Awareness of the phenomenon of human trafficking
"Awareness of the phenomenon of human trafficking" was the subject of the survey conducted by the Magenta Consulting Company in March 2007, at the request of the International Center "La Strada". This research comprised about 400 of interviews carried out in different locations of the Republic of Moldova. The geography of the population sample for the survey made it possible to carry out 100 interviews per each location: the municipality of Chisinau, regions of Leova (South), Ungheni (Center) and Falesti (North). Thus, the opinion poll covered 60% of the respondents from the rural area and 40% from the urban area.
The goal of the survey was to evaluate the level of population's awareness of the phenomenon of human trafficking, or rather to identify the respondents' opinion about different aspects of the trafficking, such as: categories of persons that are mostly exposed to the risk of trafficking, the most dangerous destinations, etc. The data collected in the survey was used for the elaboration of a prevention Campaign within the field. The results of the survey show that the majority of population is well informed about the phenomenon of human trafficking. Thus, 52% of the respondents state that they are well aware of the phenomenon, the rest of the interviewed persons say that they have heard about the existence of the phenomenon, but don't know its essence. In towns, the number of people who are best aware of the phenomenon is 7% higher than in villages. With regard to the territorial aspect, the data show that in Ungheni region the number of surveyed persons who don't know the details about trafficking is quite large – 65%, while in Falesti and Leova regions, and in the municipality of Chisinau the majority constitutes those who are well aware of the existent phenomenon. Young people in the age of 14-18 showed a lower level of knowledge than people in other age groups. The unemployed and pensioners are the least aware of the phenomenon of trafficking.
With regard to the definition of trafficking in human beings, the majority of respondents (96% of the total number) associate this phenomenon with prostitution and sexual exploitation, then comes human organs extraction and forced labor without remuneration. A small number of respondents think that begging is related to human trafficking. It is important to mention that human organs extraction and begging are considered as human trafficking by the majority of respondents from urban area. At the same time, the forced labor without remuneration (in construction, farm work, housekeeping) was mentioned mostly by people over the age of 45.
Among the groups that are mostly exposed to the risk, young women are regarded as persons who face a high risk of trafficking by 99% of the respondents. At the same time, 63% of the surveyed persons consider that children are also exposed to this danger. Women at a mature age are considered to be at average risk, while men are mostly thought to be at average risk or risk-free. With regard to the geographical aspect, Asia is considered as the most frequent destination of human trafficking. About half of all respondents think that an average risk to be trafficked is to Balkan countries, European Union and CIS countries.
According to the opinion poll the most dangerous arrangements for traveling abroad are: work in construction or in families without contract (79%, and 63%, correspondingly). 57% of the respondents characterize the marriage to a foreigner as travel arrangement of an average risk. It is worth to be mentioned that almost half of all respondents consider that the safe and trusty way to travel abroad is either through the Au pair system or for studies. The opinion polling also showed that the population is not aware of the Au pair system. A large number of respondents don't know anything about this system. Besides, the information regarding trafficked persons is not disseminated among the population. The survey results showed that the majority of respondents don't know anyone who has suffered from trafficking.
The main information sources regarding trafficking of human beings are video spots, then documentary films and TV programs that are subject related. Street posters were noticed mostly by the respondents from urban area (Chisinau and Ungheni), they also could remember video spots and documentary films or TV programs about trafficking. Respondents from rural area could remember, mainly, the information from the TV spots and press (Ungheni and Leova).
Population is well informed about the Hot Line, however, not everyone remembers the telephone number. Dwellers of Falesti and Ungheni regions are the best aware of the Hot Line – 99% and 92% correspondingly. It is thought that most of the calls to the Hot Line are related to the cases when the relatives of a person who has left abroad think that their relative could be at risk or this person is/ have been exploited (has become a victim of trafficking).
The majority of participants in the survey (61%) think that there is sufficient information on human trafficking in the Republic of Moldova. Other 38% consider that more information is needed to be disseminated; and only 1% of the respondents have the opinion that too much information regarding this phenomenon exists in the republic.
Thus, the population of the republic is well informed about the phenomenon of human trafficking, however, a large number of people associate it with prostitution. It is necessary to give a special emphasis to the message that distinguishes these two different phenomena. At the same time, not all arrangements for traveling abroad are considered as being dangerous (for example, marriage to a foreigner or through the Au pair system). Also, the population is not sufficiently aware of the regions where the risk of being trafficked exists.
30 .07.2010
