During the recent official visit to the Assistance and Protection Center for Victims and Potential Victims of Human Trafficking in Chișinău, State Secretary Felicia Bechtold, along with IOM’s Deputy Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Dragan Aleksoski, and Head of the IOM Mission in Moldova, Ester Ruiz de Azua, discussed the current challenges and needs in combating this devastating phenomenon.
The discussions also highlighted the technical and logistical support provided by IOM to the Government of the Republic of Moldova and civil society organizations, aiming to strengthen their capacity to adopt and implement effective measures to prevent, combat, and reduce the impact of human trafficking on society.
Victims and presumed victims of human trafficking receive assistance within the framework of the National Referral Mechanism, which employs a multidisciplinary approach, including access to specialized assistance and protection services.
In specialized centers, victims and presumed victims benefit from free psychological counseling, documentation support, legal assistance, emotional support, medical care, professionalization facilitation, and employment assistance, among others.
For the first time, starting in January 2024, in the Republic of Moldova, the position of a specialist in the prevention and combating of domestic violence and the rehabilitation of crime victims has been established at the district and regional levels. This was made possible through the RESTART reform in the social assistance sector. Subsequently, these specialists have received training on these topics.
Anyone who believes they have been trafficked or exploited can contact both the district-level specialist and the community social worker for referral to assistance and protection, in complete confidentiality, as well as to receive support for reintegration.
Victims are encouraged to access specialized social services and to understand that their rights are protected, whether or not they choose to report the case to the police.
For more information and access to support, contact the team at the Assistance and Protection Center and the Safe Migration and Anti-Trafficking Hotline at 0 800 77777.
Moving forward, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, in collaboration with IOM, aims to further improve victims' access to essential services and strengthen prevention measures, improve identification, and provide personalized, needs-centered support.
Source: Ministry of Labor and Social Protection
