3071-The political economy of new slavery

88 The Belgian Counter-trafficking Policy
The intensity of the support varies from client to client and is therefore
based on the individual needs of the client. Every person has different
qualities, questions and needs. This makes it very difficult to give a
general description of psycho-social support.
For every new client, the assistance starts with an intake procedure. 9
The intake is not always the first step in the assistance plan. Victims
often find themselves in a situation of crisis so that the initial help
focuses on redressing that situation. There may be a need to provide
them with a safe place where they can feel comfortable and rest or in
cases where the victim has been seriously injured as a result of their
ordeal, they need to be referred to a doctor or a hospital. There can be
various ways for victims to be referred to a specialist organization.
One of the clients’ most urgent needs at their first contact with
Payoke is a place to stay where they feel safe. In most cases victims are
lodged in the organization’s safe house (Asmodee), which is located at
a secret address in Antwerp. Sometimes the victim needs to be referred
to another safe house in case there is a security problem or a lack of
lodging capacity.
Most clients have medical problems. Some of those problems need
urgent care. In general victims have to undergo a routine medical check
up. Mental health is also a very important issue. Most victims of human
trafficking suffer from one or more mental health problems, such as
stress or depression, and it is very important that they are provided with
adequate care. Apart from individual referral to psychotherapists, focus
discussion groups are organized for those who are living in the shelter.
In a safe house victims can come to rest. They have the opportunity
to eat, to sleep, to take a shower or a bath, to get clothes, and to do
all of this in a safe environment. In a safe house, staff offer the victims
Table 4.2
Agencies as first contact
First contact with victims through: Percentage in 2001
Police services 42
Judicial services 2
Confiding in someone (such as out-reach workers, 63
acquaintances, etc.)
Other organizations and services (such as 21
organizations that support people without
documents, hospitals, etc.)
Asylum centres 2.5
Source: Payoke, 2002: 27