Trafficking in human beings Trafficking in human beings in R. Macedoniain R. Macedonia

Maja Varoslija- Open Gate Maja Varoslija- Open Gate

La Strada MacedoniaLa Strada Macedonia

Situation In R. MacedoniaSituation In R. Macedonia Until 2005 transit and destination country for women Until 2005 transit and destination country for women

trafficked from Eastern Europe to South Eastern and trafficked from Eastern Europe to South Eastern and Western Europe.Western Europe.

Increasing cases of internal trafficking/child traffickingIncreasing cases of internal trafficking/child trafficking

Significant number of cases of labour exploitation Significant number of cases of labour exploitation

Trafficking for the purpose of:Trafficking for the purpose of:Sexual exploitationSexual exploitation

Forced labour in (restaurants, servitude, Forced labour in (restaurants, servitude, begging)begging)

Forced marriages Forced marriages

ResponsesResponses International and national instrumentsInternational and national instruments

Strategy and National Action Plan for Combating Strategy and National Action Plan for Combating Trafficking and Illegal Migration (including Action Trafficking and Illegal Migration (including Action Plan for Combating Trafficking in Children) both Plan for Combating Trafficking in Children) both for 2006-2009 and 2009-2012 docs.for 2006-2009 and 2009-2012 docs.

Official coordination bodies for combat trafficking Official coordination bodies for combat trafficking in human beings in R. Macedonia in human beings in R. Macedonia (National Commission, Secretariat of the National Commission, Sub-group against trafficking in children )

Standard Operating Procedures (Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for SOP) for assistance to victims of traffickingassistance to victims of trafficking – endorsed in – endorsed in January 2008January 2008

Responses Responses National Referral Mechanism for victims of National Referral Mechanism for victims of

trafficking in human beings coordinated by the trafficking in human beings coordinated by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (NRM office)Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (NRM office)

R. Macedonia – member of the Trans-national R. Macedonia – member of the Trans-national Referral Mechanism (TRM) Referral Mechanism (TRM) for Trafficked Persons for Trafficked Persons in South-Eastern Europe – ICMPD projectin South-Eastern Europe – ICMPD project

Reception Centre for Foreigners (MoI) managed Reception Centre for Foreigners (MoI) managed

Open Gate’s/La Strada Macedonia shelter for Open Gate’s/La Strada Macedonia shelter for trafficked persons for nationals and minorstrafficked persons for nationals and minors

SOS Line for information and help from trafficking SOS Line for information and help from trafficking in human beings / Open Gate - La Strada in human beings / Open Gate - La Strada MacedoniaMacedonia

Who we areWho we are OPEN GATE- OPEN GATE- Women’s lobby and action Women’s lobby and action

against violence and trafficking in women against violence and trafficking in women founded in September 2000founded in September 2000

Aim :Aim : -to influence the authorities, the media and -to influence the authorities, the media and

public opinion to address trafficking as a severe public opinion to address trafficking as a severe human rights violationhuman rights violation

-to develop and offer prevention and protection -to develop and offer prevention and protection for trafficked personsfor trafficked persons

Open Gate is a member ofOpen Gate is a member of La Strada La Strada European European Network Against Trafficking in human beingsNetwork Against Trafficking in human beings

What we doWhat we do

Our programsOur programsInformation and Lobby Information and Lobby

Prevention and EducationPrevention and Education

Social Assistance Social Assistance

Information and lobbyInformation and lobby Permanent contacts with media, interviews, Permanent contacts with media, interviews,

drafting publications, articles. drafting publications, articles.

Lobbying and monitoring of implementation Lobbying and monitoring of implementation of international standards and instruments of international standards and instruments pertaining to human rights.pertaining to human rights.

DevelopmentDevelopment, , follow up and activefollow up and active participation in the implementation of theparticipation in the implementation of the NaNaional Pional Plan lan of Action for Fighting Human of Action for Fighting Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration in Trafficking and Illegal Migration in MacedoniaMacedonia..

Prevention and educationPrevention and education Raising of the level of knowledge and sensitivity Raising of the level of knowledge and sensitivity

among the community at large and among the among the community at large and among the professionals;professionals;

Providing information pertaining to the risk of work Providing information pertaining to the risk of work abroad;abroad;

Support of women in decision making;Support of women in decision making;

Education of professionals for the purpose of Education of professionals for the purpose of procurement of information and assistance (police procurement of information and assistance (police officers, teachers, social workers, doctors, etc.);officers, teachers, social workers, doctors, etc.);

Provision of information through the SOSProvision of information through the SOS line for help line for help from trafficking in human beings from trafficking in human beings

SOS LINESOS LINE

The SOS free line for national calls is The SOS free line for national calls is 0 0 800 11 111 800 11 111 and and 00389 2 277-7070 00389 2 277-7070 for for callers from national calls and abroad.callers from national calls and abroad.

From October 2002 till September 2010 From October 2002 till September 2010 on the line are registered on the line are registered 30113011callscalls

Working time 24/7Working time 24/7

Types of assistance provided Types of assistance provided by the SOS lineby the SOS line

Emotional help;Emotional help; Psycho-social help;Psycho-social help; Information on risk-free departure/travelling Information on risk-free departure/travelling

and work abroad;and work abroad; Basic legal assistance;Basic legal assistance; Information and assistance to a client in Information and assistance to a client in

need;need; Help in establishing contacts with relevant Help in establishing contacts with relevant

institutions.institutions. Contact and facilitation in a process of Contact and facilitation in a process of

accommodation in a shelteraccommodation in a shelter

Cooperation with Terre des HommesCooperation with Terre des Hommes

““Enhancing capacity to address trafficking Enhancing capacity to address trafficking in especially children from a human rights in especially children from a human rights perspective in Southeast Asia, Southeast perspective in Southeast Asia, Southeast Europe and Latin America”Europe and Latin America”

March 2007-February 2010March 2007-February 2010

Developed excellent cooperation on Developed excellent cooperation on regional levelregional level

ActivitiesActivities

1. Capacity-building of NGOs and media, 1. Capacity-building of NGOs and media, services providers and duty bearers; services providers and duty bearers;

2. Awareness-raising and empowerment 2. Awareness-raising and empowerment (of communities) at local level; (of communities) at local level;

3. Advocacy at national and regional 3. Advocacy at national and regional level; and Establishing networks.level; and Establishing networks.

Social assistanceSocial assistance In In 2005 2005,, the Shelter for trafficked persons, the Shelter for trafficked persons,

was opened as a part of the Social assistance was opened as a part of the Social assistance Program. SProgram. Since opening, ince opening, 7070 clients received clients received accommodation and assistance.accommodation and assistance.

Capacity of the shelterCapacity of the shelter Security – external Security – external Private Security AgencyPrivate Security Agency Confidentiality- Confidentiality- Personal information of Personal information of

clients is kept highly confidential. clients is kept highly confidential. Shelter Team - Shelter Team - functions 24 hours per day. functions 24 hours per day.

Trained professionals are working in shifts.Trained professionals are working in shifts.

Social assistanceSocial assistance Long-term accommodationLong-term accommodation

Covering basic needs (food, clothes, or Covering basic needs (food, clothes, or hygienic sets);hygienic sets);

Trafficked persons are provided with Trafficked persons are provided with adequate psycho-social treatment;adequate psycho-social treatment;

Medical care;Medical care;

Basic legal assistance provided by the Basic legal assistance provided by the skilled lawyer; skilled lawyer;

Social assistanceSocial assistance Contact with the family;Contact with the family;

Help in obtaining personal documents;Help in obtaining personal documents;

Inclusion in the educational process and providing Inclusion in the educational process and providing vocational courses for further educationvocational courses for further education

On-job training and help to the trafficked persons On-job training and help to the trafficked persons in looking for a job.in looking for a job.

Contact with foreign non-governmental Contact with foreign non-governmental organizations members of the La Strada network organizations members of the La Strada network and other (countries of their origin);and other (countries of their origin);

Classification of Assisted clients by the ageClassification of Assisted clients by the age

From 12 to 18 From 12 to 18 4343

From 19 to 28 From 19 to 28 1818

Over 28 Over 28 9 9

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Classification of assisted Classification of assisted clients by educationclients by education

Up to fourth grade Up to fourth grade 20 20

Primary school Primary school 31 31

High school High school 1010

College degree College degree 2 2

No education No education 7 7

up to 4th grade

primary school

high school

College

no education

Profile of a trafficked Profile of a trafficked personperson

Generally aged between 12- 25 yearsGenerally aged between 12- 25 years Often from high risk rural areas & poor Often from high risk rural areas & poor

families families Education - unfinished primary education Education - unfinished primary education Family status - dysfunctional families Family status - dysfunctional families Types - sexual and labour exploitation in Types - sexual and labour exploitation in

restaurants in the west parts of restaurants in the west parts of Macedonia. Macedonia.

Origin - from the south - east part of Origin - from the south - east part of MacedoniaMacedonia

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attentionOpen Gate – La Strada Open Gate – La Strada

Macedonia Macedonia

Tel/Fax:00389 22 700107Tel/Fax:00389 22 700107www.lastrada.org.mkwww.lastrada.org.mk