3071-The political economy of new slavery

84 The Belgian Counter-trafficking Policy
the liaison magistrate may also invite any person or department whose
help he or she deems useful to the investigations and prosecution
regarding trafficking in persons. Additionally, he or she will also be
responsible for the collaboration with the national magistrates in their
role of co-ordinating of prosecutions and the facilitation of the international
criminal co-operation (Brammertz et al., 2002).
Fourth pillar: victim support
The Belgian system for victim support is based on a difficult compromise
between, on the one hand, the desire to protect the victims and to offer
them prospects for the future and, on the other hand, the necessity for
an effective fight against the networks involved in trafficking. It is in
this context that the victims of trafficking who agree to co-operate with
the judicial authorities and agree to be assisted by a specialized shelter
may be granted a specific residence status.
A general overview of three relevant legal texts will draw the conclusion
that the position of institutions providing assistance for victims of
trafficking in human beings, as well as the victims themselves, has
improved steadily in recent years (OCSE, 1999). 8
In the first place, there is the ‘Circular concerning the delivery of
residence and work permits to foreigners, victims of trafficking in
human beings’, issued by the Ministry of the Interior in 1994. This
circular formally recognizes the statute of ‘victims of trafficking in
human beings’. Whenever a victim of trafficking goes to a specialized
service that provides assistance to victims, and the victim can prove to
the authorities that they have sought this type of assistance, they may
receive a delayed expulsion order (as opposed to a direct expulsion
order) to leave the country within 45 days that gives legal title to be in
the country for the 45-day period. The decision whether they receive
this order or not lies with the Immigration Office. If the prosecution
service decides to pursue the case, the victim can receive an authorization
from the Immigration Office to stay in the country for three
more months. If after a period of three months the prosecutor has good
reason to believe that the circumstances reported amount to a trafficking
case a six-month document is delivered. A renewal of this authorization
for another six months is possible until the end of the criminal proceedings
against the trafficker. Yet again, assistance by a specialized
organization is obligatory. Victims residing under this residence framework
are offered access to employment, education, compensation, legal
aid, mental and physical health care, financial support, and so on.