Hyväksikäytetään

Hyväksikäytetty or Hyväksikäytetään is the passive present form of the Finnish verb hyväksikäyttää, meaning to exploit or abuse someone or something for one’s own benefit. The term carries a strong negative connotation and is commonly used when harm, coercion, or taking advantage of vulnerability is involved. It is often contrasted with hyödyn, which can mean to use or utilize something in a neutral sense. The form Hyväksikäytetään specifically denotes that exploitation is happening to the subject, for example in phrases like lapsia hyväksikäytetään or työvoimaa hyväksikäytetään.

The concept covers several domains. Interpersonally, it refers to abuse or exploitation of individuals, including sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, or coercion. Economically, it can describe the exploitation of workers through underpayment, unsafe or oppressive working conditions, or other unfair labor practices. It may also apply to the exploitation of resources or the environment, such as overuse or mismanagement of natural resources. In reporting and policy discourse, the passive form is frequently used to describe ongoing or observed harm.

Legal and social context varies by jurisdiction but generally treats exploitation as a serious offense. In many countries, acts described by hyvaksikäyttö—especially in relation to vulnerable groups such as children or undocumented workers—are addressed under criminal law, human rights standards, and anti-trafficking frameworks. Public institutions, non-governmental organizations, and media often focus on prevention, victim support, and accountability to reduce and respond to exploitation.

Related terms include hyväksikäyttö, seksuaalinen hyväksikäyttö, and ihmiskauppa, which describe exploitation in related contexts.