News and Events
419 victims of human trafficking assisted through the Danish Programme during the first phase of the Programme implementation |
| Posted by admin (dpahtese) on 21/12/2006 at 11:51 |
419 victims of trafficking in human beings from Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine received reintegration assistance under the Danish Programme Against Human Trafficking in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe during 4 (four) months period (1 May 2006 – 31 August 2006) of the Programme implementation.
Belarus:
Since the commencement of the Danish Programme four months ago, 277 victims of human trafficking got access to reintegration assistance, including medical and legal assistance, housing allowance, educational grants, psychological counselling, family allowance, in-country transportation and other services provided by International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Mission in Belarus with the support of Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
94 persons, including 77 women and 17 men, among those 277 where identified and included into IOM reintegration programme during this period. 75% of the newly identified victims of trafficking suffered from sexual exploitation, 24 of them were exposed to forced labour.
In addition, within this period, 7 victims received specialised medical assistance and psychological support of high quality in the recently opened IOM Medical Rehabilitation Centre, which has been operating since mid July.
Moldova:
IOM Moldova assisted 53 Moldovan victims of trafficking in their recovery and return to normal life owing to the DMFA’s support during May-August 2006. 29 of them were assisted by the Mother and Child Friendly Wing of the IOM Rehabilitation Centre, the rest 24 by the RC Adults Wing.
Victims accommodated at the IOM Rehabilitation Centres got a possibility to participate in the Crisis Intervention Programme, which provides short-term assistance designed specially for each person’s needs.
Moreover, beneficiaries of IOM Rehabilitation Programme get access to legal assistance provided by the lawyers of the Centre for Prevention of Trafficking in Women (CPTW), also a partner to the Danish Programme. It has become possible due to the simplified referral procedure developed by IOM Chisinau and CPTW. Hence, the CPTW lawyer provides basic legal counseling If desired by VoT lawyer proceeds with advocacy by initiating a civil or/and criminal suit; processing documentation related issues; court representation.
- During the first four months of the Programme Implementation, the following results have been achieved through this cooperation:
- 26 Rehabilitation Programme beneficiaries received legal consultations on matters pertaining to civil, administrative, family and housing as well as documentation issues;
- 3 civil suits were initiated;
- 5 cases have been referred to CPTW for initiating criminal suites (the nature of perpetrators’ acts toward VoTs were determined as ‘Trafficking in human beings’, under art. 165 of Moldovan Criminal Code).
Ukraine:
During the period between 1 May 2006 and 31 August 2006 with the support of Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs 89 Ukrainian victims of trafficking were included into the IOM Kyiv Rehabilitation Programme to access psychological, legal, social and medical assistance through IOM, national NGOs and civil society organizations in the regions.
Reintegration assistance provided to VoTs in a framework of IOM Kyiv Reintegration Programme is a process where VoTs, if desired, receive different types of assistance depending on their needs. The assistance package is administrated by IOM Kyiv in cooperation with partner NGOs working in the field and is being different on case-by-case basis. Therefore, the reintegration of mentioned 89 VoTs is not complete yet, but interim.
Further case monitoring and reintegration assistance to the registered VoTs is currently being carried out.
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At present IOM is the leading worldwide organization carrying out concrete counter-trafficking activities. The approaches to countering trafficking and in particular direct assistance to victims of trafficking applied by IOM field missions differ from country to country in accordance with local circumstances and specific needs of each victim. Therewith all IOM missions, including those based in Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus, adhere to the following principles in their counter-trafficking activities:
- IOM is committed to curtailing migrant trafficking and to protecting the rights of migrants who have become victims of trafficking, and to acting to achieve respect for and protection of the human dignity and well-being of migrants.
- The protection, safety and respect of human rights of actual and potential trafficking victims are the guiding principles and are followed at all times.
- All IOM services to trafficking victims are provided on the basis of the informed consent of a victim.
- IOM counter-trafficking activity is based on principles set out in the United Nation Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and Children and in the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – Principles and Guidelines on Human Trafficking and Human Rights;
- In providing assistance to children who have become victims of trafficking, IOM staff always acts in accordance with the best interest of a child