The representative of the Ministry of the Interior Lāsma Stabiņa pointed out that, in relation to seven people from those who have suffered from human trafficking and all of whom are women, criminal proceedings have been initiated against fourteen people, three of which are citizens of Pakistan and eleven are citizens of the Republic of Latvia. She also informed that, for the most part, human trafficking takes place from Latvia to Great Britain and Ireland, both of which, at the moment, are actively working on changes in legislation in order to reduce the number of human trafficking victims. The participants of the meeting noted that the improved legal norms of the Criminal Law is a positive factor in the prevention of human trafficking, which broadens the range of those people to whom criminal prosecution shall apply with regard to human trafficking.
The society`s representative Gita Miruškina informed the deputies that, in 2014, the Society “Shelter “Safe House”” rendered social rehabilitation services to thirty-eight people - eight men and thirty women.
“During the previous year, the society`s specialists received 220 phone calls to the 24-hour Helpline* for the Reduction of Human Trafficking (+371) 28612120, which has been established within the framework of the project “Society`s “Shelter “Safe House”” Action Support Programme to Reduce Human Trafficking in Latvia”*, which has been implemented by the society since 2013. Most frequently, callers wanted to receive information on different human trafficking risk related issues (140 times). Also received: callers wanting information on fictitious marriage or its prevention and reporting cases of ficticious marriage (63 times); callers wanting information on forced labour or violations of employment rights and reporting cases thereof (14 times); and callers wanting information on sexual exploitation (3 times),” says G. Miruškina.
“The performance of the helpline has proven that regular prevention yields good results. For instance, in 153 cases from the 220 that have been brought to the attention of the helpline operators, the person calling had been the actual interested person or their relative, friend or acquaintance, which means that the comprehension level of the society about HT risks rises.”
During the meeting, the participants also emphasized that more attention should be paid to preventive measures, including educating society and young people, and that the legal proceedings related to the cases of human trafficking should be litigated faster.
*The project "Society’s “Shelter “Safe House”” Action Support Programme to Reduce Human Trafficking in Latvia" 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””.