30 July marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons — a day to raise awareness about exploitation, strengthen protection for people at risk, and remind institutions that safety begins long before a crisis becomes visible.

For people in migration, access to safe and verified information can be critical. When someone arrives in a new country, they may urgently need housing, work, transport, documents, medical care, or social support. In such situations, a person may be more likely to accept help quickly — especially when they do not know the local system, do not speak the language confidently, or feel that they have no other option.

This is where risks can appear.

An offer may look helpful at first: a job without clear conditions, housing arranged through unknown people, transport with unclear details, “fast help” with documents, or promises that sound too easy. For someone under pressure, it may be difficult to assess whether the offer is safe.

That is why prevention is not only about warning people after something has gone wrong. It is also about making safe support easier to reach before a person is forced to make decisions alone.

Safe navigation means helping people understand where to turn, what questions to ask, which services are verified, and what steps may be risky. It also means providing referrals that are clear, trustworthy, and based on a person’s real situation — not simply passing them from one contact to another.

For Ukrainian refugees and other people in migration, this kind of support can reduce isolation and uncertainty. It can help a person check information before accepting an offer, understand their rights, and find safer options when they need assistance with housing, work, documents, healthcare, or social services.

It is also important that support is confidential and non-judgemental. People may hesitate to ask for help because they are afraid of being blamed, misunderstood, or not taken seriously. But risk often grows when people feel they have to handle everything alone.

RefAid BaltHUB works to make support more accessible through safe navigation, accompaniment, and referrals. The goal is to help people in migration find verified support and avoid being left alone with complex systems or potentially unsafe situations.

On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the message is clear: protection starts with access. Access to trusted information. Access to safe referrals. Access to people who can help without judgement.

If you are not sure where to turn, or if an offer feels suspicious, seek verified support.

You do not have to navigate risk alone.