Launching of the National Campaign “Week of fight against trafficking in human beings”

             Chişinău, 16 October 2014 - Today, the Permanent Secretariat of the National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings has officially launched the National Campaign „Week of fight against trafficking in human beings", which will take place for the 3rd consecutive year, from 16 to 23 October. The aim of the Campaign is to prevent trafficking in human beings (THB) by informing the population, especially young people, about the risks of this phenomenon, especially on methods of recruitment in the online environment. Furthermore, the anti-trafficking community will highlight the accessibility of services and assistance and protection programs developed in the Republic of Moldova, which will be used by the victims and potential victims of THB for the rehabilitation and social reintegration.

             During the week there will be organized a series of activities in Chişinau and other regions of the Republic of Moldova such as, art exhibitions, thematic workshops, public debates with young people and a flashmob at the end of the Campaign. The activities will be conducted in the context of marking on 18 October the „European Day Against Trafficking in Human Beings", which was launched for the first time in 2007 by the European Commission.

             As a signatory party to the Council of Europe Convention on action against trafficking in human beings and other international treaties, the Republic of Moldova undertook the responsability to develop a legal framework to respond to new tendencies of this phenomenon, using the national policy documents and creating partnerships with civil society and international organizations in order to develop and consolidate the mechanisms and instruments, such as:

-         National Plan on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings for 2014-2016, which is the seventh consecutive plan aproved by a Government Decision;

-         The Strategy of the National Referral System for protection and assistance victims and potential victims of the trafficking in human beings (NRS Strategy) for 2009-2016, aproved by a Parliament Decision;          

-         Regional centers for assistance and protection of the THB victims and the Highly specialized Center of Chisinau;

-         Law enforcement institutions, which have the responsability to investigate the crime and to punish the traffickers.

              At the event Mrs. Ana Revenco, Director of the Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons of the GIP of the  MIA stressed, that being aware of the role of the police in preventing and combating trafficking in human beings, the Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons, as a specialized agency of Police in this field, has focused its activity on developing the capacities of:

-         recognition of the signs, identifying cases of THB and ensuring a prompt police intervention in the realities of a changeable and dynamic phenomenon; with this purpose, we enhanced abilities of analyzing and forecasting the tendencies of the phenomenon, which allowed the elaboration of some argued recommendations on directions for intervention; in the same context, we ensure the continuous training of police officers on identifying and working with victims of trafficking in persons;

-         conduct proactive and efficient investigations in order to establish the organized nature of illegal acts, detaining and relegation to justice of the all criminals involved, especially of the organizers, not just of those with an episodic role; for this end, we have optimized the exchange of information and cooperation with foreign homologues, we have implemented the principle of specialization of investigation officers on various types of trafficking, we applied complex methods of investigation, inclusively through the financial side of trafficking in persons' offenses;

-         respect and protection of the victims' rights; for this purpose was operationalized the referral mechanism of the victims to assistance and protection unconditional of cooperation with the police, as well as there was developed the practice of hearing vulnerable victims, especially children, in friendly conditions, with participation of psychologists. From this perspective, there still remains current cooperation with social partners including non-governmental organizations.

             At the same time, Nicola Harrington-Buhay,  United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative mentioned: „In the last years, the Government of the Republic of Moldova, has shown increasing efforts and the will to align to the international standards and principles. The reform of the law enforcement bodies which deal with combating trafficking in persons; implementation of the National Referral System for the protection and assistance of victims and potential victims of trafficking (NRS); creation of some governmental structures for the development, coordination and monitoring of antitrafficking policies; financial coverage for the needs of the victims are signs of the progress of this undertaking. However, there can be and must be made more efforts".  

            Through this Campaign, will be promoted also the safe use of the Internet by children, young people, involving professionals, parents, teachers and the support of the International Center „La Strada".

            Daniela Misail-Nichitin, President of the International Center „La Strada", specified: „La Strada" is still an active member of the anti-trafficking community with many activities of prevention and counteract the phenomenon, especially national Hotline 0 800 77777, which more than 13 years offers in the Republic of Moldova free useful information on safe migration and prevention of human trafficking risks. In consideration of the vertiginous evolution of the information technologies, which are used by people with malicious intentions, International Center "La Strada" initiated and managed an information portal  www.siguronline.md, that intends to inform and prevent cases of accosting, online harassment, and encourages the reporting of any illegal or harmful content for children in the online environment."

        By the end of October, in the Tucano coffeehouse chain and in municipal library Haşdeu, will be held more public activities in order to promote a safer Internet for children. (Details about the event can be found in the matrix of anti-trafficking activities.), recalled Daniela Misiail-Nichitin.

        In conclusion, Ecaterina Berejan, Head of the Permanent Secretariat of the National Committee for Combating THB encouraged the anti-trafficking community, LPA and the private sector to examine the international experience of creating public-private partnership for preventing and combating THB, which would have a direct impact on reducing people's vulnerability to the negative existing effects.

        The National Campaign „Week of fight against trafficking in human beings" is organized by the Permanent Secretariat of the National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in partnership with the Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons, United Nations in the Republic of Moldova, the International Organization for Migration in the Republic of Moldova and the International Center "La Strada". Detailed matrix of all the activities of the Campaign is posted on the website www.antitrafic.gov.md

Contact persons: Ala Vechiu, Nicolae Guriev, Tel/Fax  0 22 250 257, email: antitrafic@gov.md

During the first semester of 2014, there were registered 98 offenses of THB, which shows an increase of 38% compared to the 71 identified in the same period last year. Also, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs information, during the first semester of 2014, 167 victims of THB were identified, representing an increase of approximately 25.5% compared to the first semester of 2013. The tendency of human trafficking slightly increased, is due to the reform of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and consequently the streamlining of the Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons. Within social assistance and protection centers were assisted 56 victims of THB.