Moldova's national committee on fighting trafficking of human beings analyzes current situation in sector

Chisinau, 05 April /MOLDPRES/ – The National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (TFU), chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Tudor Ulianovschi, discussed implementation process of the National Referral System (SNR), financial compensation granted to victims of trafficking in human beings, draft law on modification and completion of the Criminal Code, etc., the MAEIE’s public diplomacy, strategic communication and media interaction service has reported.

According to Minister Tudor Ulianovschi, during the first months of 2018, central authorities took a number of measures in respective direction, adopting a set of legislative and normative acts, aimed at improving the situation in respective compartment, achieving objectives assumed on both internally and externally. In this context, Chairman of the Committee highlighted the approval of Government of the National Strategy for Prevention and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for 2018 – 2023 and Action Plan 2018 – 2020 for Strategy's implementation, adoption of Parliament of amendments and additions to Prevention Act and combating trafficking in human beings, etc.

"Some of the Strategy's objectives and activities in Action Plan do not currently have financial coverage in state budget, but their results are of major importance for the field and should be carried out in accordance with international recommendations addressed to Moldova on it. Therefore, I encourage members of National Committee and relevant institutions to implement actions included in Action Plan 2018 – 2020 and in upcoming years to gradually plan necessary resources in state budget for this purpose," said Minister Ulianovschi.

At the meeting, Ecaterina Berejan presented the National Report on Prevention and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for 2017, which summed up most important achievements in the field, as well as problems at respective department. In this context, head of the Permanent Secretariat of the National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings indicated that during 2017, there were identified 201 cases of TFU among adults and 48 cases among under – aged ones, all of them benefiting from necessary assistance. The document has to be published on the website www.antitrafic.gov.md.

Minister of Internal Affairs (MAI), Alexandru Jizdan, mentioned that institution has been examining possibility of using psychological practices in police commissariats specialised in providing assistance to victims of domestic violence and providing necessary support for victims of trafficking in human beings.

The members of Committee also examined and approved Regulation on how to organise and run national competition for selection of candidates for membership of Expert Group on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), informative note on implementation of the National System of Referral (SNR) in 2017 and new vision to strengthen SNR, Status of Assistance and Protection Centre, etc.  

The event was attended by representatives of civil society, diplomatic missions accredited in Moldova, who completed working agenda of anti – trafficking community for next period.