Trafficking in Human Beings in Southeastern Europe - Iom

Trafficking in Human Beingsin Southeastern EuropeProstitution is a criminal offence in Moldova, Art. 105-1 of the Criminal Code,punished with six months to 1 year’s imprisonment. Although practiced clandestinely,it is widespread, mainly in big cities. In Chisinau, there are morethan 250 brothels and sex is also sold at train and bus stations. The majority,70 percent, of students think that work in the sex industry abroad is a goodway to earn money. The way prostitution is viewed by the society is based ona double standard: on one hand, it is perceived as a good way to earn money;on the other, prostitutes are ostracized. For trafficked women, the fear ofrejection by their family and community is one of the factors keeping themfrom going back home.Republic ofMoldova1.2. Trafficking of childrenIn addition to trafficking of teenage girls for prostitution, there is some anecdotal,but not confirmed, information about traffic in children for organs. Whilethe story is often repeated, nobody is able to present concrete facts that couldlead to the identification of the persons involved, or at least to anyone whohas first hand information.Trafficking in children for illegal adoption is reportedly widespread. There isinformation about children coming from big families in the countryside andchildren whose parents have migrated being offered for adoption. 44 Thechange of the border regime between Moldova and Romania had somewhatdecreased trafficking in children for illegal adoptions. Before June 2000, achild could be taken through the border by anyone who could present a signedagreement from the parents. Now, a child has to be registered in the accompanyingperson’s passport. Still, with widespread corruption and easy accessto new or false documents, this new requirement does not present a seriousobstacle.1.3. Victim assistance: return and reintegrationThere were 36 persons (men and women) returned to Moldova via officialchannels in 2000. The police received them after information from INTERPOLabout their arrival. Moldavian police, however, have neither the capacity northe necessary skills to receive and assist trafficked persons. Returning womenare treated like criminals, and do not receive any proper help or support.Until recently, the only organisation that was involved in assisting and reintegratingtrafficked persons was Save the Children Moldova. In 2000, Save theChildren assisted approximately 400 trafficked persons, and from January toJuly 2001, 217 more. These were women and girls being repatriated mainly,but not only, with the assistance of IOM. Seventeen percent of them were girlsunder 18 years old.Since January 2000, a larger number of trafficked persons have been returnedto Moldova with the financial assistance of IOM: 308 in 2000 (assisted by Savethe Children) and 363 in 2001 (assisted by Save the Children and after September2001 by La Strada). Most of the victims were aged between 18 and24. OSCE, the International Social Service and the Catholic Church of Italyhave also assisted some of the victims. Currently, it is estimated that about20-30 women and girls return to Moldova each month. Most of them are comingback from FYR Macedonia, Serbia, BiH, Kosovo and Albania. 45 Only 50 percentof the women want to or can go back to their families. The rest need help44.Interview with local NGO Centre of Support for Women from Hincesti Town, EcaterinaBucur, Chisinau, 26 July 2001.45.Interview with Save the Children president Mariana Petersel, Timisoara, 20 July 2001.27