The IOM office in Ukraine and Galnaftogas, one of the leading oil
companies in Ukraine, are signing a Memorandum of Intent to join
forces to combat human trafficking.

In January, Galnaftogas placed counter-trafficking billboards at
12 OKKO gas stations in the Lviv, Volyn and Zakarpatye regions of
Ukraine.  The billboards' message includes the national
toll-free hotline established by IOM as part of its
counter-trafficking work with the Ministry for Family, Youth and
Sports. 

The hotline provides Ukrainians vital information on ways to
avoid falling into the hands of human traffickers.  The IOM
Toll-Free Counter-Trafficking Hotline (8-800-505-50) was
established in April 2007, in cooperation with the three largest
mobile telephone service providers in the country.  The number
"527", which routes all calls to the free IOM service, provides
information on the realities and dangers facing migrants abroad,
including human trafficking and the consequences of irregular entry
and stay in a foreign country and objective information on legal
methods of migration.  Since the launch of the hotline, some
7,000 calls have been received through the "527" service.

The new partnership between IOM and Galnaftogas aims to combat
human trafficking and promote legal and safe migration for
Ukrainians.  "In order to effectively combat human
trafficking, it is imperative that we track the most recent
trends.  And information plays a critical role.  We need
to acknowledge the driving factors behind the rash steps taken by
some of our fellow citizens.  Fundamental change must occur in
the attitude of Ukrainians in regard to their country, employment,
laws, earnings, and to life in general," emphasized Yuriy
Kuchabskiy, Chairman of Galnaftogas.

Human trafficking has reached alarming proportions in
Ukraine:

• It is estimated that 100,000 Ukrainians have been trafficked
  since 1991.
• IOM has provided reintegration assistance to more than 4,000
  Ukrainian victims of trafficking.
• In 2006, male victims of labour exploitation accounted for 18
  per cent of all Ukrainian victims of trafficking assisted by IOM,
  compared to 14 per cent in 2005.
• Approximately 5 per cent of victims of both labour and sexual
  exploitation are minors.
• Turkey, Russia, and Poland are the main destination countries
  for Ukrainian victims of trafficking. 

"Only through strong and broad partnerships with various
elements of Ukrainian society can human trafficking be effectively
combated.  This latest partnership and working with the
private sector in general, is not only very important from the
standpoint of combating human trafficking in Ukraine, but also
serves as a highly encouraging example for others," noted Fredric
Larsson, IOM Counter-Trafficking Programme Coordinator.

For more information, please contact:

Natalie Krivtsova

IOM Kyiv

Tel: + 380 44-568 50 15

E-mail: "mailto:pr@iom.kiev.ua">pr@iom.kiev.ua