Amendment of Victim Support Act: Services for Human Trafficking Victims

Brief Description

The Victim Support Act was amended and starting from January 2017, presumed victims of human trafficking can also receive services. There is no longer a need for a criminal investigation to be started in order for the person to be entitled to receive victim support services, the expert opinion presented by the NGO providing services will suffice. This guarantees that no potential victim fails to receive special services. The Victim Support services are organised by the Social Insurance Board in all counties across Estonia. From 2017, the Victim Support Department of the Social Insurance Boars also organizes the women’s support centre service, as well as services for victims of sexual violence and victims of human trafficking. In 2014, 3,013 people turned to victim support due to domestic violence; in 2015, that number was 3,650; in 2016, 3,740 and in 2017, 4,582. In 2018, more than 5000 persons received help from national victim support in connection with domestic violence. Most of the people turning to victim support for that reason were women.