This handbook will increase diplomatic and consular staff’s knowledge about trafficking in human beings and will provide tools on how to react if there is any suspicion or discovery of a case of human trafficking. The structure and content of the Training Seminars have been reflected in the handbook and inputs given by relevant practitioners working in the field have been incorporated. The different chapters will show what consular officers can do to properly assist and protect victims of human trafficking. In the back of the handbook there are telephone numbers of relevant organisations in the Baltic Sea States (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the European Commission) that one can call once suspecting or coming across a victim of human trafficking. This handbook will equip its readers with the capacity to: * act as a first filter against human trafficking, for example, when processing visa applications * protect individuals and nationals against exploitation * assist in cases of safe return for identified victims * cooperate with relevant actors to prevent and counteract human trafficking Give an overview of: • what human trafficking is • why it takes place • the international legal framework on human trafficking Assist consular personnel to: • identify victims of human trafficking • refer them to the right people and organisations • understand the special considerations that need to be kept in mind when dealing with victims of trafficking