To mark the European Anti-Trafficking Day, the association Shelter “Safe House” organised a press breakfast at Āgenskalns Market on 17 October, bringing together journalists, experts in the prevention of human trafficking and members of the public. The aim of the event was to encourage discussion on how the media can address human trafficking more effectively, empathetically and responsibly.
The event was opened by Gunta Vīksne, a member of the association`s Board.
During the event, staff members of Shelter “Safe House” shared their knowledge of trends in human trafficking offences in Latvia.
Gita Miruškina, a lawyer and expert in the prevention of human trafficking, reported that the number of cases involving sexual exploitation and sham marriages has been declining in recent years, while labour exploitation is being identified increasingly often, including among third-country nationals.
“Nowadays, human trafficking often takes place without physical violence – through manipulation, deception and the exploitation of victims` vulnerability,” she explained.
The participants agreed that personal stories and real-life cases have the greatest impact on the public, helping people understand the depth of the problem and encouraging empathy. However, particular emphasis was placed on the need to protect victims` anonymity, both because Latvia is a relatively small society and because many victims experience shame and fear of public judgement.
“One way to ensure that stories retain their impact without further traumatising people who have already suffered is to anonymise them and use creative approaches – for example, involving actors to recreate events,” explained Ilze Ķīķere, Public Relations Specialist at Shelter “Safe House”, who moderated the discussion with journalists.
The press breakfast resulted in several news reports and media publications, including coverage by LETA, Latvijas Avīze, TV360 Ziņas, LSM+ and the Latvian Radio 1 programme Pēcpusdiena (“Afternoon”). These reports helped reach a wider audience and raise awareness of how every member of society can recognise and help prevent human trafficking.
The event took place as part of European Anti-Trafficking Day and represented a positive step towards strengthening cooperation between the non-governmental sector and the media. The participants jointly concluded that respectful communication and empathy are key to raising public awareness of the risks of human trafficking.
This article was prepared with financial support from the Society Integration Foundation, using funds from the Latvian state budget.
The association Shelter “Safe House” is responsible for the information campaign “Find Shelter in the Safe House!”, implemented as part of the project “Sustainable Growth: Strengthening the Operations and Capacity of the Association Shelter ‘Safe House’”.
