Transcript IOM

International organization for migration
IOM International Organization for Migration
Human trafficking in Lithuania:
Problems and Experience of International Organization for Migration (IOM) Vilnius office
Vilnius, 18-10-2013
Dr. Audra Sipavičienė
Head of IOM Vilnius office
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Traffickers are one step ahead
“The trouble with human trafficking is that with all
the recourses and thoughts that has been poured into
the phenomenon over years, no one really
understands what’s going on. Not governments, not
NGOs, not the police, not think thanks… No one apart
from traffickers, who change their modus operandi
like wind, in order to stay one step ahead.”
Denis Nihill, IOM Indonesia
UN humanitarian news service IRINNEWS
Info-sharing and Partnership is the key
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Acknowledgement of the problem/state position
Legal regulations in place/ enforcement
Assistance to VoTs/ NGO network
Expertise and professionalism (Big heart is not enough, but no heart
also does not work)
Adequate resources/finances
Continuity, sustainability (especially during crisis)
Information sharing, especially about new evidence and emerging
trends and correspondent reaction (now with lag in years).
Network + referral Mechanism (including consular services)
• Consular officials are in the forefront, connecting origin and
destination countries
Providing assistance – cooperation scheme
VICTIM
NGO
IN DESTINATION
COUNTRY
IOM
IN DESTINATION
COUNTRY
BALTIC
EMBASSY IN
DESTINATION
COUNTRY
VICTIM’S FAMILY/
FRIENDS
IOM
IN BALTIC
COUNTRY
LAW
ENFORCEMENT
IN BALTIC
COUNTRY
BALTIC
NGO/ GO
COORDINATED ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING
MEDICAL
INSTITUTION IN
BALTIC
COUNTRY
PSYCHOLOGIS
T
LAW
ENFORCEMEN
T ABROAD
PROFESSIONAL
TRAINING/
EMPLOYMENT
AGENCY
(State and Private)
LEGAL/ SOCIAL
CONSULTATION
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Situation in Lithuania:
numbers do not reflect problems
Identified by Law Enforcement
NGO
Year
Registered pretrial
investigations
Human
traffickers
Victims of
human
trafficking
Assistance
provided by
NGO’s
2007
20
37
77
56
2008
19
33
36
86
99% women, of
which 34%
minors
2009
12
21
22
…
…
2010
8
16
10
118
…
Gender
distribution
2011
21
48
33
128
3 men, 109
women, 16
minors
2012
11
29
17
152
55 men, 97
women
Expert evaluation: approx. 1500-2000 per year/ only THB for sexual exploitation
Sources: LEO data/police
2007, 2008 – IOM
2010-2012 – Ministry of Social security and Labour
Changing modus operandi
(IOM Data base)
Police: “They are trafficking everyone and everything
what is possible to traffic and to to exploit”
Appearance of new forms of trafficking/ exploitation
which are difficult to identify and prove in courts
• Exploit poverty, vulnerability (economic, social, mental):
prostitution, forced labour/ bonded labour, involuntary
domestic servitude
• Exploit beauty: web-modeling
• Exploit impunity, youth delinquent behavior: criminal
activities, theft by minors
• Exploit sympathy: minor begging
• Exploit social status: marriages of convenience, , receiving
fraud social benefits abroad
• Etc.
Flashlight on Consular services
Cooperation increased, better, more possibilities, but…
(comments, problematic areas identified by NGOs and LEO)
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Not always able to identify trafficking victims (even when they in desperate situation
and address for help)
Treat VoTs as criminals (many VoTs do look like criminals; did at some point break
the law; were forced into criminal activities, but are trying to seek assistance)
Too bureaucratic, too slow and only during working hours
Do not know what assistance is available both in destination and origin countries;
where to refer; what tools are available
Police and NGO use their own channels, bypassing consular services: information
does not criss-cross, assistance less effective
What could help? Established referral mechanism and cooperation
Tools available/ IOM
Key IOM initiatives/ tools which should be known/ could be useful
• 450+ IOM offices worldwide; many have AVR-R Programs
• Global Assistance Fund/ urgent cases (since 2000, GAF provided
assistance to 1546 trafficked persons; approx.. 150-200 each year)
• Direct Assistance Handbook, Handbook for Consular Officials
• IRIS/ International Recruitment Integrity System
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• Feed-back from Consular services, closer cooperation
Thank you for you attention
Contacts:
Audra Sipavičienė
International organization for migration (IOM)
Head of Vilnius Office
Jaksto 12, 4th floor, Vilnius 01031
tel.: +370 52 610115
Fax: +370 52 611326
e-mail: [email protected] ; www.iom.lt ; http://123.emn.lt
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