Protection for victims of human trafficking or smuggling

When are you considered a victim of human trafficking?

If you are staying in Belgium, do not have Belgian nationality and are in more than one of the following situations:

• You have ended up in a different situation to what you were promised.
• You are forced to do things you don't want to do.
• Your wage is much lower than what you were promised. You are not paid, or paid very little, for the work you do.
• You are obliged to work by the people who brought you here, to pay for your trip.
• You or your family are threatened, and/or you are the victim of violence.
• Your documents have been taken or are being withheld.
• You are confined. You live in isolation from the outside world.
• You ended up in Belgium after a long journey, for which you had to pay a lot of money, you were a victim of violence or your life was at risk.

What protection is there for victims of human trafficking?

As a victim of human trafficking, you can obtain residency status, on condition that:

• You cooperate with the investigation into these offences.
• You have no further contact with the perpetrators of these offences
• You agree to be supported by one of the three specialised reception centres in Belgium:
  • in Brussels: PAG-ASA
  • in Antwerp: PAYOKE
  • In Liege: SÜRYA

 Support in reception centres

The three reception centres help victims with:

• safe shelter
• medical and psychological support
• legal assistance