Trafficking in Human Beings in Southeastern Europe - Iom

Trafficking in Human Beingsin Southeastern EuropeRomaniation and Research, Labour and Social Solidarity, the Prosecutor’s Office, aswell as international and local non-governmental organisations.The Committee has met twice a month since July 2001, to draft the NationalPlan of Action (NPA). The first draft of the NPA was prepared by the Ministryof Foreign Affairs in co-operation with the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry ofJustice, the SECI Centre and the FBI advisor at the SECI Centre. It is compatiblewith the regional Plan of Action of the Stability Pact Task Force on Trafficking.The NPA is focused, primarily, on law enforcement and legal reform, andincludes the activities and co-operation of all relevant governmental and nongovernmentalinstitutions in all areas of action (research, prevention, raisingof awareness, assistance, legal reform and law enforcement). The draft of theNPA was shared for consultation with the international agencies and NGOs andsent to all relevant ministries for comments. The government approved theNPA in August 2001.The Inter-Agency Working Group on trafficking in human beings, as a supportingbody for the National Task Force and one of the agencies implementing theNPA, was also established to work on the legislation, law enforcement proceduresand victim assistance issues. The Working Group includes government,international organisations and donors, including IOM, CoE, UNHCR, UNDP,SECI and USAID. FBI and the US Embassy also provide support for the group.In March 2001, a group of seven local NGOs prepared an Alternative NPA onTrafficking. The document was produced as a discussion and position paperbut it did not reach the phase when it could be distributed and broadly discussed.In October 2001, a Round Table on trafficking in human beings was heldbetween government representatives and NGOs to foster co-operationbetween the government, international organisations and NGOs in the implementationof the NPA.2.2. Roles of government, international organisations andNGOsThe Romanian government has identified trafficking as one of the priorities inits efforts to fight organised crime. 59 The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairsvoiced its “surprise” at the U.S. State Department report on the situation offighting human trafficking. 60 This report, released in July 2001, placed Romaniaamong the countries in “Tier 3” – the group of countries which do not meetthe minimum standards for fighting trafficking in human beings. As the Romaniangovernment has taken many actions against trafficking, some with thesupport of American experts, the report was a very big disappointment.In October 2000 the ODIHR together with the Ministry of Justice organised around table on trafficking in human beings. In 2001, the government undertookmany new initiatives in the fields of prevention, prosecution and protectionof trafficked persons. The signing by Romania of the Palermo Conventionand its Protocols resulted in the initiation of changes in legislation in compliancewith international standards. The Stability Pact has provided a regionaland institutional framework within which the response to trafficking becomes4259.“Romania’s Government considers that fighting the human trafficking networks is a priorityin its actions devoted to the fight against organised crime and it shows full responsibilitiesin fulfilling its international duties in the field”. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, press release 16July. Rompress English Bulletin, 16 July 2001, p. 2.60. See: http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/usdocs/traffickingreport-2001.html