“Over several years, the society has established successful cooperation with the State Employment Agency, implementing preventive measures aimed at reducing the problem of human trafficking. We hope that the new target group covered by the project – seekers of seasonal work in Latvia or abroad – will use the possibility of consulting with the operators of the Trust line and, thus, protect themselves from unpleasant surprises”, as noted by Sandra Zalcmane, head of the society “Shelter “Safe House””.
The first free Trust line in Latvia (+371) 28612120 was created last year, in order for everyone interested to be able to receive information on the necessary actions in a particular situation and use it as one of the resources, if assistance is required in cases of human trafficking in Latvia or abroad. This year, inhabitants used this phone line 113 times. Most often, people applied for consultations to receive general information about human trafficking – to find out what human trafficking is and how to recognize its forms – fictitious marriage, forced labour and sexual exploitation. Inhabitants used telephone consultations as a preventive resource, in order for both the callers themselves and their relatives not to end up in a situation related to human trafficking.
Inese Kalvāne, SEA Director: “Job seekers must be well-informed, in order for the job search to be safe. We always pay great attention to informing and warning of job seekers about potential risks both abroad and in Latvia. Thus, for instance, free consultations about possibilities of employment and studies, as well as living and working conditions in European countries are provided to all the interested by our EURES consultants; SEA carrier consultants ensure great assistance in issues related to safe job search as well. While cooperating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we regularly publish and distribute informative materials about the things you have to know when searching or finding a job abroad. Our cooperation with non-governmental organizations is of great importance as well. I am gratified that by cooperating with the society “Shelter “Safe House”” and installing posters with the Trust line for reducing human trafficking in SEA branches we will be able to vividly draw the attention of our clients to such dangerous phenomenon as human trafficking. I would like to remind once again that job seekers have to be well-informed; you cannot rely only on promises of people providing employment; all mutual liabilities have to be documented; all documents offered for signing have to be carefully read, and it is necessary to know where to apply for help in case of difficulties.”
Aiming at promoting the informing of the society about human trafficking, a socially responsible employment portal www.irdarbs.lv has participated in the activities by ensuring the design development and printing of Trust line posters.
*SEA branches are located in Aizkraukle, Alūksne, Balvi, Bauska, Cēsis, Daugavpils, Dobele, Gulbene, Jēkabpils, Jelgava, Jūrmala, Krāslava, Kuldīga, Liepāja, Limbaži, Ludza, Madona, Ogre, Preiļi, Rēzekne, Rīga, Saldus, Sigulda, Talsi, Tukuma, Valka, Valmiera, Ventspils.
The project is financed by Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway.
The programme NGO Fund ir financed by the EEA Financial Mechanism and Latvian government.
Find out more about the EEA Financial Mechanism programme NGO Fund here
Website of the Society Integration Foundation: http://www.sif.lv
Website of the EEA Financial Mechanism in Latvia: http://www.eeagrants.lv
Official website of the EEA Financial Mechanism: http://www.eeagrants.org
Responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the society “Shelter “Safe House””.
For more information:
Rasa Salina (Rasa Saliņa), Public Relations Consultant and Practitioner
rasa.salina@gmail.com