“IMPLEMENTING AND STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL REFERRAL SYSTEM IN MOLDOVA” 26 May, 2009 Reykjavik, Iceland

Means of Combating THB in Moldova Ratification of International Documents and Signing Bilateral/Multilateral Agreements The UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime as of 2000, and the UN Supplementary Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (ratified at ); The Council of Europe Convention on Action against trafficking in Human Beings adopted on 16 May 2005 (ratified on ); Agreements with destination countries (CIS, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine etc.)

Means of Combating THB in Moldova Normative framework of the RM Articles 165 and 206 (prohibiting THB for sexual and forced labor) of the Penal Code of the RM (2003); The Law on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings no.241-XVI of 20 October 2005; National Plans on Prevention and Combating THB (Governmental Decisions no.1219 of and nr. 903 of ); National Plan of Actions in the field of Human Rights for (Decision of parliament of the RM no. 415-XV from ); The Regulation of the National Committee for Combating THB (Decision of the Government of the RM no.775 from ); Establishment of the Centre for Combating Trafficking in Persons (CCTP) in the Ministry of Interior in 2005; The decision of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of Justice of RM no. 37 from ; Regulation - framework of organization and functionality of the Centers of assistance and protection of victims of THB (the Decision of the Government of RM no.1362 from ). The Framework-Regulation on the Organization and Functioning of Centers for Assisting and Protecting Victims of Human Trafficking was approved by Government Decision no.1362 of Council of coordination of law enforcement structures under General Prosecutor, with attributions in the field of THB Law no.105-XVI on the protection of witnesses and other participants in trial (2008) The Government Decision no.847 of 11 July 2008 on the creation of the Center for Assisting and Protecting Victims and Potential Victims of Human Trafficking Additional Action Plan for Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (2008)

The National Counter Trafficking System  General Prosecutor  Director of Information and Security Service  Minister of Justice  Minister of Culture and Tourism  Minister of Local Public Administration  Minister of Health  Minister of Education & Youth  Minister of Informational Development  Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration  General Director of Border Guards Service  General Director Chamber of Licensing  President’s Councilor for Social matters Minister of Interior (Deputy Chair) The National Committee (Chair - Deputy Prime-Minister) Regional and City Committees National NGOs International Organizations & Embassies: IOM, OSCE, ILO, UNDP, U.S. Embassy, others The Center for Combating Trafficking in Persons (law enforcement task force) Minister of Social Protection, Family and Child (Deputy Chair) Permanent Secretariat National Coordination Unit (NRS) District Multi- Disciplinary Teams Local NGOs

National Referral System Example of Moldova What is the National Referral System? (NRS) A framework of collaboration through which the state structures fulfill their responsibilities regarding protection and promotion of the human/victim’s rights and coordinate their efforts in strategic partnership with civil society, as well as with other active actors in this field (a mechanism for the protection of human rights).

National Referral System Example of Moldova NRS – Cooperation framework between Public Authorities and Civil Society The Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child – NRS coordinator; The Ministry of Foreign Affairs & European Integration, the Diplomatic Missions of the Republic of Moldova abroad – identification, consultation, assistance in repatriation, protection of the victim’s of trafficking (VoTs) interest in another countries etc.; The Ministry of Information Development – confirmation of the identity of VoTs abroad, re-issue of the identity & other documents; Border Guard Service – identification of THB cases; The Ministry of Internal Affairs – identification & protection of VoTs; prosecution and criminalization; General Prosecutors Office – measures on the protection of VoTs human rights; The Ministry of Education & Youth – prevention and identification; The Ministry of Health – medical assistance; National Employment Agency – assistance for re/integration of VoTs on the labor market; NGOs and Intergovernmental organizations active in the field ( on the voluntary basis) – technical assistance, identification, protection, rehabilitation and re/integration of VoTs.

Key Principles of the NRS Consent of the person to receive assistance and protection; Confidentiality; Non-discrimination; Unconditional access to assistance and protection services; Individualized approach in processing the needs assessment and assistance provisions; Self-determination; Respect of human rights; Promotion of the best interest of the child.

New Approach within NRS to Protection and Assistance of Victims and Potential Victims of THB: Integration of the NRS into the national system of protection and social assistance; Referral of cases within NRS (partnership between Local Public Administration (LPA) and Civil Society) Prevention of THB through social assistance to vulnerable persons Development of transnational collaboration

Harmonization of the national legislation to international standards in the field of prevention and combating of THB; Development and consolidation of the institutional mechanism; Capacity building of human resources; Raising awareness in the society concerning the trafficking phenomena; Allocation of financial resources in the social assistance budget for the implementation of the specific protection measures for VoTs; NRS Database development Integration of the NRS into the National System of Protection and Social Assistance

Social Assistant Community Police officer Family Doctor Partnership between Government and Civil Society in Moldova: The National Referral System (NRS) NationalDistrictCommunity level National Coordination Unit CAPC (Shelter) Ministry of Social Protection

Prevention of THB Through Social Assistance to Vulnerable Persons Principle: Prevention cannot substitute the creation of jobs, or leverage living standards for potential victims, however it provides the information that is necessary for taking important decisions when striving for a better life. Information: Provides the basic knowledge about the trafficking phenomenon: its definition, mechanism and actors, safe-guard measures, legal opportunities for employment abroad etc. Raising Public Awareness: Attracts the attention of the general public to THB, creates partnership networks on local, regional and national levels to enlarge the possibilities for identification and reintegration assistance. Education: Provides basic life skills, development of civic attitude and tolerance towards victims of trafficking, disproof of the basic existing myths within the society. Active prevention: Assisting potential VoTs, VoTs family members, children from boarding schools/residential institutions – vulnerable persons with a profile similar to victims prior to trafficking experience. –Secondary prevention measures - Vocational and professional training, economic empowerment program –Tertiary prevention measures - Rehabilitation and reintegration, legal counseling, medical and social assistance –Structural prevention measures - Restructuring and refurbishing of low-threshold assistance centers

Prevention of THB Through Social Assistance to Vulnerable Persons (continued) Overall Data During IOM provided assistance to 2443 Victims of Trafficking, including 196 children During IOM provided assistance to more than 1600 persons being at immediate risk of being trafficked Cases Assisted through NRS Between June 2006 and Dec. 2008, 433 persons were assisted within the NRS (159 VoTs and 274 at risk cases).

Development of Transnational Collaboration 1.Assistance and/or repatriation to adult VoTs; 2.Protection and repatriation of unaccompanied minors identified outside the country; 3.Fostering the development and signing of cooperative collaborations in the field.

Achievements of NRS (June 2006 – December 2008) 1.Normative Framework: –NRS strategy was approved by decision of Parliament in December 2008; –The Regulation on Repatriation prepared with the active involvement of representatives of NCU, IOM, and TdH (children chapter) was adopted by Government in July –In May 2008 MoU on the SOPs in Assistance of VoTs and at risk groups between MSPFC, CCTiP, General Prosecutors Office, IOM, La Strada and CPTW was signed. 2.Shelter Institutionalization: –On 18 of July, 2008 Government of RM adopted the decision of institutionalization for the Rehabilitation Centre for VoTs and Potential VoTs previously run by IOM; 3.NRS Expansion to Rayons and Community level: –Establishment of NRS in 16 Rayons, 2 Municipalities (Chisinau and Balti) and 1 City (Otaci), including 11 in partnership with TdH. –Increased role of Local Authorities, previously 80% of Victims were identified abroad, 70% of victims are now identified in-country 4.DB identification module developed and installed in the NCU through ICMPD Project; –Standard Screening Form developed, validated and under piloting;

Thank you very much for your attention! Mr. Blaec Kalweit Prevention and Protection Programme Assistant IOM Mission to Moldova