Scientific Journal of the National Academy of Internal Affairs

Combating trafficking in human beings is a task and challenge for the Ukrainian state and constitutes a separate direction of the state policy, which undergone serious development connected with changes in the phenomenon of human trafficking (the types and methods of exploitation and recruitment, geographical regions, the socio-demographic characteristics of persons involved in human trafficking etc.). The purpose of the article is to exam the process and stages of the formation of the state policy on combating trafficking in human beings in Ukraine from the mid-1990s to the present, in order to ensure its further effective development and implementation. The methodological basis of the publication is a dialectical approach to the knowledge of social and legal phenomena through historical, legal, comparatively legal and problem-chronological analysis of the formation and implementation of state policies in the field of combating trafficking in human beings, description, classification and systematization of which was carried out using the formal legal method. The above methods, in conjunction with common scientific methods and techniques (scientific abstraction, analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, grouping, analogy, classification) have allowed to comprehensively and effectively investigate certain problems. The scientific novelty of the article is to distinguish the stages of formation and implementation the state policy combating trafficking in human beings. Conclusions. It is proposed to distinguish the following stages of the formation and implementation of the state policy on combating trafficking in human beings: First – preparatory stage – from the declaration of independence of the Ukrainian state until 1995. Second – (from the mid-1990s to 1998) – the stage of recognition of the problem. Third – (1999-2004) – the stage of forming a comprehensive understanding of the problem: from adoption of the first Program for Prevention of Trafficking in Women and Children to the Comprehensive Program for Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings. Fourth – (2004-2009) – the stage of formation of instruments and mechanisms for combating trafficking in human beings. Fifth (2010-2013) – formation of modern legislative and regulatory support for combating trafficking in human beings. Sixth (2014 – to date) – the stage of implementation legislation and active European integration