The breakaway region of Transnistria remains a particular problem, given the lack of control exercised by the Moldovan authorities over the territory. Statistics show that a significant percentage of VoTs assisted by IOM Mission in Moldova come from Transnistria (46 out of a total of 296 in 2006 and 39 of 273 in 2007). Many are sexually exploited in
Moldova has ratified the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the recent Council of Europe Convention. Domestic legislation has been significantly amended to bring it into line with international standards.
Since the Danish programme began in Dec 2005, many changes have taken place as the government has increasingly assumed a leading role in combating trafficking. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection were divided into two separate ministries in early 2007 and the newly created Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child (MoSPFC) has made significant progress in establishing a National Referral System (NRS), with support from IOM. The MoSPFC also co-chairs the anti-trafficking Technical Coordination Meeting (TCM), hosted monthly by OSCE. In addition, a database has now been installed at the MoSPFC’s National Coordination Unit, to consolidate all of the information on individuals receiving assistance through the NRS.
In 2008, the National Committee on Combating Trafficking chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, which had not been operational for some time, began to meet once more to provide a high-level forum for the discussion of trafficking-related issue.
Moldova currently has a state action plan to combat trafficking for 2008 and 2009, which aims to improve coordination between stakeholders, improve the legal framework within which trafficking is tackled, provide capacity building for service providers, and provide a wide range of services – medical, psychological, and legal to victims of trafficking. The plan also aims to prevent trafficking by providing direct assistance to those most vulnerable members of society by improved labour policies, and professional training and employment orientation for those considered to be most at risk of being trafficked.
In Phase II of the Programme (2009-11), further support is now needed to expand the system to the local level, ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are fully involved. This will involve advocacy activities as the government is supported in creating further sustainable mechanisms, including an accreditation system for all service providers in
The focus of the service providers will also broaden, including men, a more specific focus on children, and a greater awareness of forms of exploitation other than sexual.
Capacity building will be provided for the government social assistants, community police, and family doctors in each district who are the first points of contact for many VoTs. They will be trained in identifying VoTs and monitoring the rehabilitation of those receiving assistance. Domestic violence as a major, and thus far largely unaddressed push factor, will also be a focus for Phase II, with an awareness-raising campaign and hotline established. The region of Transnistria, with evidence of high rates of trafficking, will benefit both from the NRS expansion activities and the increased focus on domestic violence.
For the list of country activities, please refer to the Action Plan.
Implementing Organisations in the Country Programme in
International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
La Strada -
Centre for the Prevention of Trafficking in Women (CPTW)
Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE) in
* OSCE plays a coordinating role only and is not an implementing partner for the purposes of this programme. It therefore does not receive any programme funds.