Moldovan trafficking victims become more isolated and vulnerable, says UN-OSCE report
(Teun Voeten/Hollandse Hoogte, 1999)Trafficked women in the Balkans, victims of modern-day slavery. (Teun Voeten/Hollandse Hoogte, 1999) Photo details
CHISINAU, 17 December 2003 - Failure to protect the human rights of trafficking victims is a key obstacle to progress in the fight against trafficking and organized crime in Moldova, the United Nations and the OSCE Mission to Moldova warn in a joint report on human trafficking in south-eastern Europe.
The report, which was launched by UNICEF, the OSCE Mission, the UN Development Programme and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Chisinau today, finds a decline in the number of trafficking victims identified and assisted in the whole region. In Moldova, the number of trafficked victims returning through an International Organization for Migration (IOM) programme first decreased in 2002 by 20 per cent. Later, this figure fell further, with a 35 per cent drop in the number of victims identified and assisted by IOM in 2003. A total of 30 per cent of those persons were children (that is, persons below the age of 18) at the time they were trafficked.
However, the report also states that this decrease reflects rather ineffective law enforcement and a lack of options for women and children who have been trafficked than an actual decline in the scale of trafficking. There is still no information about the number of women deported back to Moldova. At the same time, there has been no real increase in the prosecution or sentencing of traffickers. The report also says that, while law enforcement relied on the testimonies of the victims, it was unable to provide them with the necessary safety and support.
The report was initially launched on 11 December by UNICEF, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) within the framework of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and its Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings.
It examines the situation in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, including the UN-administered province of Kosovo, Moldova and Romania, between November 2002 and April 2003. Today's presentation in Chisinau focused on the section on Moldova, which is one of the main countries of origin in the region.
The comprehensive report assesses the impact of law enforcement and migration approaches to anti-trafficking actions in South East Europe, as well as the implications for current anti-trafficking structures. It concludes that there is an urgent need to adopt a human rights approach to victim identification, protection and assistance.
The report highlights a paradox: an increase in anti-trafficking activities in the region, such as legislative reform and concerted police actions, but little progress on assisting the actual victims of trafficking.
The report draws attention to the fact that trafficking patterns have changed, making it increasingly difficult for law enforcement agencies to find and identify women and children who are victims of trafficking. The decrease in numbers reflects the change in the modus operandi of the traffickers. For instance in Moldova traffickers invest more in safe travel both by air and with legal documents. There is evidence of an increase of trafficking within countries, blurring the distinctions between countries of origin, transit and destination. Trafficking routes are also changing with new routes from Moldova towards the Middle East and Arab countries.
Weak law enforcement and a narrow focus on migration combine to prevent effective response to these changes. As a result, trafficking in women and children is more hidden and victims have become even more isolated and vulnerable.
The report also focuses on the lack of protection or legal support for trafficking victims who agree to testify against their traffickers. This is especially relevant for countries of origin like Moldova. Instead of receiving protection, the ordeal of many women and children often continues during the assistance and repatriation process. They are left without sufficient support and are often stigmatised upon their return. This report blames the lack of minimum standards for agencies assisting victims of trafficking, the limited options available to women and children who have been trafficked prior to repatriation, and gaps in services for trafficking victims in both the country of destination and origin.
Key recommendations include:
The focus of UNICEF, the OSCE Mission to Moldova and UNDP/UNOHCHR in Moldova is to support the Moldovan Government in addressing these key issues.
The report, which was launched by UNICEF, the OSCE Mission, the UN Development Programme and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Chisinau today, finds a decline in the number of trafficking victims identified and assisted in the whole region. In Moldova, the number of trafficked victims returning through an International Organization for Migration (IOM) programme first decreased in 2002 by 20 per cent. Later, this figure fell further, with a 35 per cent drop in the number of victims identified and assisted by IOM in 2003. A total of 30 per cent of those persons were children (that is, persons below the age of 18) at the time they were trafficked.
However, the report also states that this decrease reflects rather ineffective law enforcement and a lack of options for women and children who have been trafficked than an actual decline in the scale of trafficking. There is still no information about the number of women deported back to Moldova. At the same time, there has been no real increase in the prosecution or sentencing of traffickers. The report also says that, while law enforcement relied on the testimonies of the victims, it was unable to provide them with the necessary safety and support.
The report was initially launched on 11 December by UNICEF, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) within the framework of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and its Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings.
It examines the situation in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, including the UN-administered province of Kosovo, Moldova and Romania, between November 2002 and April 2003. Today's presentation in Chisinau focused on the section on Moldova, which is one of the main countries of origin in the region.
The comprehensive report assesses the impact of law enforcement and migration approaches to anti-trafficking actions in South East Europe, as well as the implications for current anti-trafficking structures. It concludes that there is an urgent need to adopt a human rights approach to victim identification, protection and assistance.
The report highlights a paradox: an increase in anti-trafficking activities in the region, such as legislative reform and concerted police actions, but little progress on assisting the actual victims of trafficking.
The report draws attention to the fact that trafficking patterns have changed, making it increasingly difficult for law enforcement agencies to find and identify women and children who are victims of trafficking. The decrease in numbers reflects the change in the modus operandi of the traffickers. For instance in Moldova traffickers invest more in safe travel both by air and with legal documents. There is evidence of an increase of trafficking within countries, blurring the distinctions between countries of origin, transit and destination. Trafficking routes are also changing with new routes from Moldova towards the Middle East and Arab countries.
Weak law enforcement and a narrow focus on migration combine to prevent effective response to these changes. As a result, trafficking in women and children is more hidden and victims have become even more isolated and vulnerable.
The report also focuses on the lack of protection or legal support for trafficking victims who agree to testify against their traffickers. This is especially relevant for countries of origin like Moldova. Instead of receiving protection, the ordeal of many women and children often continues during the assistance and repatriation process. They are left without sufficient support and are often stigmatised upon their return. This report blames the lack of minimum standards for agencies assisting victims of trafficking, the limited options available to women and children who have been trafficked prior to repatriation, and gaps in services for trafficking victims in both the country of destination and origin.
Key recommendations include:
- the need to give practical affect to human rights standards for trafficked persons and special protection for all children under 18 years of age;
- the need to establish national referral mechanisms: ensuring that victims are referred to appropriate support services and ensuring co-operation agreements between law enforcement agencies and non-governmental and international organisations dealing with trafficked people, with special procedures for children.
The focus of UNICEF, the OSCE Mission to Moldova and UNDP/UNOHCHR in Moldova is to support the Moldovan Government in addressing these key issues.