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Description
The main problem regarding the phenomenon of human trafficking among Romanian citizens is the low number of cases of human trafficking reported and identified in Romania, compared to the situation estimated by international organizations. The causes of this problem are multiple: firstly, there has been no proactive identification in Romania, the current Identification and Referral Mechanism does not mention this. In the absence of a legal framework, police action depends almost exclusively on signals and reports made by citizens. Secondly, many citizens do not understand the phenomenon of trafficking and often blame or stigmatise victims. As such, they do not know how to take action, where they can report possible cases and to whom they should turn. Thirdly, a large cause of the problem is the lack of capacity of key actors in the community (police, social workers, medical staff, priests, teachers, etc.) to read the signs of potential trafficking situations.
The project aims to increase the level of awareness and knowledge among the Romanian population towards victims of human trafficking and to build capacity in identification and referral of cases for the most important actors at the community level (social workers, medical staff, police officers, magistrates, and prosecutors). The project will also focus on advocacy efforts for a new National Referral and Identification Mechanism which will include proactive identification. An Info Center will be opened for assisting victims and citizens in detecting and referring cases of human trafficking. By the end of the project will be implemented a campaign for decreasing the level of stigmatization and blaming the victims among Romanian population
Summary of project results
International studies estimated that 86.000 Romanians were living a form of modern slavery due to human trafficking, while data from the National Agency Against Human Trafficking in Romania shows only a number of 497 victims of human trafficking were identified (year of reference 2018). A key issue is the fact that the National Referral and Identification Mechanism does not include proactive identification, meaning that means victims remain hidden in plain sight if citizens won’t report cases, if key local actors won’t fill out notifications to report possible cases of human trafficking.
In order to address these issues, the project was designed to increase the level of awareness and knowledge (including destigmatisation) among the general public towards victims of human trafficking and to build capacity for the identification and referral of cases for the relevant actors at the community level (social workers, medical staff, police officers, magistrates and prosecutors). There were also included advocacy actions for a new National Referral and Identification Mechanism that includes proactive identification of cases on traffic. There was also open a Info Center for assisting victims and citizens in detecting and referring cases of human trafficking.
Within the project there was conducted research on the interaction between victims and different professional categories and their perception; there was unfolded a national information and awareness campaign that reached more than 5 million people; there was open the first Center for Detection and Notification of cases of human trafficking that received accreditation by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection to work with victims; more than 600 specialists from relevant fields of activities increased capacity to work with cases of human trafficking. The new National Identification and Referral Mechanism was adopted by the Government of Romania (also) as a result of the advocacy activities.