The Ministry of Interior organized a roundtable discussion with the leaders of the three recent research projects.
In the roundtable discussion Árpád Sebestyén represented the Trauma Centre, Gábor Héra came from SIMPACT Nonprofit Ldt. and Zoltán Mészáros took part on behalf of the Family-Friendly Hungary Centre. The event was hosted by the Head of Unit for Counter Trafficking and Horizontal Issues of the Ministry of Interior.
The Trauma Centre published a study under the title of „The Psychological Drivers of Human Trafficking” in autumn 2020. In this aspect, Árpád Sebestyén elaborated on the crippling effects of exploitation and the phenomenon of victim blaming, and he also highlighted the role of social support networks (e.g. family members or fellow victims) in the recovery process.
SIMPACT has just finished the final study of 10 months of research financed by the Ministry of Interior exploring the specific needs of male victims of labour exploitation. Based on the expert and victim interviews Gábor Héra could draw a clear line between two subgroups of male victims. Men trapped in domestic slavery are predominantly over the age of 50, characterized by deteriorating mental and physical condition, which leaves them at risk of re-victimization. Labour exploitation abroad, on the other hand, affects the younger generations who have fallen for deceptive job advertisements. However, they usually have some qualifications making it easier to start a new life, and as a result, only a few of them seek the victim support services.
The research of the Family-Friendly Hungary Centre was ordered by the Minister without Portfolio for Family Affairs. During this, the development opportunities of the care system were examined with a view to avoiding re-victimization. In this field, Zoltán Mészáros drew attention to the development of uniform referral and care protocols, as well as to the need of a follow-up mechanism of victims leaving the sheltered accommodations.