Trafficking in Human Beings in Southeastern Europe - Iom

Trafficking in Human Beingsin Southeastern EuropeThe UNAdministeredProvince ofKosovoWomen can stay longer, usually about another two weeks, while waiting forthe necessary travel documentation to be issued.As part of the IOM return and reintegration assistance, women receive a “dignifiedreturn pack” with clothes and souvenirs for their family as well as US$150 as a reinstallation grant. Additionally between US$1,000 and US$2,000 isavailable for each case for reintegration activities after return. IOM office inthe home country administers this money.UNFPA is developing a reproductive health care project for the victims of traffickingthat will include information, medical services and counselling for thewomen staying in the UMCOR supported shelter for trafficked women willingto return home.The local NGO Centre for Protection of Women and Children is running a shelterfor the victims of domestic violence. This shelter also accepts traffickedwomen who cannot be placed in the other shelter, including victims of internaltrafficking and girls under 18. According to the annual report of 2000, 26cases of trafficking were assisted. 115 During 2001 (until November) the sheltersupported nine trafficked women with medical counselling, socio-psychologicalsupport, an obligatory gynaecological examination and vocationaltraining. Women and girls can stay in the shelter for up to three months.As almost all the women who came to the shelter in the past few months werefrom the Mitrovica region, the shelter initiated cooperation with the NGOsactive in Mitrovica North to provide women with vocational training after theirreturn home.2.5. Legal reform and law enforcementAn inter-agency Legal Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, in which participatethe Joint Department for Democratic Governance and Civil Society(JIAS), the UNMIK Justice Department, the UNMIK Office of Gender Affairs,IOM and UNICEF, drafted the anti-trafficking regulation at the end of 2000.The “Regulation on the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons in Kosovo” 116 wentinto force in January 2001. It makes human trafficking a criminal offence punishableby two to 20 years in prison and allows an establishment to be closedif it is involved in or associated with trafficking, and the confiscation of traffickers’property. The new regulation also provides for better protection forand assistance to trafficked women, including a defence against prostitutioncharges and an option to request victim assistance. The regulation also foreseeshigher penalties when the victim of the trafficking is under the age of 18.The legal working group is currently made up of the UNMIK Office of GenderAffairs, the Office of Human Rights, OSCE, IOM, UMCOR, UNICEF, TPIU andJIAS. The group is now working on an administrative directive that will giveinstructions to the administration and the courts on the implementation ofduties assigned to the Victim’s Assistance Coordinator.Trafficking and Prostitution Investigation Units were created within UNMIKPolice in October 2001 and operate in all five regions of Kosovo.104115.Information from IOM, Shelley Inglis, 17 January 2002.116.UNMIK/REG/2001/4.