Trafficking in human beings in R. Macedonia Maja Varoslija- Open Gate La Strada Macedonia

Situation In R. Macedonia  Until 2005 transit and destination country for women trafficked from Eastern Europe to South Eastern and Western Europe.  Increasing cases of internal trafficking/child trafficking  Significant number of cases of labour exploitation  Trafficking for the purpose of: Sexual exploitation Forced labour in (restaurants, servitude, begging) Forced labour in (restaurants, servitude, begging) Forced marriages

Responses  International and national instruments  Strategy and National Action Plan for Combating Trafficking and Illegal Migration (including Action Plan for Combating Trafficking in Children) both for and docs.  Official coordination bodies for combat trafficking in human beings in R. Macedonia  Official coordination bodies for combat trafficking in human beings in R. Macedonia (National Commission, Secretariat of the National Commission, Sub-group against trafficking in children )  Standard Operating Procedures ( SOP) for assistance to victims of trafficking – endorsed in January 2008

Responses  National Referral Mechanism for victims of trafficking in human beings coordinated by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (NRM office)  R. Macedonia – member of the Trans-national Referral Mechanism (TRM) for Trafficked Persons in South- Eastern Europe – ICMPD project  Reception Centre for Foreigners (MoI) managed  Open Gate’s/La Strada Macedonia shelter for trafficked persons for nationals and minors  SOS Line for information and help from trafficking in human beings / Open Gate - La Strada Macedonia

Who we are  OPEN GATE- Women’s lobby and action against violence and trafficking in women founded in September 2000  Aim : -to influence the authorities, the media and public opinion to address trafficking as a severe human rights violation -to influence the authorities, the media and public opinion to address trafficking as a severe human rights violation -to develop and offer prevention and protection for trafficked persons -to develop and offer prevention and protection for trafficked persons  Open Gate is a member of La Strada European Network Against Trafficking in human beings

What we do Our programs  Information and Lobby  Prevention and Education  Social Assistance

Information and lobby  Permanent contacts with media, interviews, drafting publications, articles.  Lobbying and monitoring of implementation of international standards and instruments pertaining to human rights.  Development, follow up and active participation in the implementation of the Naional Plan of Action for Fighting Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration in Macedonia.

Prevention and education  Raising of the level of knowledge and sensitivity among the community at large and among the professionals;  Providing information pertaining to the risk of work abroad;  Support of women in decision making;  Education of professionals for the purpose of procurement of information and assistance (police officers, teachers, social workers, doctors, etc.);  Provision of information through the SOS line for help from trafficking in human beings

SOS LINE  The SOS free line for national calls is and for callers from national calls and abroad.  From October 2002 till September 2010 on the line are registered 3011 calls  Working time 24/7

Types of assistance provided by the SOS line  Emotional help;  Psycho-social help;  Information on risk-free departure/travelling and work abroad;  Basic legal assistance;  Information and assistance to a client in need;  Help in establishing contacts with relevant institutions.  Contact and facilitation in a process of accommodation in a shelter

Cooperation with Terre des Hommes  “Enhancing capacity to address trafficking in especially children from a human rights perspective in Southeast Asia, Southeast Europe and Latin America”  March 2007-February 2010  Developed excellent cooperation on regional level

Activities 1. Capacity-building of NGOs and media, services providers and duty bearers; 2. Awareness-raising and empowerment (of communities) at local level; 3. Advocacy at national and regional level; and Establishing networks.

Social assistance  In 2005, the Shelter for trafficked persons, was opened as a part of the Social assistance Program. Since opening, 70 clients received accommodation and assistance.  Capacity of the shelter  Security – external Private Security Agency  Confidentiality- Personal information of clients is kept highly confidential.  Shelter Team - functions 24 hours per day. Trained professionals are working in shifts.

Social assistance  Long-term accommodation  Covering basic needs (food, clothes, or hygienic sets);  Trafficked persons are provided with adequate psycho-social treatment;  Medical care;  Basic legal assistance provided by the skilled lawyer;

Social assistance  Contact with the family;  Help in obtaining personal documents;  Inclusion in the educational process and providing vocational courses for further education  On-job training and help to the trafficked persons in looking for a job.  Contact with foreign non-governmental organizations members of the La Strada network and other (countries of their origin);

Classification of Assisted clients by the age From 12 to From 12 to From 19 to From 19 to Over 28 9 Over 28 9

Classification of assisted clients by education Up to fourth grade 20 Up to fourth grade 20 Primary school 31 Primary school 31 High school 10 High school 10 College degree 2 College degree 2 No education 7 No education 7

Profile of a trafficked person  Generally aged between years  Often from high risk rural areas & poor families  Education - unfinished primary education  Family status - dysfunctional families  Types - sexual and labour exploitation in restaurants in the west parts of Macedonia.  Origin - from the south - east part of Macedonia

Thank you for your attention Open Gate – La Strada Macedonia Tel/Fax: