Forensic significance of the victim’s personality in proceedings on child trafficking in the context of armed conflict

Forensic significance of the victim’s personality in proceedings on child trafficking in the context of armed conflict. The article examines the forensic significance of the victim in criminal proceedings concerning child trafficking in the context of the armed conflict in Ukraine. The author emphasizes that the victim is a key element in both the criminal-law and forensic characterization of the crime, as their social, psychological, age-related, and material characteristics determine the mechanism of the offense, the perpetrator’s motives, the selection of the victim, and the formulation of effective investigative hypotheses. The article analyzes the legal definition of the victim according to Part 1, Article 55 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine and international standards, including the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. Distinctions between the criminal-law, criminal-procedural, and forensic approaches to understanding the victim are examined, as well as the specifics of procedural status and the emergence of the rights and duties of the victim. Special attention is given to children as the most vulnerable category of victims, considering their age, social, and legal characteristics, as well as the specifics of abduction, exploitation, and trafficking under wartime conditions. Analysis of criminal proceedings indicates that entries in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations concerning child trafficking are mostly related to sexual and labor exploitation. The study highlights the high level of latent crimes, the transnational nature of illegal child transfers, the use of complex exploitation schemes, and digital technologies for coordinating criminal activity. It is concluded that effective investigation of these offenses requires a comprehensive approach that combines forensic methods with international legal mechanisms, inter-agency coordination, and specialized measures for child protection. The results of the study may be applied in criminological and forensic research, law enforcement practice, and legislative regulation in combating human and child trafficking.