La Strada Documentation Center

Analytical Study on the Investigation and Trial of Cases of Trafficking in Persons and Related Offences

Document number
3063
Date
2013
Title
Analytical Study on the Investigation and Trial of Cases of Trafficking in Persons and Related Offences
Author/publisher
IOM Moldova
Availability
View/save PDF version of this document
Document type(s)
National Law, Research/Study/Analysis,
Keywords
human trafficking, human rights, exploitation, compensation, prosecution
Summary
A global phenomenon, trafficking in persons did not by-pass Moldova. As a new democracy that emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the country had to confront a whole range of social and economic problems during its transition period. Trafficking fed on these problems pushing thousands of women, men and children into exploitation in various countries of the world and procuring traffickers and exploiters huge profits. A problem of this magnitude required a proportionate response - consistent efforts to prevent and prosecute the crime, as well as to protect and assist those who became its victims or risk falling into exploitation. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been part of these efforts in Moldova since 2000 when it opened its office in the country. The work you have in front of you is building on this experience but also on an understanding of the huge work still to be done. Over the years IOM, established strong links with government agencies working to prevent and fight trafficking, including the Ministry of Interior’s Centre for Combating Trafficking in Persons (CCTiP) and the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family (MLSPF). IOM showed commitment to preventing trafficking by being a key player in providing protection, assistance, repatriation and rehabilitation to victims of trafficking in Moldova and a lead agency in developing the National Referral System (NRS) for assistance and protection of victims and potential victims of trafficking. Since the beginning of its programme in Moldova, the IOM helped in the assistance and protection of over 3,000 victims of trafficking and over 6,000 potential victims of trafficking – vulnerable persons who are exposed to a real risk of being trafficked.