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November 5, 2010
Domestic violence: a private matter or a social scourge?

    What is the profile of domestic violence victims, who are those who generate it, who could be ready to offer a helping hand,to what extent the company is prepared to offer them assistance and what kind of assistance the victims most need - here is a series of moments that have established dialogue’s path between specialists for prevention and combating domestic violence and journalists in the press conference on the topic "Domestic violence: a private matter or a social scourge?". Supported by the International Center "La Strada", the conference had the purposeto present a report on the subject also, occasioned with the fulfillment of a year of activity of Hotline for Women 0 8008 8008. Click here

    Established on 2 November 2009, this service offers primary psychological counseling to persons suffering from domestic violence, tips and advice how to recognize early signs of violence and how to build your non-violent relationship, information and references to specialized services, as well as information about the Law on prevention and combating domestic violence.

    Analysis of the 1099 calls received by the Hotline during the year highlight a few categories of subscribers: victims (796 calls), community members (187 calls), professional groups (21 calls) and even aggressors (2 calls). Most victims are women subjected to various abuses of the spouses or former spouses, cohabitants, and from several family members, specifies Daniela Misail- Nichitin, vice-president of International Center "La Strada". About 45 percent of calls are from victims who come from socially vulnerable groups - lack of money, support from relatives (alcoholic parents, abusers) and the authorities, the lack of a home may make them accept the role of victim. Some admit that they shed bitterness on children in response to husband’s violence. In other 40 percent of the victims’ calls indicate a satisfactory physical condition, with sources coming from wages, money earned from working abroad, family support, which ensures a decent living, but only in the aggregation of revenue of both spouses. What’s holding them together is common fortune (house, car, ground share, etc.), shame of “word of mouth”, and existence of children to be maintained. Another 15 percent of calls are from beneficiaries of Hotline with a very good financial status (only women, 80 percent of the finest age of 30-45 years), which shows that in these families there is violence between spouses also, only that the forms of manifestation and perception of the phenomenon are different. Here violence bears the mask of a good name, of a satisfactorily service, the circle of relationships, also reiterated Daniela Misail-Nichitin.

    The report presented at the press conference shows that there is a correlation between the age of subscribers and their problems. Thus, the number of calls from the minors (until 17 years including) is relatively small (12 persons) and refer cases of abuse of the mother, brothers/sisters or when they themselves become victims of violence of alcoholic parents. Minor girls who have appealed to Hotline get informed about the first signs of manifestation of violence at the partner and which are the risks to occur again. And subscribers aged between 18-26 year-old call to help a relative, especially the mother (women, and men), but also in order to settle their own family concerns (mostly women). Those married are fully aware of the problem, but are not prepared yet to carry out changes in family life or are too influenced by the environment and make every effort to fulfill the wishes of the husband and avoid violence. But for a good part of Hotline’s beneficiaries aged between 27-35 years domestic violence has become a lifestyle. In fact, there are people trying to break the circle of violence by involving various resources and represent the social segment the most in order to change the situation. Along with psychological counseling, they require legal assistance in particular.

    Most calls were recorded from subscribers between 36-40 year-old, being female-victims of domestic violence, men seeking help for relatives and professional groups. For the 41-50 years age segment are characteristic two types of subscribers: which require intervention in cases of violence for relatives, neighbors and friends (a quarter), the rest being focused on their relationship. Children being grown-up already, left the home for studies, only now the attention is focused on the husband-wife relationship, noting that they weren’t right when they decided to keep their relationship for the sake of children. Finally, the age of 51 and over 60 years includes beneficiaries concerned about the fate of their children with problems in family relationships. On the other hand, those who suffer from violence at this age recognize that they will not change anything in their lives, will not call for help because of the social status, will not affect the lives of children with a position in society and just want to be heard by someone who does not judge them.

    The call analysis from the perspective of required assistance shows most women victims of domestic violence in need of psychological assistance (51 %). In a large number of calls (22%) is requested primary legal assistance for divorce proceedings, division of property, right on children, information on the order of protection. Thus, in 161 cases beneficiaries have experienced difficulties when they addressed to the law enforcement: in 93 cases were unhappy that police’s intervention was reduced to a reprimand or a fine imposed to the aggressor (which they were forced to pay), in 38 cases dropped to address to law enforcement because they do not trust the system, and the other 45 - that they were afraid not tomake the situation worse.

    Unfortunately, there are very frequent cases where at the court are submitted requests for issuance of ordinance and the victims face two situations: either the court refuses to issue the order, regardless of evidence showing the risk to victim’s life and health, whether he accepts the application and issues the ordinance, which neither police nor the aggressor fail to accomplish, revealed DoinaIoanaStrasteanu, lawyer of “PromoLex”, one of the providers of legal services to the Hotline’s beneficiaries. Victims often are forced to confront a hostile attitude of the court (judge), which often disregards the credibility of the reported and minimizesthe risk to which women and children are predisposed, or protection order, once issued, the abuser will not run it voluntarily, and the police prefer to limit themselves only to notify the abuser about the issued decree.

    The conclusions of the analysis show that Moldova has a strong gender violence, there is even a culture of gender violence, which distorts the perception of future generations about family – the abusive model is transmitted from family to family, from generation to generation. Many of the subjects of violence, being educated in families where violence was a real phenomenon, are not aware that there is another way of behavior or other ways to solve the conflict. The report encourages the professional groups’ capacity and the responsible services’ work efficiency for preventing and combating domestic violence, educating young generations in the spirit of non-violent lifestyle. Services for the domestic violence’s subjects must become more proactive, flexible and, if necessary, mobile, and the establishment of specialized services for attackers is already a current imperative.

June 25, 2010
Beware of the Internet's risks!

    Safe browsing online, the risk of victimization of children through the Internet is a new area of knowledge that became familiar with and which they intend to exploit from now on the volunteers of the International Center "La Strada". To this end they have followed a training seminar in which Alina Budeci, Contact Center Manager, spoke about the prevention of commercial sexual exploitation of children, the dangers that threaten the children when they surf the Internet unsupervised by adults or through the same online networks they fall into the sights of foreign tourists sexually driven. The training of volunteers expected was actually a series of actions to raise the awareness and information concerning the safe browsing on online networks.

    Subsequently, throughout the summer, young lecturers have exploited the new knowledge supporting 64 seminars in the camps "Dumbrava" and "Victoria" (Soroca), “Miorita” and “Andries” (Orhei), “Prietenia” and “Speranta”(Radoaia village, Sвngerei),“Viisoara” (Anenii Noi), attended by over 1,600 children. The seminars were welcomed and have attracted a high interest to children. First, because the Internet penetrate more strongly in their homes, including in rural areas. And secondly, because, in the framework of free discussion, peer to peer, many of them have confessed stuff that never would tell to parents, either because of our typical way of being ashamed, or being afraid not to suspend the access to this very attractive virtual world, because of too much parental care.

    Following the same route, the safe Internet browsing, Veronica Josan, trainer and coordinator of the team of volunteers at the International Center "La Strada", delivered three speeches before the teachers of the undergraduate institutions in Chisinau, Donduseni and Telenesti.

    Remember that sexual exploitation of children is a social scourge that lately is felt more and more in the Republic of Moldova that is climbing through online networks and being associated with another adverse event - sexual tourism.

June 4, 2010
Sexual exploitation of children and the reaction of the system in combating human trafficking

    The research of various aspects of the phenomenon of child trafficking within the country and at transnational level, forms of exploitation and illicit influence processes on victims,processes for the recruitment of children and the methods of removal of children from the country, of the factors that increase the vulnerability of children, as well as the profile of the recruiter, but also of the child victim of human trafficking, reported to the media statistics make up the contents of just over 70 pages of recent publication "The study of the phenomenon of childtraffickinginthe Republic of Moldova" (click here). Carried out and published by the International Center "La Strada" in collaboration with the AssociazioneITHACA-Onlus NGO (Italiannon-governmental organization) within the project "Additional measures in combating childtrafficking in Moldova" (with EU grant support within the framework of the action "Support actions focusing on child injury prevention, subject to the influences of military conflicts, combating human traffickingand rehabilitation of victims"), the publication was and the subject of a press conference on 2nd of June, occasioned by the International Children's Day, along with another publication – "The current practice of hearing children victim-witnesses in Republic of Moldova". (click here).

    Child trafficking is a problem of the contemporary world, which represents a serious danger to democratic values. And in the century of the IIIrdmillennium children continue to be used as a simple object of purchase-sale, being forced to provide sexual services and to work in informal sectors of the economy in different countries,being exploited for domestic use, used as bait as beggars, as donors of organs for transplantation, in criminal activity, military conflicts, etc.

    "The study of the phenomenon of child trafficking in the Republic of Moldova" is an attempt to present qualitative characteristics (but also some quantitative) of the phenomenon of child trafficking in Moldova. Research sums actually the statistical data analysis of various organizations involved in combating trafficking in human beings (General Prosecutor of the Republic of Moldova, the International Organization for Migration,Mission to Moldova, the International Center "La Strada"), but also some realcases of child trafficking and sexual tourism involving children (105 structured individual interviews with victims of childtrafficking and 25 interviews with victims/suspected victims of sexual tourism involving children, all from the database of the International Center "La Strada"), as well as a series of structured interviews with experts from different organizations, experts in the problem (30 specialists of state organizations, non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental, active participants in combating human trafficking in our country). The study shows that most often fall prey to trafficking are minors of 14-17 years old, 80% of victims being girls and boys – 20%. In recent years has increased the share of boys in the total number of victims of this scourge. Most researches show that one of the main causes that generate the risk of being caught in the traffic situation is tense child-parent relationships. 63% of the children interviewed have characterized their relations with parents as "complicated" or "bad".

    All these have made possible a systematization of the characteristic features and dimensions of the phenomenon, but also revealing the hidden nature of child trafficking, the specifics of this scourge in the country. The research exposes the mechanism of the child trafficking (places and processes of recruitment, recruitment itself, transportation, border crossing procedures,transfer and accommodation), the operation itself (forms and conditions of exploitation, the means of influence, destination countries, etc.).

    The authors pay particular attention to the first symptoms, more insistent, of a new phenomenon in our country – that of sexual tourism involving children. "The sexual tourism involving children oftenmeans commercial sexual exploitation of children by foreigners, abusers of children,phone sex, who arrived in the area of destination", specifies the authors of the study, indicating that the travelers, phone sex abusersof children can travel and in their countries or regions.

    The richness of the charts, direct exposures of specialists and real-life case histories give to the study a much more considerable weight, but also a considerable valuethat can be exploited by an extended circle of specialists, concerned about the problem in question. To the same purpose serve and the conclusions, practical recommendations which are spread out in four separate compartmentsthat are designed to identify tactics, policies and strategies to overcome this serious social scourge. The paper also discounts and a more promptly reaction to the current system in combattingthe child trafficking, a better organization of child protection and his family.

    In whole, the paper is available on the website of the International Center "La Strada", in Romanian, Russian and English versions, at the compartment Data and Figures/Reports and Studies.

July 30, 2010
A report on combating human trafficking
Mai 6, 2010
Current judicial practices in the testimony of child-victims and witnesses of crime in the Republic of Moldova

    „Current judicial practices in the testimony child-victims and witnesses of crime in the Republic of Moldova” is the title of the new publication, conducted by the International Center „La Strada” with the financial support of OSCE Mission in Moldova. The study is a fast-track assesment of the problem, undertaken in 2008-2009 and focuses on a summative analysis of the current national practices of hearing child-victims/witnesses of human trafficking/ commercial sexual exploitation. It is intended as a starting point in achieving child welfare and qualitative data collection from the children testimonials.

    On one hand, analyzing the current situation regarding the management of child testimony, multidisciplinary approach to cases, and child perception of the interventions made by the professional groups, the authors found that child testimony is currently limited to a series of questions addresed in court by the prosecuting attorney, the social worker or the psychologist (or a combination of all of them), each awaiting a particular response from the child-victim.

    On the other hand, the fact that the involved specialists do not receive specialized training in the field of hearings, do not know the principles of hearing and their organizational stages. Instead, they prefer to address the cases in an individual way rather than the complex, multidisciplinary one.

    At the same time, identifying and documenting cases are influenced by inherent circumstances. For example, sexually exploited children consider the experience they have had as a secret and feel frustrated when are forced to share it. They do not acknowledge the actions committed against them as offenses, respectively, they are not reported to the law enforecement or social services, preferring rather to confide in friends and relatives.

    The experience that „La Strada” experts had collaborating with law enforcement agencies shows that the mediation of the contact between the police and the child-victim shortens the prosecution process and ensures his/her welfare. The involvement of specialists from different fields, followed by a careful and complete examination, is important in maintaining the testimonials, and the security of the child.

    An impulse to examine the current pratices for the testimony of child-victims/witnesses, consisted in the failure in the Republic of Moldova to obide by several existing international recommendations and principles on hearing children. Moreover, it is necessary to change something in the way of preparation, organization, and conduct of hearings, which should ensure the main interest of the child, and improve the quality of the testimony gathered by the investigators.

    The main recommendations deal with raising awareness within the professional groups working with children, especially law enforecement officials, about the importance of organizing the hearings in a specially arranged place (room for the testimony of children), child-friendly, in this way, ensuring the quality of testimony collected from child-victim/witness. There should be created a sufficient number of rooms, specially designed for interviewing children. Among professionals it should be promoted not only the practice of hearing children in a specially designed environment for them, but also video and audio recordinging of the testimony, and use them thereafter, as evidence in court without the necessity to call the child victim witness in front of the jury and the audience in the courtroom. If necessary, the prosecutor, the defense and the judge will go to the hearing rooms, thus creating a proper environment for the child and reducing the number of interviews, but at the same time, respecting the adversarial principle during the investigation. Naturally, such rooms require a trained staff in this regard and institutional collaboration.

    Decreasing the number of testimonials a child must give and reducing victimization, which requires application of a limited number of interviews (preferably one) and constant specialists is another requirement among recommendations included in the publication. Finally, the conversation with the child must take place in one of the final stages of the criminal trial, when all the evidence and information has been colleted, and the child testimony is to confirm their validity.

    In its varriant as a project, the summary report of current practices of child victim-witness hearing was presented to the representatives of law enforcement (judges, prosecutors, criminal investigation officers) in a round table discussion. The opinions and suggestions of the participants coincided largely with the main principles outlined in the report. It is important to mention that all participants recognized the need to establish and promote mediation services and specialized rooms for the hearing of child-victim/witnesses of trafficking and sexual exploitation. The main conclusions and recommendations of the report were also presented to the subgroup of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, which works to prevent and combat gender-based violence, including domestic violence.

    The summary report is recommended especially to social professionals, representatives of law enforcement agencies and employees of NGOs working in the child care system and recommends the involvement in the hearing of a specialist trained in working with victims, preparing children for the process of investigation / testifying, supporting and providing a secure place to the child.

    Authors also believe it would be appropriate to have an international conference on the study of such notions as “investigative interview" and agree upon some recommendations and principles. This conference would also address the organization and conduct of interviews, which could subsequently serve as standard principles in the given context.

March 8, 2010
Equal in Rights, with Equal Chances, until and after March 8

    This year, International Women’s Day, celebrated by many countries of the world on March 8, will be marked under the title ”Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities, Progress for All.” This is related to the fact that in 2010, it is the 15th anniversary of the proclamation of the Beijing Declaration, considered historic by the UN General Secretary, and which showed women worldwide that gender and opportunities equality are their fundamental rights. In addition, it is the 30th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, event which is celebrated with a major awareness campaign.

    On November 27, 2006, in Madrid, it was launched a Council of Europe Campaign to Combat Violence against Women, followed by a parliamentary dimension “Parliaments united in combating domestic violence against women,” dimension which includes all the European states and some Asian countries neighboring Europe. After more than four years, the same Council of Europe noticed that in 2009, the average percentage of women working in different ministries in Europe was 28.6%, and the percentage of women parliamentarian in national legislative bodies was of 21.7%. It can be considered a progress in comparison with 19.9% of women in the ministries in 2005. However, the minimum recommended by the Council of Europe is 40%.

    Two years ago, we announced on our website another dimension- “Rights and Roses”, an international campaign, initiated by “La Strada International” in Amsterdam, which tried to raise awareness to the fact that violation of women’s rights is closely related to causes and consequences of trafficking in human beings, especially in women. A series of actions have been undertaken by the International Center for Women Rights Protection and Promotion “La Strada.” The center suceeded to launch a new service- Hotline for Women 0 8008 8008 – and initiated the campaign “A healthy family is one without violence” (click here), organized in cooperation with UNFPA, the UN Fund for Population, within the project “Protection and Empowerment of Victims of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence.” The partners of the campaign were the Government of Republic of Moldova, the Government of Japan and the UN Fund for Human Security, as well as Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom of Denmark.

    An estimate evaluation (of only 4 months) shows that 95% of the total number of phone calls to the hotline come from women. The majority of them ask for counselling related to abuse coming from men: domestic violence, shelter and accomodation, legal assistance for divorce, and alcoholism treatment centers. The range of age and problems coming from the beneficiaries are worrying. Most of them are women aged between 18-40, one of the most beautiful stages in somebody’s life.

    Women aged 18-26 claim either abusive relationships with their boyfriends or with their husbands, especially in the first stage of marriage or when a child is born. Emotional abuse and hitting can be supported only for some time. At this age, women are confused; on the one hand, a woman does not know what to do. On the other hand, relatives encourage her not to talk about the abuse as the man might change or, that this is women’s fate- to be patient.

    Women aged 27-35, having one, two or more children, complain of having been abused for some time and express their determination to divorce. Being aware that they can still do something in their lives, their requests are very precise: shelter and legal assistance. Women older than thirty-six, think their life is over, they perceive divorce as a major problem; they have worked an entire life with their spouses together. They have common wealth and there is also the problem of where could they possibly go at this age? Another scenario is when the couple has already divorced, there was property division, but women continue living in the same house with the abuser, nevertheless, asking special services for the abuser.

    Exactly the same percentage – 95% - of the total number of human trafficking victims, assisted by the International Center “La Strada” during almost nine years, consists of mostly women, while the big profiteers of this business continue to be men. It should be added that from the total number of minors assisted by the International Center “La Strada” 16% are boys, and 84% are girls. 63% of the total number of girls have been sexually exploited before the trafficking and had suffered from domestic violence.

    The majority “females” is also another social profile: that of migrants and potential migrants. From the total number of prevention phone calls to the hotline at the International Center “La Strada” (phone calls regarding information on leaving abroad), more than 70% come from women.

    Besides all these statistics, maybe men, more than anyone else, should ask themselves, before and after March 8: when will women be equal in rights and opportunities not only in Declarations, Convensions, Laws and Programs, but also in everyday life?
December 21, 2009
Pleading for the Rights of the Moldavian Migrants
November 3, 2009
A healthy family is one without violence

    For UNFPA, the UN Fund for Population and International Center "La Strada" November started with an event that promises optimism and a warm atmosphere. On November 2, at the State News Agency "Moldpres”, a press conference launched the National Awareness Campaign "A healthy family is one without violence" and a new service of the Center - Hotline for Women 0 8008 8008.

    The campaign "A healthy family is one without violence”, the sixth (within the most relevant) initiated during the past eight years of activity, aims to cultivate among people the attitude of ZERO TOLERANCE towards family violence and includes several informative and public awareness activities - social advertising spots running on national and local TV stations (click here rom, rus), distribution of informative materials within the population regarding the causes and consequences of domestic violence, other elements of informing and prevention.

    - Through the awareness campaign "A healthy family is one without violence" we intended to encourage women suffering from domestic violence to overcome their fear, shame and address specialists by calling the Center’s Hotline for women, says Daniela Misail-Nichitin, Vice President International Center "La Strada". It is important for abused women in the family to know that they are not alone and that they can rely on specialists. Calling the Hotline, they can benefit of psychological counseling, emotional support, through which we can make them understand that a woman is actually not guilty of violence, but is in fact, responsible for her own safety and that of her children. We can help women become more self-confident and we can guide them to ask for assistance from specialized services. It is also necessary that the community, public and professional groups, especially policemen, doctors, social workers, would support the women in this regard, getting involved more actively in the fight against violence.

    A healthy family is one without violence is the message which is the basis of policies of the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family. "We welcome the partnership of international organizations in preventing and combating domestic violence and assume full responsibility for their display, said Valentina Buliga, Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family, at the press conference. Through this campaign we want to raise public awareness, but also to strengthen institutional capacities at the level of local public authority, the Government and Parliament in order to reduce cases of domestic violence in Moldova."

    In the same context, Eugenia Benigni, Advisor Program Combating Human Trafficking and Gender, the OSCE Mission to Moldova, welcomed the efforts of the Moldovan authorities in adopting the Law on preventing and combating domestic violence. "We appreciate the fact that they were receptive to recommendations of international organizations in developing this law. Moldova already has a good law, what is left to do is to ensure its practical application. We are glad that a month ago was applied in practice the first order of protection." Eugenia Benigni reiterated that according to studies undertaken by the Council of Europe, expenses for treating the consequences of domestic violence are much higher than those needed to prevent this scourge. Moreover, a number of global surveys in EU countries, aimed to assess the extent of domestic violence, shows that from one fifth to one quarter of women are subjected to physical violence at least once during life, and more than one tenth of women had experienced sexual experiences through the use of force. According to studies conducted in several countries, between 12% and 15% of women were subjected to abuse in the family after they reached 16 years.

    Research shows that in Moldovan every fourth woman is a victim of domestic violence, whether physical, sexual, psychological or economic. A recent evaluation of the International Center "La Strada" shows that when asked why they do not ask for support, 35% of women respond "I was ashamed"; 23% say "I do not think anyone can help me" or "I did not know where I could address”; 16% admit that "I was afraid"; 38% of interviewed women testified that they would like “... to speak with an unknown person who does not know me, in order to say about my problems” (click here) In this context, women's Hotline 0 8008 8008 is designed to respond the requests of women suffering from domestic violence.

    It is important to mention that by ratifying the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which has its 30th anniversary this year; Moldova has undertaken a range of obligations to combat discrimination of women

    The awareness campaign "A healthy family is one without violence" takes place within the "Protection and empowerment of victims of human trafficking and domestic violence”, developed in partnership with the Government of Moldova and supported by the Government of Japan and the UN Fund for Human Security. The campaign has the support of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Kingdom of Denmark.

October 19, 2009
A postage stamp will fight trafficking in persons
September 21, 2009
Women from the countryside: between worries and rights

    „We came here not only to confirm that you are beautiful, patient and caring, but also to remind you about your RIGHTS. We are here because we represent organizations that care about women’s rights, and even more, we are the ones who protect and promote women’s rights.”

    This was the opening message made by Viorelia Rusu, representative of the International Center „La Strada” at the meeting from the Ursoaia village, which took place on September 17. The main goal of this event was to inform the women living in this community about their rights and how they may actually materialize.

    In fact, the event has been preceded by a a study – „Feminist participatoriy action research” - regarding three tangential aspects - gender, migration and human trafficking, a study released by the International Center „La Strada” in cooperation with the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW, Thailand), conducted in the same locality. In several interviews, a mobile work group became familiar with the personal experience of migration and overseas employment of women in Ursoaia, as well as with their hardships. This particular study has exposed the need to go further into detail about aspects of migration, gender, labor and human trafficking, their rights in this context, especially about possible opportunities to address these needs.

    In this public information campaign, women had the possibility to refer directly and confidentially to several specialists (psychologists, social workers, lawyers) to receive the necessary consultations. The youth had the opportunity to discuss with their peers in the team of volunteers, educators under the "Peer to Peer" Program.

    At this initiative, in addition to specialists from the International Center "La Strada", participated Nerea Bilbatua, program coordinator at GAATW Europe, Liubovi Popov, chief specialist at the department of social assistance and family protection in Causeni district, Elena Oboroceanu, a lawyer at the Center for Law in Causeni, and representatives of local government.
September 14, 2009
A new hotline for family life

    It is already known that the International Center "La Strada" has been concerned lately with domestic violence and intends to expand its activity and this segment – as a proof stands a rapid assessment of the problem of domestic violence in Moldova, undertaken between June-December 2007, (click here) and a special issue of the publication "La Strada EXPRESS" dedicated entirely to this topic (click here), as well as other actions in this regard. Next is that starting this autumn, the International Center "La Strada" will soon create a new bridge between citizens and experts in the field, namely the hotline. That is a dedicated phone line, designed to provide counseling to victims of domestic violence, particularly women.

    In this context took place the training "Hotline for women: counseling skills in situations of domestic violence”, held in Chisinau from September 7 – 11, 2009. The seminar brought together many applicants for the position of advisor to the hotline, who have applied and passed the first tests for the position. In these five days, they were trained on various aspects of domestic violence, prevention and counteracting the phenomenon, but especially the victims of this ancient, let’s call it, scourge. In his greeting, Veaceslav Balan, program coordinator at the OSCE Mission to Moldova, mentioned that the seminar brought together the two sides of the country, which are only in a political conflict, but not in an overall-human conflict - the seminar was attended by representatives of NGO "Interaction" from Tiraspol, also concerned with domestic violence issues and that already offers similar consultations, but who are still in need of such training.

    - The participants had as trainers well-known specialists and experts in the field, said Daniella Misail-Nichitin, Vice President International Center "La Strada". Thus, Lilia Gorgeac, renowned psychologist at the Rehabilitation and Care Center in Chisinau, made an introduction to the various types of violence (against women, in family) and the factors that generate and maintain violence, manifestations and effects, dependence aggressor-victim, psychological assistance to abused women, family and other issues that a consultant to the hotline is practically required to know in order to provide quality services. Two renowed experts from Israel - Alhimovici Galina, specialist in telephone counselling to women, and Orna Yogev-Rozenberg, specializing in working with the aggressor, shared their knowledge and rich experience with us.

    In Israel, such services have existed for 15 years and the future hotline consultants learned several new things about the principles and stages of working with victims, identifying their needs, determining the degree of danger in domestic violence, especially the types and processes of women counselling based on consultant’s character. A question perhaps less important, but that cannot be ignored in the context of counseling women who suffered domestic violence, is the aggressor therapy. Namely about different approaches to therapy aggressor, counselling methods and other moments, not less important in countering domestic violence, said to the participants Orna Yogev-Rozenberg, which in this context has a very valuable experience.

    The participants have gained knowledge about the local law in preventing and combating domestic violence, which was presented by Marina Popovich, a collaborator of the Public Order Police of MAI (Ministry of Internal Affairs) and Victoria Dochitcu, coordinator of the International Center Hotline "La Strada", who shared her rich experience of telephone couselling with future colleagues, talking to them about different sides of this not at all simple activity, such as psychological aspects of the principles recommended by council, the qualities and responsibilities required from a consultant, security rules and a number of technical aspects of sound records, etc. , the referrals mechanism.

    Both, the new direction of activity - telephone counseling women suffering from domestic violence, as well as the establishment of the hotline, enjoy the support of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Mission to Moldova, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark United Kingdom.

June 15, 2009
Migrant women vulnerability to exploitation and human trafficking
January 20, 2009
National Referral System reaching its first achievements and experiences

    The national workshop “Sharing experiences on concerns regarding the work with trafficked persons and potential victims” was held on January 14-16, 2009 in Molovata Noua, with the main goal of strengthening the professional capacities of the multidisciplinary team leaders in the framework of the National Referral System (NRS) for protection and assistance of victims and potential victims. The workshop was organized by the International Center for Women Rights Protection and Promotion "La Strada," in cooperation with Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child, International Organization for Migration, Mission Moldova. The workshop put forward the aim of facilitating the exchange of experience between the leaders of multidisciplinary teams, regarding such issues as identification and referral of victims and potential victims of trafficking, design and implementation of the reintegration plan for the victims of trafficking, coordination of actions within the multidisciplinary team, and analysis of the practices and materials presented during the three days of the workshop.

    Presentations of experts and specialists were mainly focused on creating a platform for discussing experiences of implementing the NRS in nineteen districts and municipalities. They focused also on the analysis of some specific moments, such as the practical implementation of the most frequently used signals for identifying the victims of human trafficking, the referral route of trafficked persons, the vulnerability criteria in identifying the potential victims of human trafficking, on the case management and collection of appropriate recommendations for the development of monitoring system and evaluation process of assisting victims and potential victims.

    Working both in groups and in plenary sessions, the coordinators of multidisciplinary teams in districts Cimislia, Floresti, Hincesti and Balti municipality shared their experience with colleagues from districts where NRS has just started to be implemented. The main point in their discussions was the efficient functioning of the multidisciplinary team through activities centered on the rights and needs of the trafficked person, the assessment and monitoring of interventions, the mechanism of communication between different specialists and the transmission case, the importance of monitoring and evaluation process as a component of the case management, the criteria / principles for monitoring and / or evaluation, etc.

    The working sessions of the workshop were completed with the preparation and completion of the definitions of monitoring and evaluation of the assistance process. This helped the actors understand the concepts, work out the development monitoring and evaluation criteria, which will later serve as a foundation for implementing section 17 of the NRS strategy (development of the system of monitoring and evaluation of victims and potential victims).

    The national workshop “Sharing experiences on concerns regarding the work with trafficked persons and potential victims” was organized in thanks to the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom of Denmark.


December 9, 2008
"La Strada" Volunteers exceeding in everything!

    - The volunteer team of the International Center "La Strada" celebrated the International Volunteer Day with an informative mini-campaign for Chisinau citizens and its visitors, telling them about about the services provided by the Hot Line of this anti-human trafficking NGO, said Adriana Velcinschi, volunteer of the 2007 generation.

    It became already a tradition for us to celebrate the December, 5 with special activities for the population. This year, the volunteers distributed calendars and informative materials with the Hot Line number 080077777 for several hours in the Stefan cel Mare Park, in front of the "UNIC" mall, at the Agricultural Market and the neighbouring auto station. The Hot Line number can be accessed by every citizen, from any part of the country, free of charge and is a way of getting the necessary information related to going abroad or risks of human trafficking.

    The International Volunteer Day was designed by the UNO in 1985, being dedicated to the efforts of those who contributed to the society offering their time, and to volunteering projects as well. All the governments and international organizations were invited each year, on the December, 5 to promote and perform activities aiming to emphasize the importance of volunteers and to stimulate a broader recognition of volunteering. This day is celebrated nowadays in most of the world's countries.

    The 6th edition of the "Jos palaria in fata voluntarilor" volunteer festival was organized also with the occasion of the International Volunteer Day. It was held on December, 7 by the Coalition for law promotion and volunteer activities, including the "Youth for Life" Association, Resource Center "Young and Free", CREDO, CNTM, Peace Corp, Peace Service, Ministry of Youth and Education, etc. The celebration took place, similarly to past years, in the Opera and Ballet Theatre Hall. Almost 700 participants were present at the event.

    As a tradition already, this year were awarded the winners of various nominations (the most active NGO, journalist that promotes volunteering in Moldova, the most active volunteer, volunteer coordinator, the best essay on "The necessity of adopting a bill on volunteering", the most appealing logo of the Festival, the best promotional video/ short movie, the youngest (Cristian Cristea, 8 years old) and the eldest (Otilia Arpinten, 78 years old) volunteer).

    - Our volunteer team presented an exposition of informative materials especially for this edition of the festival, which gathered together aproximately 35 organizations, added Adriana Velcinschi. Applauses could be heard not only during the performance of our famous national artists and bands (Adrian Ursu, Aura, Ion Paladi, Sergiu Cuzencov, Laurentiu Popescu, formatiile "Zbant", "London" etc.), but also in the moment when our colleague, Veronica Josan, was awarded the title of "The most active volunteer Coordinator".

    Congratulations on behalf of the entire "La Strada" staff and our deep consideration for the "La Strada" volunteers!

October 28, 2008
National Referral Mechanism Joining Theory and Practice
October 22, 2008
The Fifth Generation of La Strada Volunteers

    Twenty-two new volunteers were introduced to La Strada's programs during a training that took place on October 17-19, 2008 at the La Popas pension in Cocieri. The program subjects were "The ABC's of the potential migrant," "Human Trafficking in the context of human rights," "Teaching methods and techniques concerning human trafficking material", and "Myth and reality related to going abroad."

    This year marks the fifth generation of volunteer program which has increased by 60%. The new volunteers are representatives of not only universities, but also of several high schools and colleges. Experienced professors applied and volunteered. They felt they could contribute to the development of the volunteer movement and the younger generation's involvement in human trafficking prevention because of their education, life and professional experience. Their dedication impressed everyone present at the interviews.

    Veteran volunteers taught the trainees of this year's workshop. They shared their experiences in conducting seminars using to the Peer-to-Peer principle. The films Sex Traffic and Natasha is Not for Sale brought the cruel reality of the human trafficking phenomena to life, which increased the volunteers' understanding of what they will be dealing with.

    At the end of the workshop, Veronica Josan, La Strada's Volunteer Coordinator, described the plan of action for 2008-2009. The International Center La Strada has now prepared 22 new volunteers to conduct informative seminars on human trafficking prevention to their fellow students and to take part in several activities organized by volunteers.

    *Edited by Nola Theiss, Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships and
    Ashley Wilson: Esperanza Project of Florida Gulf Coast University
October 3, 2008
A well-informed person is harder to get trafficked

    In the last five years, "La Strada" volunteers and trainers carried out approximately 2.000 informative seminars for the at-risk groups that gathered over 51 thousand listeners, and over 160 trainings and informative activities, having in overall 4500 participants. While the volunteers were solicited more often during this year in districts Ungheni, Leova, Briceni and Chisinau (to conduct informative seminars for students from undergraduate educational institutions and technical vocational schools, who might be at risk of human trafficking), then the trainers "had to work" most of all in August and September with specialists of the District Councils, Education Departments, as well as with representatives of other professional groups. In this matter, the most visited districts were Rezina, Donduseni, Calarasi, Stefan Voda, Soldanesti, Nisporeni, Criuleni and Telenesti. As a rule, at this activities take part 30-35 persons, and the subjects refer to the human trafficking mechanism (causes, factors, actors, statistics), consequences and prevention of this scourge, and are followed by some debates on the topic of the "Natasha is not for sale" documentary, based on true stories.

    Lately, the general topic of the informative meetings with the professional groups is centered on the new tendencies in human trafficking, on the role of specialists from these specific domains that are close to the groups the victims come from (educators, mayors, social assistants, local public authorities) in the prevention of human trafficking, and on how to facilitate the access of the victims to assistance; and for those who are more interested - on the specific character of the "La Strada" activity.

    Summing up, in these two months, during the trainings conducted by the trainers of the International Center "La Strada", participated and enriched their knowledge more than 350 specialists from the domains and districts mentioned above. This type of activity turned out to be very efficient for the following collaborations of the Center with education institutions and those providing social services, including those from the rural area, as well as for promotion of the Hot Line phone number 0 800 77777, in this way, facilitating the access to the Center’s services for the at-risk group. This fact is confirmed by the growing number of requests of conducting new activities for consolidation of the professional capacities of teachers, seminars for students, and the great amount of diverse suggestions/proposals coming from the participants. In this way, a saying belonging to the consultants of the Hot Line – "A well-informed person is harder to get trafficked" – has been contemporary since many years already.
September 26, 2008
Belarus Studies Moldovan Anti-Trafficking Work

    On September 22¬-28, 2008, delegations consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, IOM, Belarus Mission, Young Women Christian Association (La Strada-Belarus) and 2 anti-trafficking NGO’s from Brest, made a study visit to Moldova. The main objective was to learn more about practices and experiences of those involved in prevention and counter-trafficking of human beings in Moldova. On September 23, the delegation visited the International Center for Women Rights Protection and Promotion La Strada, which is one of the leading organizations in Moldova that works to prevent this social scourge. During the visit, the guests were interested in the diverse aspects of Hot Line management. The Hot Line is one of the basic tools in the prevention of human trafficking and in informing the population on the risks of illegal migration.

    The specialists of the International Center La Strada spoke on the importance of the Hot Line and the work of the consultants and coordinator, the importance of its working principles and schedules. They explained the psychological aspects of phone counseling and the characteristics of the most frequently asked questions and data collection which is important for evaluation and counseling. The guests were interested in the process of transferring calls to other agencies when appropriate; victims’self-identification and those of suspected cases of trafficking. There were also interested in database management, such as data collection, recording and security; in promotion campaigns for Hot Line services; cooperation with other organizations and with governmental agencies in Moldova, as well as with other similar services offered by organizations from abroad.

    Although these are just some of the highlights of the work of the International Center La Strada, the guests were strongly impressed by the Hot Line, the experience of their colleagues from Moldova, the structuring of the activity and the information used by the consultants. Before their departure, they said that in one day they had familiarized themselves with a very rich and valuable operation that they will implement in their home country of Belarus in the future.

    *Edited by Nola Theiss, Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships and
    Ashley Wilson: Esperanza Project of Florida Gulf Coast University
July 8, 2008
Over 25,000 phone calls received and as many persons informed
April 18, 2008
Transnational Referral Mechanism for Victims of Trafficking: International Standards

    A workshop titled "Transnational Referral Mechanisms for Victims of Trafficking: International Standards" was held from April 15–16, 2008, in Chisinau. The workshop was organized by La Strada – Moldova and the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD, Vienna), with the financial support of USAID. This seminar was part of a large-scale program to support the development of the Transnational Referral Mechanism (TRM) for victims of trafficking in Eastern Europe and was conducted in a number of local countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia).

    After the opening addresses given by Ana Revenco, President of La Strada, Mariyana Radeva, Coordinator-Assistant of the TRM Program, and Lilia Pascal, Head of the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child (MPSEC), workshop participants (who included representatives of state institutions such as the Ministry of International Affairs; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration; the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child; the Ministry of Healthcare; the General Prosecutor's Office, the National Department for Social Assistance; and OSCE, IOM, and UNODC missions to Moldova, which are actively engaged in prevention and counteraction of human trafficking) became familiarized with TRM guidelines and the National Referral System (NRS) concept for assistance and protection of victims and potential victims of trafficking. During the seminar, participants discussed the role of bilateral agreements with regards to assistance and protection of trafficking victims and issues related to the investigation of trafficking cases at a transnational level, problems related to the standardization of procedure for victims' return, the investigation of trafficking cases and criminal proceedings against traffickers, and protection and assistance to victims and witnesses in Moldova.

    The seminar held in Chisinau is part of the third stage of the Regional Program and will not be the only one to be carried out in our republic. An additional four workshops will be conducted in various districts for multidisciplinary groups at local levels and will also be organized by La Strada in collaboration with the IOM mission to Moldova. The first seminar was already held in Ungheni from March 11-13, 2008; the other three are scheduled to be carried out in Cantemir, Falesti, and Nisporeni.

    Note: TRM is related to a number of international standards on the cross-border transfer and care of trafficking victims. These standards can be applied to:

  • Formal international cooperative agreements on strategies for the safe and supportive international movement of victims

  • Standard operative procedures for the efficient and safe transnational referral of trafficking victims to necessary services

  • Mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the TRM

    • In all measures provided in a TRM, state security needs must be balanced against the health and safety needs and the rights of trafficked persons. To be effective, TRM should be coordinated with National Referral Mechanisms (NRM) individual to each respective country.

* This article was edited by Nola Theiss, director of Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships Inc, and Katie Marsico
March 26, 2008
Assessment of Domestic Violence in Moldova
March 10, 2008
Woman between Flowers and Rights, between Family and Civilization
February 28, 2008
Research on Public Opinion in Regards to Domestic Violence

February 20, 2008
A UN Anti-Trafficking Global Forum
December 17, 2007
Men Can Be Victims of Human Trafficking, Too.

    This was one of the relevant conclusions determined by La Strada at the end of the campaign to raise public awareness with regards to new tendencies in human trafficking in Moldova. The campaign was carried out in June 2007 and then from September to November, 2007; the results of the campaign were announced at the press conference on December 17, 2007. In fact, the first calls to La Strada’s hotline that referenced other forms of exploitation other than sexual slavery, extension of the groups at risk, new methods of recruitment, and, in particular, diversification of methods of manipulation, served as grounds to initiate the campaign.
    To achieve the objectives of the campaign (raising public awareness in regards to the evolution of human trafficking, informing the public about new methods of recruitment and other forms of exploitation, and ultimately encouraging self-identification of victims who suffered forms of exploitation other than sexual slavery), La Strada’s staff had to use different tools and methods such as: TV and radio spots about male exploitation in construction work, the exploitation of women and children for begging, and the exploitation of individuals used for domestic servitude, as well as an ad with a preventive message. All of these efforts encouraged the public to call the hotline (0 800 77777) in order to learn about the risks of illegal migration and to inform hotline operators about presumed instances of human trafficking. At the same time, various seminars were carried out for students from professional schools, as well as the unemployed, and debriefings were held for representatives of the local public administration, professors, and doctors.
    According to Daniela Misail-Nichitin, La Strada’s vice-president, the main conclusion (but not the only one) is that the phenomenon of human trafficking has expanded in the last several years and now encompasses new groups at risk (men, children, and mothers with small children) and has come to incorporate new forms of exploitation; this fact is confirmed in part by an increased number of calls to the hotline by men. Thus, if in 2005 exploitation of women was the most common scenario in presumed trafficking cases, then in 2007 men were ranked almost equal to women as victims in these presumed scenarios. In the case of male victims, exploitation for labor is the most common form of slavery. Men are more often exploited for construction but are also the subject of abuse when it comes to agricultural work, and the most common method of controlling them is financial manipulation.
    “We learned about this new tendency in human trafficking — trafficking in men — from the telephone calls to the center. Men are [more often] exploited in construction and are manipulated in different ways: by [employers] promising to pay them when the construction . . . is finished or by proposing [to] them [that they] return back home under the pretext that the money will be transferred to a bank account or through other people going to Moldova. As the result, they never receive payment for their work. When they try to confront [employers], they are threatened with being turned over to the police or even . . . with death or the death of their relatives. When comparing the number of presumed cases of trafficking by gender correlation, we have to admit that, if in January – May 2007 the percentage of the presumed cases of trafficking in men constituted 13 percent, then, at the end of the campaign, this figure increased . . . to 48 percent. Men are usually recruited by [other] men, mostly in groups, while women are recruited by women who work — as a rule — individually. The recruiter usually originates from the same community as the victims, and, in most cases, he/she does not accompany the group/person to their country of destination. The recruiter is used by the trafficker in order to manipulate the victim, even if the person has already returned to their home country after his/her trafficking experience,” noted Misail-Nichitin.
    Another important conclusion is that, as a result of the campaign, public perception of human trafficking has changed. The number of people who view begging as one of the forms of exploitation related to trafficking has increased to about 24 percent; the number of individuals who associate forced labor with human trafficking has also increased, and the number of people who associate human trafficking exclusively with sexual exploitation or prostitution has decreased to 10 percent. In this context, campaign organizers believe that they have succeeded in raising public awareness in regards to the diversification of forms of exploitation, and that such efforts to raise awareness should be continued via new educational campaigns.
    Journalists have also expressed a deep interest in the study “Migration of Labor Forces from Moldova, Ukraine, and Belarus to Russia: Tendencies and Involvement in Human Trafficking”, initiated by La Strada-Ukraine, in cooperation with similar organizations from the Republic of Moldova and Belarus and presented at the December conference by Viorelia Rusu, analyst at La Strada’s Department of Analysis and Lobbying. About twenty journalists; representatives from four TV channels, six radio stations, four press agencies, and four newspapers; and representatives from various foreign embassies from the Republic of Moldova (Bulgaria and Turkey) participated in the conference.

    * This article was edited by Nola Theiss, director of Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships Inc, and Katie Marsico


December 10, 2007
Hats off in front of volunteers!

October 12, 2007
With renewed strength after a long summer vacation
    It has become a tradition to organize trainings for volunteers from the International Center "La Strada" in autumn when university and high school students are back from their summer vacation and also when the traditional tender for selecting new volunteers has taken place. This year the training "Prevention of trafficking in persons: capacity building and consolidation" was carried out during the period of October 5-7 at the Labour Institute, Chisinau.
    The objectives of this training were the same as those from previous years: instructing new volunteers and developing abilities to work with youth, exchange of experience between newly recruited and volunteers with previous experience in this field. Over the seminar volunteers got trained by instructors from the Center and other institutions in the following subjects: Migration: causes and consequences, Migrant's ABC, Human trafficking in the context of human rights, Mechanism of trafficking in persons (victim's control and exploitation), Techniques and methods applied when teaching about trafficking in persons phenomenon, Traveling abroad – between myth and reality, etc. Also the participants viewed the film "Sex trafficking", got familiarized with the best practices on disseminating anti-trafficking message and participated in debates related to lessons learned and material viewed. At the end of the seminar the entire team, being guided by Veronica Josan, Volunteers’ Coordinator of the International Center “La Strada”, elaborated action plans for the working period 2007-2008.
    All 18 newly recruited and 15 volunteers with previous experience within the field engaged in the voluntariate activity right after the seminar. Thus, till next summer vacation, using the method of “Peer to peer”, they will have to meet with students from high schools, general education schools, lyceums, colleges, professional schools and carry out activities on focused on information dissemination and trafficking prevention, also, will participate together with the International “La Strada” Center instructors in various actions within the framework of the social Campaign aimed to familiarize the public with new tendencies in human trafficking etc.

October 8, 2007
The Fourth Annual National Workshop on the Exchange of Best Practices in Assisting Victims of Human Trafficking with Reintegration*
    The Fourth Annual National Workshop on the Exchange of Best Practices in Assisting Victims of Human Trafficking with Reintegration was held on October 1–2, 2007, in Moldova (Dubasari). Titled “The Plan for Reintegration of the Victims of Human Trafficking – Best Practices and Recommendations,” the workshop was organized by La Strada within the framework of the program’s efforts to consolidate national anti-trafficking capacities. This annual workshop was dedicated to social assistants, program coordinators, and case managers who routinely provide assistance to victims of human trafficking, as well as groups within the National Referral System program. It was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.
    In 2006, the workshop emphasized the different ways in which the above groups have combated human trafficking and provided assistance to victims, both within the context of how strategies are applied, as well as stages and types of assistance. Alina Budeci, La Strada’s Drop-in Contact Manager, discussed the necessity for more uniform approaches and clear-cut goals, which has become increasingly evident over time, especially considering the creation of the National Referral System and the desire of several other organizations to join this system.
    Unfortunately, data stemming from the analysis of trafficking victims’ reintegration reveals numerous cases of failure or only partial success thus far. Usually, such incidents occur due to multiple resources being allocated to individuals without coordination among agencies or plans being established without taking into account the risks and problems that might occur in the process. The analysis of unsuccessful reintegration cases shows a twofold failure: a lack of an individualized approach to each victim’s case and an incomplete understanding of the stages of assistance provision. In addition, there is a need for evaluative instruments to assess the stages of reintegration, including the stages of assistance provision; the development of a case management plan unique to each victim; and a standardized set of criteria to determine the success of the final outcome at the national level.
    The goal of the 2007 workshop was therefore the “elaboration of suggestions and recommendations for the reintegration plan within the National Referral System.” The workshop proceedings were based on a number of objectives, including familiarizing participants with the terminology of the reintegration process; presenting analytic results of the La Strada study on trafficking victims’ reintegration; selecting prospective reintegration strategies for implementation; and establishing these plans’ limits, as well as assessment criteria of their success. Workshop participants, representing social assistance departments from the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child, various international organizations and NGOs, became acquainted with reintegration plans already in use, discussed new and more uniform reintegration strategies, and established indices for assessment of these plans. At the end of the workshop, participants determined that the best practices for reintegrating victims of trafficking should be published in a booklet that could be distributed to all agencies involved in this process.

    * This article was edited by Nola Theiss, director of Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships Inc, and Katie Marsico
October 5, 2007
Medicine du monde – La Strada
    At the request of “Medecine du monde” – Moldova organization, the International Center “La Strada” was subcontracted to carry out during the period of July – September a range of training seminars for social workers from Glodeni, Rascani, Falesti, Floresti, Sangerei, Balti regions and adherent villages. The general topic of the seminars is “The role of a social worker in preventing trafficking in human beings and facilitating the access of trafficked persons to the assistance”.
    Usually, about 25 persons participate in such training seminars. The topics discussed within such activities are: Trafficking in human beings. Definitions, Mechanism of trafficking in human beings: causes, factors, actors, statistics. Mechanism of identification, Identification of trafficked victims needs, Consolidation of professional capacities of social assistants engaged in preventing and assisting victims of trafficking, Mechanism of cooperation with regard to assistance provision to the trafficked victims and their reintegration into the society and Consequences of trafficking in human beings. Prevention of this phenomenon.
    In total over 150 specialists engaged in social assistance provision from the regions mentioned-above have attended the training seminars that were carried out by the International Center “La Strada” trainers, and enriched their knowledge within the field.
July 30, 2007
First publication issued by the “La Strada” volunteers
June 30, 2007
Online prevention seminars

June 15, 2007
A Transnational Referral Mechanism for Trafficked Persons is expected to be implemented
    The First National Workshop in the Republic of Moldova within the framework of the Programme to Support the Development of Transnational Referral Mechanism (TRM) for Trafficked Persons in South-Eastern Europe was held in Molovata Noua (Dubasari region) during the period of June 11-12, 2007. The workshop was dedicated to the elaboration of standards for aid provision to the victims of trafficking in human beings. At the workshop the participants (representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Ministry of Internal Affairs, General Prosecutor’s Office, International Organization for Migration and International Center “La Strada”) got familiarized with several draft normative acts within the field, such as: the Strategy of the National Referral System for assistance and protection of victims of trafficking (NRS), Regulations on the identification of persons presumed to be victims of trafficking – a presentation by Tatiana Fomina, manager of the Analytical and Lobby Center “La Strada” and ICMPD Local Liaison Officer for the TRM Programme, and Regulations on repatriation of the trafficking victims – a presentation by Oleg Botnari, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. The participants also discussed about the possible methods of victims identification abroad and in the Republic of Moldova. They also developed suggestions on the way of transmitting information on all cases of trafficking to the National Coordination Center directly from each organization engaged in the identification of trafficking victims. All participants agreed that the prior identification of the trafficking victims can be carried out by specialists from any organization that gets in contact with the presumed victims of trafficking (border guards, town hall employees, employment agencies, doctors etc); however, the final identification of the victims can be conducted only by the employees of the specialized police units, social assistant or psychologist working for state social service or specialized NGO.
    At the end of the Workshop, the participants agreed on the method of collecting suggestions and recommendations, their processing and presentation of the final drafts at the next members working group meeting, which will be held on August 10th of the current year.
    The Programme to Support the Development of Transnational Referral Mechanism (TRM) for Trafficked Persons in South-Eastern Europe was launched in July 2006. This Programme is funded by USAID and is implemented by ICMPD in partnership with ACTA (Network of NGOs against Human Trafficking and Corruption), MARRI (Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative), Regional Center in Skopje and the Ministry of Interior of Bulgaria. The objective of the Programme is to offer a real chance to the victims of trafficking to restart a new life, based on their decisions, being aware of their rights and of the role they might play in criminal proceedings against perpetrators; and this objective will be fulfilled by developing and implementing mechanisms necessary for comprehensive transnational victim support and institutionalized cooperation on transnational cases between South-Eastern countries/actors.

June 12, 2007
Study on Domestic Violence*
    From June to November 2007, La Strada will research domestic violence within the framework of a project funded by the OSCE mission in Moldova. The goal of this research is to identify key organizations and both initiatives and gaps within the field of domestic violence prevention. Research will primarily analyze the most relevant strategies in this field, especially in regards to preventing violence against women, and will focus on the following areas:
    a) Warning, informing, and sensitizing the public
    b) Assisting and protecting the victims of the domestic violence
    c) Coordinating efforts in domestic violence prevention
    Among the main objectives of the research are:
    1. Identification and assessment of the assistance and prevention infrastructure within the studied field
    2. Identification of victims’ needs and the degree to which these needs are met
    3. Analysis of the coordination of all domestic violence prevention efforts
    The study will conclude with a series of recommendations for the elimination of gaps identified in the field of domestic violence prevention, improvement of assistance to victims, and, possibly recommendations for improvement of current legislation.

    * This article was edited by Nola Theiss, director of Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships Inc, and Katie Marsico
May 24, 2007
The Third Edition of La Strada EXPRESS*

May 2, 2007
La Strada’s Web Site among Top Prize Winners*
    Fifty prizes and honorable-mention awards for the most outstanding Internet resources implemented in the Republic of Moldova were recently presented within the framework of the Sixth Edition of the WebTop 2006 Contest. La Strada was among the prize winners at this event. The Web site www.lastrada.md was awarded a prize from the Simpals Company and an honorable mention in the category “Civil Society.” As stated in the certificate, “The Internet prize Simpals is awarded to the non-governmental organization ‘La Strada’ for its social contribution to counteracting human trafficking in the Republic of Moldova through [preventative] actions, assistance, and lobbying.”
    A prize of 25,000 lei was awarded to companies and organizations that are promoting the Internet through Simpals projects, including www.999.md, www.play.md, www.point.md, www.forum.md, www.yea.md, www.gsm.md, www.joblist.md, and www.drive.md. This year’s contest involved 266 nominees in fourteen categories, including arts and culture, central public administration, education and science, civil society, business and economy, and online services or personal sites. The jury, which was comprised ot twenty-five judges from Germany, Russia, Romania, and the United States, awarded eleven first-place prizes, fourteen second-place prizes, nineteen third-place prizes, and three honorable mentions.
    This event was hosted by the DNT Association and funded by the SOROS Foundation -Moldova from April 23 to April 30 in Chisinau. More information is available online at www.webtop.md.

    * This article was edited by Nola Theiss, director of Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships Inc, and Katie Marsico


April 10, 2007
A New Edition of the “Best Practices in the Field of Assistance to the Victims of Trafficking” on CD*
    La Strada has recently offered the “Best Practices in the Field of Assistance to the Victims of Trafficking” in an edited version on a CD, thanks to the financial support of ICCO. The current edition is a compilation of the best practices in assistance provision to victims of trafficking, beginning with the procedure of identification and ending with the procedure of reintegration, as both are implemented by the Drop-in Center, a subdivision of La Strada.
    The goal of the CD edition is to improve the quality of the services rendered by stakeholders involved in providing assistance to victims of trafficking (particularly by sharing their best accumulated practices). La Strada annually organizes national workshops on the best practices in assistance provision. The national workshop that was held in 2006 was the third event of this kind.
    Multilateral approaches to providing assistance and social protection to victims (in psychological, social, and legal capacities) and the analysis of challenges and difficulties therein allowed the organizations that participated in the workshops to integrate their accumulated experiences in the aforementioned CD. The authors of the articles on the CD, working for non-governmental organizations, hope that this information will be useful for specialists offering social protection to victims of all ages who have suffered severe abuses (including trafficking) and are looking forward to further collaboration with those for whom this material was initially designed.

    * This article was edited by Nola Theiss, director of Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships Inc, and Katie Marsico


December 10, 2006
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
    “What can you do?” was the title of the regional seminar for volunteers carried out during the period of December 5-8 by the International Center “La Strada”. This seminar closed the series of many far-reaching actions conducted by the Center in 2006. The workshop was organized in the framework of the project “Strengthening the regional interaction to counteract the trafficking in human beings”, with the financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. It brought together 23 volunteers and 13 coordinators from 17 anti-traffic organizations that represented 4 states: Belarus, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine. It was the first seminar that was conducted at such a level in Moldova. The organizers of the workshop had the objective to promote a more active exchange of good practices, experience, lessons learned in the field of human trafficking prevention.
    “The researches that have been conducted within the field during several years show that trafficking in human beings is a dynamic process, where the criminal groups are permanently improving their “activity” that is oriented towards the extortion of fabulous profits at the expense of the mutilated destinies of some innocent persons, in response to more and more active counteracting actions that are carried out by the state structures and civil society,” stated Daniela Misail-Nichitin, Vice-President of the International Center “La Strada”, Manager of the Resource Center, in her opening speech. “In other words, the traditional/typical elements of this phenomenon have been modified essentially, thus, new tendencies, new categories of vulnerable persons, new aims and means of exploitation, new methods of manipulation and control have been registered and identified. These modifications denote that the problem starts to gain a more hidden and complex character and intercalates more and more with the phenomena associated with trafficking, such as: migration, contraband and labour force exploitation… It is necessary to elaborate new and more efficient methods of preventing the cases of trafficking, proactive and progressive methods of rendering adequate assistance to the victims of this scourge. Taking into account that at this stage, it is the civil society that plays the role of the leader, it is most urgent that we, NGOs, intensify the collaboration at the international level, synchronize efforts and actions, methods of analysis and activity in the direction of human trafficking prevention.”
    In this context, the participants got familiarized with and had the opportunity to analyze over 20 practices that had been applied and tested during several years of activity; and most of the practices were positively appreciated by the participants and recommended to be used, depending on the case, by the participating organizations in future.
    The organizers, as well as the participants, hope that such activities will lead to the consolidation of efforts of all organizations that act within this field by establishing stronger professional contacts at the international level. This fact has been affirmed by the messages received from the participants right after the seminar:

    "Dear colleagues,
    I was very pleased to meet and to be together with you during a whole week. I can state that I have met wonderful people and real professionals. I want to thank everyone for the information shared with us. Your experience is immeasurably valuable for our activity."
    Aliona Avetisian, Winrock International, Moldova

    "Greetings, dear friends,
    When we came back home, our colleagues were eager to find out how our visit to Moldova was. All of us replied with one voice: “It was splendid, wonderful, and indescribable!” Indeed, this was how we felt during our stay in Moldova. We want to express our sincere thanks to the organizers! We were very glad to be together with you. We feel sad that the seminar is over; however, the photos remind us about the nice moments spent together. We remember about you very often and hope to meet you again. Thank you once again for enriching our knowledge!"
    Ecaterian, Aneta, Miroslav, “P. U. L. S.” Foundation, Pernik, Bulgaria

    "Greetings from the sunny Kherson,
    We were pleased to participate in the seminar and we are ready to keep in touch and exchange the information with you in future. If you wish, we could include you in our senders’ list and overload you with the letters regarding trafficking problem here."
    Dmitrii, Tatiana, ÕÎÎÖ “Men against violence”, Kherson, Ukraine


November 27, 2006
The First International Workshop on rendering assistance to the victims of human trafficking organized in Moldova
    26 specialists representing 11 organizations that conduct their activity in the field of anti-traffic from Belarus, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine has gathered at the International Workshop on "Assistance to all categories of victims of the trafficking in human beings". The Workshop was organized by the International Center “La Strada”-Moldova in the framework of the Project "Consolidation of the relations of collaboration at the regional level to counteract efficiently the trafficking in human beings" during the period of 21-23 November and was financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. In Moldova this kind of workshop, with the participation of specialists from abroad, was organized for the first time. The organizers of the meeting have been urged on by the fact that lately many of similar events are organized with regard to counteracting, legal proceedings towards criminals, improvement of legislative body etc., and few events are organized with regard to rendering a direct assistance to the victims of this crime. The success of the justice, namely, depends on the success of the assistance to the victims, their identification and rehabilitation.
    A continued analysis shows that the trafficking in human beings is a phenomenon in which criminal groupings permanently improve modus operandi in response to the anti-traffic efforts. Today the traditional elements, known until quite recently, suffer big changes; new tendencies are being registered with regard to the categories of vulnerable persons, scope of exploitation, methods of manipulation and control. To be able to respond to new challenges, it is necessary to intensify the international collaboration, synchronize actions and interventions, and harmonize the methods of tackling the cases of trafficking. "In the light of these facts, the scope of our workshop was to discuss and analyze the practices collected by the participants during their working experience with trafficked persons, specified Ana Revenco, President of the International Center "La Strada"-Moldova. In the same context, I would like to mention that, presently, in the Republic of Moldova, there is a set of documents/acts with regard to the national norms/standards of assistance to trafficked persons that is in the process of elaboration. When this set of documents is prepared and brought into operation, it will permit the enforcement of the Law on the prevention and combating of the trafficking in human beings and the protection of victims’ rights. The civil society is also taking an active part in the elaboration of this set of documents, thus, we hope that this workshop will generate new ideas, consolidate knowledge in certain fields to the representatives from Moldova", said Ana Revenco.
    The participants in the workshop had an opportunity to get acquainted with 13 practices applied in the field, tested and collected during the period of several years, which practically aim at all stages of assistance to the beneficiaries – starting with the stage of identification up to the stage of reintegration. During the workshop, the participants could also gain new knowledge and experience, consolidate contacts with anti-traffic actors from these states, reaching a certain understanding with regard to the procedures of rendering assistance to the victims. The boldest objective was to give a collective appreciation of the practices presented during the workshop, so that their recognition as good practices could lead to a further harmonization and consolidation of the efforts and approaches at the regional/international level, and could draw together the active organizations in the field by establishing and strengthening the relations of collaboration.

September 25, 2006
The "La Strada" experts – Moldova in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
    It has become a tradition for the specialists of the International Center "La Strada" to attend events and actions held by different structures and NGOs from various countries (South Eastern Europe, CIS territory, Turkey and others) that conduct their activities in the field of counteracting the trafficking of human beings. Mainly, these actions refer to the exchange of experience and good practices with regard to the prevention and counteracting of the phenomenon, and assistance to the trafficking victims.
    In September, Tatiana Fomina, manager of the Center of Analysis and Lobby, at the invitation of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR/OSCE, Warsaw), participated in two actions in this field in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The round table on “Problems of the implementation of Referral Mechanism for the trafficking victims in Kazakhstan”, organized on 19 September by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, with support of OSCE Center from Alma-Ata and ODIHR/OSCE, was held in the capital of Kazakhstan. Lilia Pascal, main specialist at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova, also attended the meeting. The experts from Moldova informed the participants – representatives of different state structures of the Republic of Kazakhstan that also conduct some activities in the field of combating the trafficking in human beings (Ministry of Internal Affairs, General Prosecutor’s Office, Frontier Guards Service, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs etc.) – about the history of creation of the referral Mechanism for trafficking victims, including the practice of Moldova (first experience in creation and implementation in 2004-2006, normative framework, formalization of the collaboration between state structures and NGOs, coordination of actions within the Mechanism at the local level, development of the identification system, positive aspects of the mechanism functionality, but, at the same time, the gaps discovered in the system for providing assistance to the trafficking victims).
    The second action, entitled "Approaches in the solution of the problem of human trafficking in Fergana Valley – the Role of the Civil Sector", organized by the NGO "Podruga" during the period of 21-22 September in Ors, town in Kyrgyzstan, gathered about 30 non-governmental organizations from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, officials of USAID, OIM, OIDDO/OSCE Warsaw, local OSCE Offices from Ors, Biskek, Hudjant, as well as representatives of some state structures of the host country. The scope of the meeting was to create a network of NGOs, able to organize a system for counteracting human trafficking in Fergana Valley and select some suggestions with regard to the directions for future network activities. Within the framework of the meeting, the expert from "La Strada"-Moldova presented a report on "Referral Mechanism for the victims of human trafficking as a strategy to protect the rights of the trafficked persons".
    The participants in both events showed a special interest in the aspects of conceptualizing the problem of the identification of trafficking victims and the study of the International Center “La Strada”-Moldova on this matter. The copies of the thematic publication on this subject were distributed to the participants.

September 21, 2006
Collaboration between NGO - GO: the principle of non-victimization in practice
    This was the subject of the third National Workshop of Best Practices Exchange in the field of assisting the human trafficking victims, organized by the International Center for Protection and Promotion of Woman’s Rights “La Strada” during the period of 18-20 September of the current year at Malovata Noua, Criuleni. The Workshop brought together 15 participants representing over ten non-governmental and governmental organizations, such as: the International Center “La Strada”, Center for Preventing Trafficking in Women (CPTF), International Organization for Migration, Mission to Moldova, National Center for preventing the abuse of children (CNPAC), Winrock-Balti, Center for Teenagers’ Rehabilitation in Chisinau (CRAC), NGO “Interaction” (Tiraspol), National Agency for Job Placement (ANORM), Center for Combating Human Trafficking. The goal of the workshop was to debate upon the main aspects of the collaboration between non-governmental and governmental organizations regarding assistance to the victims of trafficking in general, as well as the collaboration between police authorities and NGOs on the identification of the minor victims of human trafficking in particular. The workshop focused on two objectives: the organizers brought to the participants’ attention the presentations on Best Practices “Integration into the labor market. Collaboration between NGO and GO (IOM-ANOFM), “Identification of the minor victims of human trafficking – collaboration between the police and NGO (the International Center “La Strada” (for more details access 21092006.rar (74,4Kb)) and “Collaboration with the bodies for protecting legal regulations with regard to the human trafficking victims’ access to the justice” (CPTF).
    By the end of the Workshop, the protagonists of this event identified a series of problems that specialists have to confront with while providing assistance, the problem of respecting the principle of non-victimization in particular, and presented solutions and recommendations on improving the situation.

August 23, 2006
210 days of the Social Campaign "I also care about…"
    On 1 November, 2005 the International Center for Protection and Promotion of Woman’s Rights “La Strada” launched a Social Campaign “I also care about…”. The objective of the campaign was to sensitize the large public and cultivate a tolerant attitude towards the victims of human trafficking, and facilitate the access of the victims to the assistance and adequate protection. Planned for a period of 7 months (till May 2006) and supported by a number of international bodies, such as: ICCO, Missions to Moldova of IOM and OSCE, European Commission, the campaign aimed at the local community’s hostility, ignorance and marginalization of the victims of trafficking, as well as the limited access of all categories of victims to different types of assistance. Read all text (Press_release_23_08.doc, 25Kb))

July 21, 2006
"There was registered a pleasant and friendly atmosphere"
    "Bravo to organizers. I have been impressed by the honesty and friendliness of the mentors. Everything was OK, it shall continue like this". "Everything was fine. Especially the fact that some of our colleagues have presented the results of our work. There was a pleasant and friendly atmosphere" These were the appreciations of the participants to the Workshop "Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings: Evaluation and capacity building", which, between July 18 and 20 of this year, has a gathered together at the holiday resort "Odiseu" in Vadul lui Voda the volunteers of the International Center "La Strada". Defying the heat, disembarrassed of the alert of the summer examinations (and others even having the validated matriculation!), the authors of the slogan "What can you do?" and the Social Campaign "I care about...", have prepared their own examination, alias have reviewed and evaluated the activities performed during those nine months (from October 2005 till June 2006).
    If we would classify according to the priorities, the Social Campaign "I care about..." seems to have dominated the preoccupations of volunteers, they being on the top almost all those 210 days, the time period during which lasted this far-reaching initiative of the International Center "La Strada". Evaluating the impact of the caravan on the society, the participants to the workshop have demonstrated that during the process of transmitting/receiving the message they have succeeded to identify alternative solutions for different issues which they faced. By this, the indifference of the public has been neutralized to a great extent by the belief of the volunteers that the trafficking in persons represents a problem of the society worldwide, and not at all an individual one, the ignorance of some citizens - by inviting to discussions, and the difference of opinions - by invoking some plausible arguments about this phenomena, to their confuse reactions there have been made explications about the goal of the campaign, and the pessimism of some of them - the information about the assistance possibilities, provided by the International Center "La Strada" and other organizations active in the field, etc. In spite of some technical difficulties, the Campaign has ended, in the opinion of the volunteers and managing staff of the Center, with plausible results: there has increased the number of calls to the Hot Line, the number of detected trafficking cases, mass-media became more sensitive to the problem of trafficking and, implicitly, has been extended the area of informed public.
    Not of less importance has been the activity of holding prevention seminars, subject contests, organized in schools, during the evaluated period the volunteers have succeeded to organize (at request, as well as in collaboration with the General Department for Education, Science, Youth and Sport of Chisinau city - over 150 similar activities, all of them having the title "From young to young".
    Also within the scope of this workshop the volunteers have got acquainted with new techniques and communication abilities, have made recommendations, starting from their own accumulated experience, for selecting new volunteers some of them even willing to participate in the selection process, have reviewed the activities for the second half of the calendar year and have planed the activities for the next year.

April 7, 2006
The forum of teenagers from Chisinau schools
    „I care about...” was the title of the Forum of teenagers from the schools of Chisinau city, which took place on April 7, 2006, in the Conference Room of the Institute of Labor, under the aegis of the General Department for Education, Science, Youth and Sport of the capital and of the International Center for Protection and Promotion of Woman Rights „La Strada”.
    The Forum itself has in fact represented a Gaul of laureates of the contest with the same title, conducted by the organizers in the schools of the city during the month of March. The contest was preceded by circa 100 informative seminars and prevention of human trafficking problem, conducted by the volunteers of the International Center „La Strada” in high schools during the current school year, at the end of which was announced the contest. The participants to the seminars have been invited to test their creative abilities in three subjects: drawing, essay, own creation (poetry, short prose, song, dance etc.).
    In a festive atmosphere, created by the performance of those circa 30 finalists (winners of I, II and III places at each subject, as well as other 20 participants at the contest, which have received special diplomas) from the lyceums „Ilulia Hasdeu”, „Liviu Deleanu”, „Onisifor Ghibu”, „Vasile Alecsandri”, „Petru Zadnipru”, the school No. 62 and other schools from the capital, at the applauses and acclamations of those over one hundred invitees of them, school mates, Valentina Cujba, deputy director general of the General Department for Education, Science, Youth and Sport of Chisinau city, and Daniela Misail-Nichitin, vice-president of the International Center „La Strada” have handed over to the laureates the corresponding Diplomas, prizes and presents on behalf of the organizers. The festival has been also accompanied by an exhibition of the most successful drawings executed by the participants at the contest.
    The activity was a part of the Social Campaign „I care about...”, conducted by the International Center „La Strada” on the whole territory of the republic, with the financial support of some international organizations as ICCO, European Commission, missions to Moldova of OSCE and IOM.

April 5, 2006
The role of education managers in prevention of children trafficking
    A guiding and informative seminar on this subject, organized by the International Center for Protection and Promotion of Woman Rights „La Strada”, General Department for Education, Science, Youth and Sport of Chisinau city and Theoretical Lyceum „Mihail Sadoveanu” on April 5, 2006, has gathered the school managers from Chisinau, responsible for the process of education. Being within the scope of a number of several activities of the recent period, focused on the phenomenon of non-regulated migration and trafficking in human beings, including the social Campaign „I care about...”, this action had the objectives to ensure the continues education of managers responsible for the education process, familiarize them with the perspectives and directions of activity of governmental and non-governmental organizations towards prevention of children trafficking, with the forms and ways of involving the pupils in activities regarding prevention of this adversity, improving the collaboration relationships of the school managers with the representatives of the society and entities entitled to prevent and combat the trafficking in human beings.
    Starting with these objectives, the seminar took place directly in the building of a school – Theoretical Lyceum „Mihail Sadoveanu”. The participants, divided in six (6) groups, have assisted for the beginning at some classes of form mastering for the 9th, 10th and 11th grades, with different subjects („Alone with the fortune”, „Between the dream and reality”, „Human being as a ware”, „White slavery”, „In the shadow of lost steps” etc.), subsequently discussing, within the scope of four (4) workshops, The new education technologies regarding prevention of children trafficking.
    The seminar ended with screening the documentary „Parallel Life” and a round table with the subject „Informing via mass-media about the phenomenon and sensitizing the state and non-governmental organizations regarding children trafficking problems”. At round-table discussions participated also the representatives of the Center for Combating the Human Trafficking, General Department for Education, Science, Youth and Sport, Department for Children Protection, of the Riscani region of Chisinau city, representatives of of the Lyceum senate and parents’ committee, representatives of the newspaper „Ziarul de Garda”.

March 31, 2006
Is Moldova ready to cope with the EU problems?
    During this day the capital of the Republic of Moldova has received, in the „Dedeman” hotel, the International Conference „Extension of European Union border in the context of the global experience – the problem of migration and trafficking in human beings. Is Moldova ready to react?”. Organized by the International Center for Protection and Promotion of Woman Rights „La Strada” (Moldova), in collaboration with the Center for International Relations (Poland), National Office for Migration of the Republic of Moldova, International Organization fro Migration, mission to Moldova, the Conference fits into the Project „Transatlantic Security – New Challenges and Dilemma of the European Migration Policy” and has constituted one of from a series of conferences, conducted with the support of the German Marshall Fund of the United States of America. The first conference has been organized in Warsaw, in September 2005, the second one – in Kiev, in December of the same year. The next two conferences, after the one in Chisinau, is envisaged to be organized in Budapest and Brussels.
    The present conference was hold in Chisinau not by accident. During the recent years the Republic of Moldova faces a number of serious problems, as non-controlled migration of labor force and trafficking in human beings for the markets of Europe and Asia, representing one of the countries being at the top of these phenomena. According to some estimations, the number of migrants which are looking for an working place abroad has reached the figure of 570 thousand of persons, which constitutes approximately 40 percent of the population of the republic which is able to work. These problems are generated by internal factors – poverty, unemployment etc., as well as by external factors – global political, economic and social changes, which take place in Europe, as well as in the whole world. The Government of the Republic of Moldova takes different measures, oriented towards solving the mentioned phenomena. In this context, represents an interest studying the experience of other countries, which have confronted similar experiences, especially the neighbor countries of the former soviet area, the way of European integration of which Moldova intends to follow.
    Since at the Conference have participated international experts in migration and human trafficking problems, from many countries: USA, Germany, Poland and Romania, as well as national experts from the Republic of Moldova, the objective of this international forum was to reflect the practices and experience of different countries of solving the problems referring to illegal migration and trafficking in human beings, the possible consequences of European Union extension and the impact on these phenomena for the Republic of Moldova. Following this idea, the Moldovan experts in mentioned problems got acquainted with the experience and prognosis of some EU member states (candidates) and tried to identify the major directions of intervention for the Republic of Moldova, and to work out the adequate recommendations.

February 9, 2006
Training for social assistants
    Between February 6 and 8, 2006 the International Center „La Strada” conducted a seminar with the title “Identification and social assistance of the human trafficking victims: actions within the framework of the National Reference Mechanism”. Organized by the Contact Center of „La Strada” NGO, the seminar has gathered the specialists in children rights protection within the system of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, especially from Anenii Noi, Cahul, Cimislia, Causeni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Rezina, Riscani, Straseni, Soldanesti, Stefan Voda, Taraclia districts, which did not participate at such seminars, conducted previously.
    Within the framework of the seminar the participants got acquainted with the human trafficking problem as a flagrant violation of human rights and international standards regarding treatment of trafficked persons. Based on the obtained knowledge, the specialists in the field of children rights have improved their abilities of working with the trafficked persons; they got acquainted with the existent mechanism of meeting the needs of victims, being able to identify the human trafficking victims, especially the minors. There have been also determined the ways of collaboration with the Contact Center with regard to providing the necessary assistance.
    At the end of the seminar, the participants have benefited from a practical guideline „Social assistance provided to human trafficking victims, and especially to women” (second edition), elaborated by the International Center „La Strada” and meant for social assistants and psychologists; guideline which includes international and national practice in the field of social assistance provided to trafficked persons, as well as other information materials, meant for the persons who suffered from human trafficking.

February 3, 2006
A Hot Line also in Transnistria
    „Who has the information, controls the situation” – was the leitmotif of the training, which took place between January 31 and February 3 in Tiraspol, within the scope of a project supported by the International Organization for Migration, mission to Moldova, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy. Four operators of the International Center „La Strada”, who have already an experience of 4-5 years of counseling via the Hot Line, have instructed 12 participants, out of which only five (5) will provide telephone counseling to the population on the left bank of Dniestr River via a new Hot Line 0 800 88888, planned to be put in operation by February 15, 2006, within the framework of non-governmental organization „Interaction”. Conforming to the common principles of such telephone lines – free of charge calls, confidentiality and anonymity, the new Hot Line aims at facilitating the access to the necessary assistance to the victims of human trafficking from the respective region. Also, the consultants will offer information with regard to the migration process valid for the population from Transnistria.
    The participants to the seminar have recognized that they were not acquainted with the problem of human trafficking, with the aspects of illegal migration and possible consequences. Here are just a couple of statements:
    „This problem is not recognized by the Transnistrian authorities, and the access to such a type of information is very limited.”
    „I am the one who thought that the human trafficking does not affect me, is far away from me, but after the seminar I have realized that, being young, we are exposed to the risk at any time. I also did not believe that the victims of trafficking can be really helped, but now I have understood that there exist institutions which are able to provide them assistance, starting with taking them out of the place of exploitation and performing the rehabilitation, up to social reintegration”.
    Such statements have been made after the operators of the International Center „La Strada” have familiarized the participants to the training with the stages, key moments, during which there can be and rather must intervene, making them understanding, that this problem can not belong only to one person, but to the entire society. The persons selected for the position of consultant were motivated and prepared for a work not simple at all, which shall be done. The future consultants were highly impressed by the interactive mode in which the training has been performed, they understood the gravity and complexity of the problem, the fact which will help them to determine much easier the categories of beneficiaries. They have declared that there already appeared the necessity for such a consultation and informational service with regard to illegal migration problem and human trafficking.
    The accumulated information will help the beginning consultants to grow professionally, to become good counselors for the persons who would like to go abroad for working, studying, traveling or marriage, advising them how to avoid the eventual risks and tragic consequences. „The counseling activity will be a challenge for the future consultants, since they will activate on a field considered to be taboo within the zone of the left bank of Dniestr River” has mentioned one of the operators of the International Center „La Strada”.

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Diary
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Child trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in the attention of the "La Strada" Moldova
20.10.2011

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Protection of child against commercial sexual exploitation
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Sexual exploitation of children and related crimes committed via Internet
2.06.2011

Stay safe while navigating the web!
15.03.2011

Moldovan children, Sexually abused by foreign citizens
16.12.2010

Commercial sexual exploitation of children between myth and reality
15.11.2010

How question children, victims of sexual exploitation, without traumatizing them

 

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