Europe Summary of Albania, Kosovo, Moldova and Romania

13 Jun 2009 |

The 2009 Trafficking in Person (TIP) report investigates efforts in 170 countries to combat trafficking. This report, launched by the U.S. Department of State, illustrates each country’s main strengths and weaknesses and offers recommendations to enhance the countries’ situation. Below a short summary of the TIP report about the situation in four countries where Tdh is implementing counter-child trafficking programs:

Albania as a source country of trafficking was placed to Tier 2 this year. The report indicates that more than half the victims of trafficking are under the age of 18. Significant progress made in the identification of victims of trafficking due to the appropriate functioning of the national referral mechanism: 108 victims were identified, which is a five fold increase from the previous year. Recommendations highlights the need for more aggressive investigation on labour offenders and public official involved in trafficking, cooperation with civil society in the field of identification and prevention.

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Kosovo is ranked as Tier 2 in 2009. Cross border and internal trafficking is still a striking problem in Kosovo. Child trafficking, particularly from Roma communities, for the purposes of forced begging, was an increasing problem. The report says that Kosovo still weak in identification of victims and the recognition of being victim of trafficking, victims often penalized for unlawful acts. Adequate long term reintegration services are also missing. Recommendations for Kosovo are: increased prosecution of trafficking offenders, improvements in identification, sustainable funding for shelters and increased detention of victims of forced begging.

Last year, Moldova was placed on Tier 3, then reassessed to Tier 2 Watch List in September 2008. This year Moldova was ranked to Tier 2 Watch List mainly (as in the last year report) due to the insufficient governmental efforts to curb trafficking related corruption. Efforts to increase victim assistance and protection were recognized in the report. Moldova still considered to be source and less extent transit and destination country for trafficking. Cases of child trafficking have been found for begging purposes to neighboring countries. The government reported initiating investigation in 31 child trafficking cases.

For Romania, the TIP report is repeatedly concerned about the lack of significant efforts to tackle labor exploitation. According to the figures, 69 percent of the identified victims were trafficked for the purpose of labour exploitation to different European States. The government made progress in victim referrals by law enforcement, international cooperation to detect trafficking rings and awareness raising for both sex and labor trafficking.The government tripled the support to NGOs to provide assistance to victims of trafficking in 2008, though the number of victims received government – funded assistance halved during the year. Quality of government run shelters is also critical according to the report.

The TIP report 2009 available here