and many of them are incapable of procreating children.

Centers for rehabilitation of persons - victims of trafficking in human beings play an important role in providing help to such victims. The Ministry of the Family, Children, and the Youth, in consultation with other central public authorities, has elaborated a model statute of the center for rehabilitation of persons - victims of trafficking in human beings, which was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in its resolution # 987 of 27 June 2003. Such institutions aim at ensuring legal protection of victims of trafficking in human beings, confidential medical examination, social and psychological help. Reintegration programs provide for training, individual approaches in ensuring employment of victims, providing them practical assistance in resolving housing and property problems. Relevant central public authorities of Ukraine have drafted a statute of the center for reintegration of persons - victims of crimes related to trafficking in human beings and other violent acts.

This year, 14 June, US Secretary of State Colin Powell made public the fourth annual report of the US Department of State on Trafficking in Persons, which was prepared for the attention of the US Congress. This document contains analysis of the situation in 142 countries throughout the world. According to American classification, Ukraine is placed in the second group of countries. At the same time, the report notes that, notwithstanding lack of resources, Ukraine has made noticeable progress in the field of trafficking in human beings control, which is proved by increased number of criminal cases referred to courts and convictions pronounced.

On October, 1, 2004 the meeting of Interdepartmental coordination council on questions of counteracting trafficking in Human Beings took place, after which the appropriate orders had been given by Government of Ukraine to the central bodies executive power of Ukraine.