1. Elisa Trossero, Head, Anti-Trafficking Programme, ICMPD
Co-funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund of the European Union
“MULTI-STAKEHOLDER TRANSNATIONAL SEMINAR FOLLOWING THE TRACES BETWEEN MIGRATION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING – FROM EXPLOITATION TO INTEGRATION”
Tuesday 27 November 2018, Stockholm
Trafficking along migration routes to Europe: Bridging the Gap between Migration, Asylum and Anti-Trafficking
Elisa Trossero, Head, Anti-Trafficking Programme, ICMPD

2. Introduction to TRAM Project
Main donor: European Union – Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF)
Co-funding donors: Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs and all project partners
Project partners:
ICMPD (in the lead);
Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat (CBSS);
Greek National Centre for Social Solidarity (EKKA);
La Strada International (LSI);
Bulgarian National Commission to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings (NCCTHB);
Terre des hommes (Tdh).

3. 3 specific objectives 3 Work Packages
WP 1: Enhancing the knowledge of migration, asylum and anti-trafficking stakeholders in the targeted countries by conducting an assessment on a) the risk of exploitation and trafficking among vulnerable populations; b) gaps and needs analysis on stakeholder capacity in intervention responses and related training needs; and c) analysis of the integration of trafficked people in destination countries
WP 2: Strengthening the capacity of relevant stakeholders and improving the exchange of experiences and best practices for early identification and referral of trafficked people among vulnerable populations, by fostering innovative methods and activities, such as the development of an e-learning module and the implementation of 2 webinars for practitioners; 2 national trainings are also envisaged in BG and Greece
WP 3: Enabling integration possibilities in destination countries by developing local level model strategic plans for integration of victims of trafficking among vulnerable populations in selected destination countries (Germany, Finland and Sweden), as well as designing an integration roadmap targeting policy makers

4. Key outputs
Enhanced knowledge among migration, asylum and anti-trafficking stakeholders in the targeted countries as a result of the research assessment on the topics covered
Strengthened multi-stakeholder cooperation at national and transnational level through their participation in two transnational seminars targeting a wide range of professionals
Improved early identification, referral, service provision and protection of victims of trafficking among vulnerable populations by delivering two national workshops and two webinars, as well as by making the e-learning module available online
Enabled integration possibilities for victims of trafficking among vulnerable populations as a result of national roundtables and simulation exercises/workshops held in Sweden, Germany and Finland, model strategic plans and an Integration Roadmap for trafficked people

5. TRAM Research Assessment
Countries Under Study: AT, BG, FI, MK, DE, EL, RS, SE
Objective: Enhance knowledge on THB and exploitation trends along migration routes and identify gaps, challenges and good practices in the identification, referral, protection and rehabilitation of THB victims in the context of the current migration and asylum processes.

6. Interdisciplinary methodology
Methodological approach and research instruments
Interdisciplinary methodology
Analysis
(qualitative and quantitative sources)
Field Research
Desk Research
Country-Specific Research Instruments
Literature review
Mapping stakeholders/informants
Interviews with informants
Focus group meetings
Country report template
Triangulation
of sources
159 semi structured interviews were conducted (average 20 interviews per country)

7. Research questions
What are the risks of exploitation and trafficking for vulnerable migrants and refugees along the Western Balkans route, including unaccompanied and separated children (UASC)?
What are the gaps and training needs among frontline responders working along the route in identifying potential trafficking cases and responding appropriately?
What are the gaps, needs and good practices in the protection and rehabilitation of trafficked people, including UASCs?

8. RQ 1 – Key Findings: Low identification
THB related to migrant smuggling
Forms of trafficking
Risks Factors - legal and policy
Risks Factors – Individual Level

9. RQ 2 – Key Findings:
Lack of THB Indicators in the context of mixed migration flow
Disconnect between migration, asylum and anti-trafficking
Lack of identification of THB victims among migrants outside the reception system
Barriers to identification – Individual Level
Barriers to identification – systemic level
Training needs

10. RQ 3 – Key Findings:
Gaps in the provision of short and long-term protection and assistance
Residence status contingent upon participation in criminal proceedings
Remark: Limited findings in the area of protection and rehabilitation of THB victims among people using the Balkan route. Protection and rehabilitation systems for victims of trafficking and their potential gaps, can only be “tested” if a significant number of presumed trafficking victims are first identified and referred.

11. Recommendations
Improve understanding of trafficking and exploitation – acknowledge migrants as legal subjects;
Mitigate the risk factors – access to basic service; legal access to opportunities for regular work, regardless of their status;
Reconcile asylum, migration and anti-trafficking procedures;
Remove, or mitigate, barriers to identification and referral;
Improve accommodation and provision of protection;
Improve access to residence permits.

12. Thank you for your attention!
Elisa Trossero
Head
Anti-Trafficking Programme
International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)