It was announced to the participants of the event that starting from year 2007 the team of professionals of the society has implemented the following activities: ensured assistance for 113 victims of human trafficking; organised extensive public awareness campaigns (from 2009 such activities have been implemented each year – 8 in total); in 2013, has created and has maintained up to this moment the first 24/7 Helpline 28612120 in Latvia for prevention of human trafficking. Over a two-year period, operators of the helpline have provided consultations 409 times – most frequently on cases of marriages of convenience. During the seven months of this year, 116 people have requested assistance with mediation of the Helpline.
In the framework of the event the head of the society ”Shelter ”Safe House”” Sandra Zalcmane welcomed the new members of the NGO coalition for prevention of human trafficking – ”Crisis Centre for Families and Children ”Paspārne”” (Ventspils), foundation ”Centre Valdardze” (Valmiera), Family Support Centre-Shelter of Daugavpils City Council (Daugavpils) and ”Salvation Army” (Riga).
”For identification of human trafficking as a social problem and providing assistance to victims of human trafficking special knowledge is required, regular acquisition of which ensures accessibility of qualitative service. Therefore, it is significant that today four new organizations join the coalition, thereby extending the number of those organizations – already 12 – which will continue acquiring knowledge on the issue of human trafficking in order to ensure professional assistance to victims of this offence all around Latvia,” indicated S. Zalcmane.
In December 2013, 6 organizations joined together forming the NGO coalition platform for prevention of human trafficking, aimed to develop inter-institutional cooperation for prevention of human trafficking through ensuring preventive measures for risk groups more frequently exposed to human trafficking, paying special attention to regions. ”Shelter ”Safe House””, ”Latvian Association of SOS Children`s Villages”, structural unit of ”Social Service Agency” Family Crisis Centre ”Mīlgrāvis”, ”Samaritan Association of Latvia”, Crisis Centre for Children and Women ”Māras centrs”, ”Crisis Centre of Talsi Region”, ”Baltic Regional Fund”. In August 2014, these organisations were joined by the society ”For Vidzeme Free of Human Trafficking” registered in Madona region, and in October – by the society ”National Council of Irish Latvians”.
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””.
More information: Rasa Salina, NGO "Shelter "Safe House"", PR Specialist, e-mail: rasa.salina@gmail.com
