CRIMES AGAINST THE WILL, HONOR AND DIGNITY OF THE PERSON: CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES OF COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of crimes against the will, honor, and dignity of a person, in particular, crimes related to human trafficking in Ukraine. The article analyzes the current state of national criminal legislation, the practice of its application, and problematic aspects of crimes related to the illegal exploitation of persons. These issues of human trafficking have become particularly acute under the influence of factors such as martial law, internal and external migration, and socio-economic instability, which increase the risks of human trafficking. International standards in the field of human rights protection and their implementation in the Ukrainian legal field are considered. The main obstacles to the effective detection and investigation of such crimes, as well as problems in ensuring the rights of victims, are identified. Proposals are formulated to improve criminal law and organizational mechanisms to combat human trafficking, enhance interagency cooperation, and strengthen preventive measures. Introduction. Ensuring and protecting human rights remains one of the key priorities of a modern constitutional state. Crimes against the will, honor, and dignity of individuals, which directly infringe on fundamental human rights and undermine the foundations of a democratic society, occupy a special place in this area. Among such crimes, one of the most dangerous and latent forms of illegal activity is human trafficking. In the context of martial law, mass population displacement, economic instability, and intensified migration processes, the problem of combating human trafficking in Ukraine has become particularly relevant. Despite the existence of a developed regulatory framework and the implementation of international standards, the practical application of criminal law provisions in the field of combating human trafficking remains difficult and requires further scientific research. The aim of the study is to conduct a comprehensive scientific and legal analysis of crimes against the will, honor, and dignity of individuals in the context of contemporary challenges in combating human trafficking in Ukraine, to identify problems in law enforcement practice, and to develop proposals for improving criminal law and organizational mechanisms for combating this phenomenon. Materials and methods of research. The normative basis of the research consists of the provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (hereinafter referred to as the CC of Ukraine), as well as regulatory and legal acts in the field of combating human trafficking. The empirical basis consists of materials from scientific publications and works by Ukrainian lawyers. The work uses formal-legal, systemic-structural, and comparative-legal methods, as well as a generalization of judicial practice to identify problems in the classification of this crime. Research results. The study found that human trafficking, as a crime against the will, honor, and dignity of a person, is characterized by the complexity of its objective side and the variety of methods of commission provided for in Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Problems of criminal law classification, differentiation from related crimes, and proving the purpose of exploitation in conditions of martial law were identified. Conclusions and prospects for further research. The need to improve approaches to the application of Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and to ensure the uniformity of judicial practice is substantiated. Promising areas for further research include the analysis of international experience in combating human trafficking, as well as the development of proposals to improve the effectiveness of criminal law protection for persons in a state of increased vulnerability.