Trafficking in Human Beings in Southeastern Europe - Iom

Trafficking in Human Beingsin Southeastern EuropeRomania• The Romanian government has also presented a report by localexperts on the situation regarding trafficking and prostitution, at theMinisterial Regional Conference on Trafficking held in Bucharest inMay 2001.Many more prevention and awareness raising activities are listed anddescribed in the NPA and reflect almost all the activities suggested in themodel NPA prepared by SPTTF: research into the causes and patterns of trafficking;assessment of policies and legislation; information campaigns for thegeneral public and special target groups; raising awareness in the media,including trafficking information in school curricula and special programmesabout trafficking in children; training, seminars and meetings about trafficking;and dissemination of information about legal migration.There are also activities planned that were not proposed by the model NPA:creation of a code of conduct for the employees of the state institutionsregarding trafficking; and involving religious institutions in the anti-traffickingcampaign. There are also plans for school programmes to target both girls andboys to promote a zero tolerance of violence against women and girls, and toprovide appropriate information on sexual relationships, as well as STI andHIV/AIDS prevention.In the area of gender discrimination in the labour market, the NPA proposesthe establishment of programmes to combat discrimination against women inthe labour market and special programmes for professional re-training ofwomen.The NPA also proposes issuing special certificates for persons willing to workin the entertainment industry abroad and prohibiting publications “hurtingpeople’s dignity” – press announcements offering visas to the Schengen countriesor organisation of work abroad.The plan is very broad and ambitious. It covers almost all areas of anti-traffickingactivities. However, there might be problems with its implementation,as there may be neither capacity to actually implement the activities, nor doesthe government allocate resources, nor have alternative sources of fundsbeen identified.2.3.2. International organisationsIOM is the most active of all the international agencies. It has taken an activepart in all the anti-trafficking initiatives organised by the government, startedprevention campaigns and assistance activities and initiated co-operation withthe NGOs which were already actively involved in assistance work.UNAIDS is supporting programmes on HIV/AIDS prevention and harm reductionprogrammes for injecting drug users addressed to sex workers.UNICEF provides support for programmes for children in institutions and thoseleaving institutions. UNICEF also supports local NGOs to do outreach work onHIV/AIDS prevention with sex workers.Since 1999, UNDP/UNAIDS has supported a health project for commercial sexworkers in Bucharest implemented by a local NGO ARAS.44USAID is the main donor for the anti-trafficking work and supports initiativesby IOM, UNDP and local NGOs in the area of trafficking prevention and victimassistance.