This month the society starts the implementation of the activities of the project “Multidisciplinary initiatives to prevent human beings”**. The aim of this project is to use innovative services to expand the support system for the victims of human trafficking, raise awareness of social workers and employees of the organizations of the national NGO coalition***, as well as to create interactive preventive measures for education of children and young people. The target group of the project are the victims of human trafficking, young people – as one of the major risk groups, people with disabilities, relatives, friends and acquaintances of the victims and potential victims, NGOs representing the rights and interests of the aforementioned groups, the members, staff and volunteers.
Experts inform that the implementation of the project will last 15 months and it will include adoption of methods for the experts of the society from their partners in Estonia and Poland.
With the help of the socially responsible company “Philip Morris International” the project “Sold Freedom 3” is initiated, which is a sequential continuation of the information campaigns of the previous years. This month, the Informative trailer for prevention of human trafficking will continue its operation within the framework of this project. In order to raise the awareness about human trafficking and the role of the institutions involved, the division of areas of responsibility, a two-day training seminars will be organized for NGOs working with young people and/or women.
“Shelter “Safe House”” reports that expert training on prevention of human trafficking will be organized in collaboration with the Welfare Department of Riga City Council and Riga Public Policing Fund during the Human trafficking prevention month.
Other authorities have also planned various preventive activities for this period.
A public information campaign organized by the Ombudsman`s Office is scheduled for October with the aim to prevent human trafficking.
Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Latvia, in cooperation with the United States Embassy in Riga, the Judicial Training Center, Court Administration, General Prosecutor`s Office and the Ministry of Justice will organize a training seminar on criminal prosecution and judicial proceedings in human trafficking cases. Training will be offered for a total of 65 people – police officers, prosecutors, judges and representatives of the non-governmental sector, who provide assistance to the victims of human trafficking, including experts of the society “Shelter “Safe House””. Judge of the US Federal Court Virginia M. Kendall and federal prosecutor Daniel H. Weiss will take part in this training as guest lecturers.
According to the statistics compiled by the society, from January to August the society`s experts have registered 140 cases, where people have turned for advice in relation to human trafficking. Of these, 41 times the information was provided on marriages of convenience, 11 on forced labour, 3 on cases of sexual exploitation. Explanatory information was provided 85 times. Mostly the cases were reported by the victim – 86 times, other person/organization – 48 times, while 6 cases were reported by embassies.
Most often – 137 times – people had chosen to provide/request information by calling the Helpline for prevention of human trafficking (+371) 28612120. In 3 cases information was provided electronically.
In total, social rehabilitation services in the eight months of this year were provided to 29 people (3 men and 26 women), 12 of them were included in the national programme in 2013, and 17 – in 2014. 20 people have been victims of marriage of convenience, eight – victims of forced labour, one person – a victim of sexual exploitation. The average age of victims is 26 years.
*Anti-Trafficking Day is marked in the European Union and Latvia on 18th of October.
**Project “Multidisciplinary initiatives for prevention of human trafficking” is financed by Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway. The project budget is 111 110,54 Eur. You can find more information on the EEA Grants programme “NVO fonds” here on the Latvian website of the EEA Grants: http://www.eeagrants.lv official website of the EEA Grants: http://www.eeagrants.org Society “Shelter “Safe House”” is responsible for the content of this publication.
***“SOS Children’s Villages Latvia”, “Social Service Agency” branch, family crisis center “Mīlgrāvis”, “Samaritan Association of Latvia”, Crisis center for women and children “Māras centrs”,“Talsi District Crisis Centre”, “Baltic Regional Fund”, “For Vidzeme free of human trafficking”, “Shelter “Safe House””.
Information was prepared by:
Rasa Salina (Rasa Saliņa)
Consultant and PR practitioner
Phone: (+371) 22026355, e-mail: rasa.salina@gmail.com