Request support for victims of human trafficking

The information service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to support victims of human trafficking who seek information about the available means of support and protection.

It is an anonymous and confidential service.

Service channels

Learn where you can carry out the service and what are the advantages of each channel

Who can Request support for victims of human trafficking?

Any person.

WHEN CAN YOU REQUEST SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

At any time. The phone line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

HOW MUCH does IT COST TO REQUEST SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

The telephone line is paid. It costs the same as a call to the mobile network.

How can you Request support for victims of human trafficking?

By calling the national human trafficking victim support line at 964 608 288, you will get support from experts in dealing with victims of human trafficking.

You can ask for support in identifying signs of this crime, information on victims' rights, psychological support, existing support resources, and information on where to go. 

When faced with evidence of this crime, the team that provides telephone support can also provide direct assistance to the victim in person and/or request the intervention of the Criminal Police.

Depending on the location of the alleged victim, he or she can be referred to or directly contacted by the Specialized Regional Multidisciplinary Teams (EME) for Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking.

Contact the EMEs by phone:

  • 918 654 101 (EME TSH Norte)
  • 918 654 104 (EME TSH Centro)
  • 918 654 106 (EME TSH Alentejo)
  • 913 858 556 (EME TSH Lisboa)
  • 918 882 942 (EME TSH Algarve)

Regional telephone contacts are also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Contact the EMEs by e-mail:

Emails are only checked during working hours (9am to 6pm). In case of urgent issues it is advisable to use the phone contacts to ensure a quick response.

 

Additional information

Human trafficking uses violence, threats and abuse, among other means, for purposes that include sexual exploitation, labor exploitation, forced begging, slavery, organ extraction and the commission of criminal activities.

Human trafficking is a public crime, which means that a complaint can be filed not only by the victim, but also by third parties.

Human trafficking is punishable by imprisonment from 3 to 10 years.

These penalties are applicable as follows:

  • 1 to 5-year prison sentence for anyone who offers, delivers, solicits or accepts a minor in exchange for payment
  • 1 to 5 years in prison for anyone who uses the services or organs of the victim and has knowledge of this practice
  • up to 3 years in prison for anyone who withholds, conceals, damages or destroys the identification or travel documents of a victim of human trafficking.

These sentences can be aggravated by 3 years (minimum limit) to 12 years (maximum limit), if the person acts professionally or with the intention of having profit from human trafficking.

In the case of an aggravated sentence, an additional one-third of the minimum and maximum limits is added, i.e. an additional 1 to 4 years (4 to 16 years in total), if:

  • the action has endangered the life of the victim
  • violence was used or caused serious harm to the victim
  • the action was committed by an employee in the performance of his/her duties
  • the action was committed within the framework of a criminal association
  • the action resulted in suicide of the victim.

For more information consult the following portals: