Denmark
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A presumed victim of Trafficking in Human Beings is encountered
Organisations most likely to be the first ones to encounter a presumed victim
- Police units
- Danish Immigration Service (DIS)
- The Danish Centre against Human Trafficking
- NGOs
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National Point of Contact / Initial Referral
The Danish Centre against Human Trafficking (CMM):
Information hotline for potential trafficking victims, authorities, third-sector organisations, the media and citizens: +45 70 20 25 50
The Hotline is open Monday – Friday between 8.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Weekend and public Holidays 9.00 a.m. to 3 p.m.You can leave a message on the answering machine outside opening hours or contact the police hotline at + 45 22 68 57 82
E-mail: cmm@socialstyrelsen.dk
Secure mail: sikkermail.menneskehandel@socialstyrelsen.dkThe Centre is responsible for coordinating and developing the nationwide social efforts for victims of trafficking and of involved parties. The Centre is anchored in the National Board of Social Services and reports to the Minister of Equal Opportunities. The Centre also carries out identification interviews.
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Formal identification of a victim
The identification of victims of trafficking depends on the status of the potential victim at the time of the identification:
- If a person does not have legal stay in Denmark, the Danish Immigration Service (DIS) or in some cases the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration is responsible for assessing whether the person is a victim of human trafficking.
- If a person is staying in Denmark on legal grounds, the Danish Centre against Human Trafficking is responsible for the assessment and formal identification of a victim.
- The Danish courts may grant the status of a victim of human trafficking in cases where a potential victim of human trafficking is being tried for a criminal offense.
The identifications are typically based on one or more identification interviews. Social workers from the Danish Centre against Human Trafficking or an NGO with a contract under the National Action Plan conduct the identification interview.
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Does support depend on the victim’s cooperation or participation in criminal proceedings?
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Available assistance
All victims of trafficking without legal stay in Denmark are offered a 30 days reflection period in accordance with the Danish Aliens Act. The reflection period may be extended up to a total of 120 days, if the victim cooperates with the authorities on her/his return under the Assisted Voluntary Return program. As part of the reflection period, all victims are offered individually tailored and co-ordinated support regulated by the Danish Aliens Act and the National Action Plan.
The array of support is not dependent on the victim’s co-operation or participation in criminal proceedings.
The Danish Centre against Human Trafficking, the Danish Immigration Service and the International Organization for Migration are the key agencies that co-ordinate victim assistance and protection measures. The assistance includes:
- special accommodation (for instance shelters for trafficked women and men),
- extended access to medical services,
- access to legal counseling and assistance,
- psychological support,
- assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration scheme – including six months of assistance after returning to the home country.
For a victim of human trafficking who does not participate in legal actions against the suspected offender assistance is provided during the reflection period. After the end of the reflection period a victim must leave Denmark.
For victims who participate in legal actions against the suspected offender assistance is provided during the criminal proceedings.-
Return or asylum procedure
After the reflection period (up to 120 days) and the assisted voluntary return (six month) no long-term assistance is provided.
Victims with a temporary residence permit due to their cooperation in criminal proceedings must return t 3 o the country of origin or former country of legal residence when the process is completed, and no long-term assistance is provided beyond that which is available under the voluntary return program. A victim of trafficking has the opportunity to apply for asylum. If granted asylum, the person will be allocated to a municipality decided by the Danish Immigration Service. According to the Integration Act, the concerned municipality is responsible for the integration process and thus obliged to offer an integration plan for newly arrived migrants, which includes employment measures, language courses, health care and initiatives to support active citizenship
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Assisted voluntary return
Victims of human trafficking wishing to return to the country of origin or former country of legal residence voluntarily are offered an assisted voluntary return (AVR). At the moment, the program is operated by the ERIN and ERSO. AVR is an individually prepared offer which runs over a twelve-month period after arrival at destination. In cooperation with the trafficked person, the local NGO organizes the return and reintegration in collaboration with the Danish Centre against Human Trafficking, including reception, housing and income generating activities in the country of return. The assisted voluntary return includes an allowance and may entail health and psychosocial support, education, vocational training or financial assistance to start a small business.
If a victim of human trafficking is under the age of 18 additional support will be offered. That could include finding family members, if this is in the best interest of the child. Reunion with family or family members will only happen if it is a durable solution for the child. A professional representative / guardian will be appointed to guide the child. The representative will work in the child’s best interests and offer a general case support and support on a more personal level.
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Residence permit
A temporary residence permit can be issued to a person whose presence in Denmark is required for the purpose of investigation and prosecution. It is a requirement for issuing this type of residence permit that the person collaborates with the police. The residence permit cannot be renewed for a period longer than the duration of the investigation or prosecution. For the victim to obtain this permit the police or the prosecution authority must contact the Danish Immigration Service (DIS) and apply on behalf of the victim. The victim cannot apply for this permit him-/herself.
The permit does not allow the victim to take paid or unpaid employment, to pursue activity as a self-employed person or to provide services with or without remuneration in Denmark. However, the victim may apply for a work permit through DIS. The victim does not need to meet any requirements in order to be granted the work permit.
The residence permit is issued for a period of 6 months at a time. If the permit needs to be renewed the police or the prosecution authority must again apply on behalf of the victim. In general, when a residence permit expires the person must leave Denmark.
If a victim of human trafficking has stayed in Denmark during a reflection period followed by a
residence permit for the purpose of a police investigation or prosecution, the voluntary return may be planned to be carried out when the victim’s presence in Denmark is no longer required.
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Type of assistance and contact details
Type of assistance Institution/organization Contact details Coordinating body, support
and identification of victims,
contact persons for victims
of trafficking etc. Outreach
and health clinicsThe Danish Centre against Human Trafficking (The CMM) Hotline: (+45) 70 20 25 50
Email: cmm@socialstyrelsen.dkAccommodation of victims Reden International Hørhuset Reden Int. (+45) 33 91 48 10
E-mail: ms@redeninternational.dk
Hørhuset: (+45) 32 55 56 22NGOs (social support, outreach/ identification/Health clinics) HopeNow
AmiAmi
Reden InternationalHopeNow: (+45) 26 16 10 12
E-mail: info@hopenow.dk
More detailed info:
https://hopenow.dk/
AmiAmi: (+45) 21 693414
E-mail: vnn@amiami.dk
More detailed info:
https://amiami.dk/
Reden Int.: (+45) 33 91 48 10
E-mail: ms@redeninternational.dk
More detailed info:
https://kfuksa.dk/Investigation National Centre of Investigation of the Danish National Police (NEC) Phone: (+45) 33 14 88 88
E-mail: nec-menneskehandel@politi.dk
Hotline: (+45) 45 15 42 00Assisted voluntary return ERIN – European Reintegration Network or ERSO – a network of several European Reintegration Support Organizations Phone: (+45) 45 33 53 94
E-mail: iomcopenhagenavr@iom.int
More detailed info:
https://returnnetwork.eu/
https://www.ersonetwork.org