Fight against human trafficking brings NGOs & authorities together in Iasi, Romania
Organised by World Vision Romania, the meeting was entitled “Human trafficking – a local problem” and aimed at bringing together all entities that are currently working against trafficking; either in prevention or victim assistance, in order to present successful project models, difficulties and challenges but also progress.
“I hoped that this meeting would help support and strengthen the role of the National Anti Trafficking Agency in Iasi. A big part of the meeting was dedicated to adapting the national anti trafficking strategy at a local level and to designing a map of existing services and projects. I am confident that everybody left the round table with a clearer image of what was achieved so far but, most importantly, of what still needs to be done”, said Ms. Elena Nechita, –World Vision Romania project coordinator.
The current economic crisis has affected private and public sector budgets and both NGOs and local authorities are re-affirming the need to join efforts and work together in order to access more funding opportunities. As Romania joined the European Union in 2007, EU structural funds are available until 2013 to finance the development of different sectors: national infrastructure, human resources, agriculture but also awareness-raising and advocacy campaigns on social issues – such as trafficking.
“This is why partnership is so important – one of the main requirements of accessing these funds is having solid partnerships between entities in the public and private sectors. Unfortunately we are still having problems communicating at a local level and coordinating our actions”, shared Ms. Nechita.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of economical development and to the decreased level of education, rural areas are more and more vulnerable “I congratulate World Vision on the work it has done so far in helping us fight this form of modern slavery – human trafficking. We need all the support we can get as our resources – both financial and human - are limited and we cannot cover everything that should be done. Unfortunately, due to the lack of economical development and to the decreased level of education, rural areas are more and more vulnerable”, said Chief Prosecutor Iulia Diaconu.
In 2007, World Vision Romania started an anti-trafficking pilot project in a rural community in Iasi County (Ceplenita commune). The project concentrated on preventing the phenomenon by working with the children, educating them and the entire community about the dangers of trafficking and about how to stay safe. Following the positive impact on children and findings from a prior World Vision study in 2006 which revealed rural areas in Iasi County are vulnerable to trafficking, the project is currently being replicated in other four communes: Aroneanu, Costuleni, Golaiesti and Vladeni.
As the Chief Prosecutor shared, the lack of financial resources and man power, imperfect legislation which often hinders the process of convicting traffickers, lack of expertise for those involved in the process of fighting trafficking (policemen, judges, NGO employees etc.) and, many times, lack of effective support services for victims are just few of the problems that the local community in Iasi county is facing when it comes to fighting human trafficking.
“I hoped that this meeting would help support and strengthen the role of the National Anti Trafficking Agency in Iasi. A big part of the meeting was dedicated to adapting the national anti trafficking strategy at a local level and to designing a map of existing services and projects. I am confident that everybody left the round table with a clearer image of what was achieved so far but, most importantly, of what still needs to be done”, said Ms. Elena Nechita, –World Vision Romania project coordinator.
The current economic crisis has affected private and public sector budgets and both NGOs and local authorities are re-affirming the need to join efforts and work together in order to access more funding opportunities. As Romania joined the European Union in 2007, EU structural funds are available until 2013 to finance the development of different sectors: national infrastructure, human resources, agriculture but also awareness-raising and advocacy campaigns on social issues – such as trafficking.
“This is why partnership is so important – one of the main requirements of accessing these funds is having solid partnerships between entities in the public and private sectors. Unfortunately we are still having problems communicating at a local level and coordinating our actions”, shared Ms. Nechita.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of economical development and to the decreased level of education, rural areas are more and more vulnerable “I congratulate World Vision on the work it has done so far in helping us fight this form of modern slavery – human trafficking. We need all the support we can get as our resources – both financial and human - are limited and we cannot cover everything that should be done. Unfortunately, due to the lack of economical development and to the decreased level of education, rural areas are more and more vulnerable”, said Chief Prosecutor Iulia Diaconu.
In 2007, World Vision Romania started an anti-trafficking pilot project in a rural community in Iasi County (Ceplenita commune). The project concentrated on preventing the phenomenon by working with the children, educating them and the entire community about the dangers of trafficking and about how to stay safe. Following the positive impact on children and findings from a prior World Vision study in 2006 which revealed rural areas in Iasi County are vulnerable to trafficking, the project is currently being replicated in other four communes: Aroneanu, Costuleni, Golaiesti and Vladeni.
As the Chief Prosecutor shared, the lack of financial resources and man power, imperfect legislation which often hinders the process of convicting traffickers, lack of expertise for those involved in the process of fighting trafficking (policemen, judges, NGO employees etc.) and, many times, lack of effective support services for victims are just few of the problems that the local community in Iasi county is facing when it comes to fighting human trafficking.
Share