The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection was the main beneficiary of the project, and the essential activities carried out included the launch of a support service for victims of human trafficking—men, the development of a study on the long-term reintegration of victims, the provision of support for the rehabilitation and reintegration of victims and potential victims of human trafficking through the support of services and NGOs active in this field, as well as numerous prevention activities and capacity-building for specialists in the field.
The event was also attended by Felicia Bechtoldt, the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, who remarked: 'This project has not only changed lives but has ensured that the rights and dignity of every person are respected. Your support has made it possible to develop and strengthen services for victims of human trafficking, providing full access to services for both women and men.'
The Secretary of State also mentioned that starting January 1, 2024, in the context of the 'Restart' social assistance system reform, 42 specialists in the prevention and combat of domestic violence and the rehabilitation of crime victims will be active in the country, one for each district and 10 for territorial social assistance agencies. They will coordinate, evaluate, and monitor social services for victims of domestic violence, victims of human trafficking, and victims of crimes.
Additionally, last year, the Coordinating Council of the National Referral Mechanism for the protection and assistance of crime victims was established under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, serving as an advisory body on issues related to the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of policies in the field of rehabilitation for crime victims.
Launched in 2019, the project was implemented over five years and funded by the United States Department of State.
Source: Ministry of Labor and Social Protection
