How does HopeNow help trafficked people?

Human trafficking in Denmark

Denmark is primarily a country of destination for victims of trafficking. The total number of victims identified in 2016-2022 was 610 persons, including children. The most frequent form of exploitation remains sexual exploitation, followed by labour exploitation and forced criminality. More than half of all victims are Nigerian, which is reflected in our target groups. The large majority of victims are women. However, more male victims are being identified when victims are subjected to labour exploitation and forced crime. 

Long term support 

We provide long-term therapeutic and legal aid to an increasing number of previously trafficked women and men who have received legal residency in Denmark. Trafficked people require long-term trauma therapy, coaching and counselling to better integrate into Danish society. In addition, we provide long-term financial support to victims of trafficking in their home countries for rehabilitation and repatriation. For example, HopeNow helps a man in Nigeria with a sewing machine for a business and a victim of trafficking, now studying to be a social worker. (See testimonies)

Trust-based Outreach Work 

In our office, we provide means for communal cooking and eating, walks with counselling, etc., to build trust and create relationships that can help identify indicators of trafficking in their narratives. In our outreach, we are in contact with hundreds of people in connection with social activities on the street, parks, churches, social events, and private parties and celebrations in the wide diaspora. Not all are trafficked people or presumed victims. Targeted and vulnerable clients receive direct help through trauma counselling, food packs, medicine, vaccines, COVID tests, over-the-counter medication, clothes, top-ups of their travel cards, hospital visits or referrals to other actors.

We conduct outreach work in Red Light urban areas, where there is a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as brothels. In addition, we are in contact with people related to social activities on the street, in parks, churches, social events, private parties and celebrations in the environment.

Counselling and 24/7 hotline support for victims and presumed victims

HopeNow annually submits our data to the Center Against Human Trafficking and the Department of Gender Equality. We have a telephone hotline providing counselling, supportive/therapeutic/legal guidance, and information on state services, cf. the Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking. We are available 24/7 for most of the year. The counselling takes place both individually and in groups. HopeNow has individual advisory meetings and counselling. Most meetings/counselling are with women. Around 1/3 are meetings/counselling with men, and a few of the meetings/counselling are with transgender people. We have thus managed to step in in emergencies and help desperate people who needed acute help.

Prison visits, online and telephone counselling

We also provide ongoing contact with trafficked people and alleged victims in prison, e.g. supportive and therapeutic counselling. This also applies to long-term imprisonment. We have many meetings in person and individual telephone sessions with various imprisoned clients. Some long-term incarcerated clients call in and talk to us many times per week, whereas others call in only 1-3 times a year.  

Support for health needs

We carry out trust-building relationship work through individual psychological interviews, food packs, support for medication and other health requirements to uncover indications of possible trafficking and exploitation. We hand out food packs 3-4 times per month. We support health needs, including dentistry, vaccines and COVID tests, over-the-counter medications, and hospital visits. We also provide referrals to CMM, Reden International, Ami Ami and the Red Cross clinic for undocumented migrants. We also refer to private acupuncture and chiropractor when victims experience pain from abuse, violence or PTSD-related trauma.

National and International Cooperation 

As an expert, HopeNow contributes annually to the rapport made by GRETA (Evaluation of the EU member states' contribution in the human trafficking area) and the TIP rapport (Global evaluation). 

HopeNow participates in network meetings with government authorities and civil society. HopeNow also cooperates closely with the Center against Human Trafficking and submits annual reports to the Department of Gender Equality.

On a national level, HopeNow cooperates with Ami Ami and Reden International. Twice a year since 2018, HopeNow has been invited as an elected expert to the EU's Civil Society Platform to Combat Human Trafficking in Brussels. HopeNow is an international La Strada Civil Society Platform member, comprising 25 European NGOs within the human trafficking area.