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Description
The ReAct Project - Reform and action to defend the rights of children, victims of human trafficking, in the justice system responds to the need to create an adequate and friendly hearing environment in the justice system in which the rights of minors are respected and ends the institutional practice that subject victims to a long process (average 6 years) of victimization. The main tool used is increasing the capacity of NGOs in advocacy actions at national and European level to change the legal framework for hearing of minors, increasing the success of these actions by increasing the number of allies and supporters with expertise in the field. The reality is that there are several NGOs specialized in providing support services to victims of trafficking which usually advocate for improved related policies and legislation, but not many NGOs have expertise in advocacy for children’s rights in the justice system, where there is a lack of updated data on this matter. Thus, this project will cover the lack of expertise by building the capacity of 10 NGOs active in area of children’s rights in implementing advocacy actions at national and European level, conducting a research on the situation of children as victims/ witnesses of trafficking in justice, implementation of a national and European advocacy campaign in order to change the legal provisions regarding the hearing of minors and limiting it only in the pre-trial stage with a maximum number of 2 hearings. Also we will conduct an awareness campaign regarding the situation of minors as victims of trafficking in the justice system and training of 150 police officers, prosecutors and judges in the hearing of minors according to European standards. The partners are actively involved in the activities within this project, contributing to the achievement of the proposed results.
Summary of project results
The projects addressed the gaps in legal framework and institutional practice regarding the hearing of minors (victims / witnesses of trafficking) that fail to provide an adequate and friendly hearing environment where the rights of minors are respected.
The project aimed at creating capacity for relevant actors (NGOs, police officers, prosecutors and judges) to act in line with EU standards, raising awareness on the situation of minors as victims of trafficking in the justice system, conducting research to document the situation of children victims / witnesses of trafficking within the justice system and advocating at national and European level for changing the legal provisions regarding the hearing of minors.
Within the project there were trained 31 representatives from 10 NGOs and 190 professionals from the judicial and social fields; the awareness campaign involved more than 2500 children, 51 high schools, 20 volunteers; there were organized 45 flashmobs; there were issued 2 media spots and 27 articles in print, online, radio and TV with more than 900,000 views; 10 letters pointing at the situation of children victims in the judicial system were addressed to national and European public institutions. 2 legislative proposals were elaborated, out of which one was adopted.