partners and sponsors

partners and sponsors

content: COMMON DECLARATION Organizations and international structures partners and sponsors of the International Center "La Strada" External contact addresses list of La Strada (September, 2009)

COMMON DECLARATION

March 31, 2004, Chisinau
We, representatives of 9 NGOs from different countries of Central and Eastern Europe, members of the international network La Strada operating since 1995, in the frameworks of the Annual Meeting of the National Coordinators, having evaluated the results of the recent years as well as having investigated the information on:

• current situation on trafficking in human beings in Europe and measures undertaken to combat the phenomenon, major tendencies and prognoses;
• problems concerning identification, assistance and protection of trafficked persons in different countries;
• large scale reforms in the economic, social, legal and other areas of the European union society;

agreed on following:

1. Continuous monitoring conducted by the La Strada network members over the situation on trafficking in Europe proves the fact that trafficking in persons is a transnational and complex crime. In Europe , as well as in other parts of the world, criminal groups activates in well organized networks using means of coercion, corruption, fraud and violence. The means of victims' recruitment and transportation become more and more diversified. The purposes and forms of trafficking are under permanent change becoming more underground. Experience also shows that the phenomenon also extends over new teritorires, new age and social groups.
   Once the problem is "put under control" by the anti-trafficking community in a certain country or region, once the criminal methods are studied and adequate countermeasures are developed, the traffickers respond with new, "modernized" methods in organizing the criminal activity, routs, destination regions, forms of exploitation and control of trafficked persons etc.
   Therefore, in order to successfully combat trafficking in persons, unique policies, innovative strategies and programs are imperative as well as a coordinated approach of al efforts undertaken in countries of origin, transit and destination.
2. Although the European community pays now more attention the issues of victims identification, providing access to assistance and protection for their successful rehabilitation and reintegration, the principle of respect for human rights still is not decisive in the relationship between law enforcement and illegal migrants - potential victims of trafficking in persons.

Therefore, measures are important to be undertaken towards:

• harmonization of public interest in prosecuting criminals with personal interest of the victims of trafficking;
• decriminalization of trafficked persons excluding immediate deportation without careful analysis of the circumstances in the person was found, application of proper measures that would allow their identification and access to assistance and protection
• elaboration of unified European standards on treatment of trafficked persons (reflection delay, residence permit, permit for work and studies for all victims of trafficking irrespective of their decision to cooperation with the law enforcement, etc.)

In addition, the countries of European Union shall elaborate coordinated measures on the liberalization of the labor markets as to extend legal possibilities for lab our migrants. We urge the Governments of the European countries to understand that regulation of the migration flow for the benefit of the migrant is in the interest and need of the Governments themselves.

3. The analyses of the activities and achievements of the international La Strada network shows that the member organization hold important experience in the area of international cooperation, elaboration and innovative and successful programs and strategies in combating trafficking in persons. The experience and capacity of the network is successfully applied on the national levels including by other organizations. The complex program implemented by the network members provide for three major directions of activity:
• providing assistance to trafficked persons including by preliminary identification, organizing rescue from the trafficking networks, facilitate access to assistance and protection programs;
• developing national information and prevention campaign;
• lobby and advocacy on national level as to make the issue visible, put it on the political agenda ultimately leading to minimizing the consequences of this phenomenon;

Yet, the capacity of the La Strada Network is not fully used to lobby the statutory objectives and purposes on the international level. On the other hand, the ample processes on the extension of the Europen Union, globalization of social spheres activities creates new preconditions for obtaining viable results in solving various problems especially of trafficking in humane beings.

The and position of the civil society of countries we represent on in-accepting tentative to the dignity of the person by extension of various forms of slavery in the modern Europe must be first of all included in the legal basis of the Council of Europe.

In the light of aforementioned, we the organizations-members of the international La Strada network reached the decision on the creation of International Association of non-governmental organizations active in the area of trafficking prevention, first Association of this form in Europe. Such a strategy will allow effectively raising the issue on the high political agenda of the European Union.

This Declaration is signed by the representatives of the organization-members of the international La Strada network:
Holand
Poland
Czech Republic
Bulgaria
Ukraine
Moldova
Belarus
Macedonia
Bosnia-Herzegovina