As part of the project “REST – REsidency STatus: Strengthening the Protection of Trafficked Persons”, ASTRA organized a discussion forum on promising practices in the long-term protection of victims of trafficking. The event’s main topic was a GUIDE OF PROMISING PRACTICES / Long term protection for trafficked persons. The Guide is based on the experience and practice of leading civil society organizations in the field of combating trafficking in human beings, which provide support to victims of trafficking in human beings in the processes of their security, stability, and social inclusion: LEFÖ-IBF from Austria, Comité Contre l’esclavage Moderne (CCEM) from France, Proyecto Esperanza from Spain, CoMensha from the Netherlands, La Strada International Center from Moldova and Astra – Action against Trafficking in Human Beings from Serbia; and which are also partner organizations engaged in the implementation of the REST project.
Jasmina Krunić, Head of Policy of the NGO ASTRA, introduced the Guide’s main findings and the project within which it was created. She spoke about the findings and guidelines presented in the Guide, which indicate the need to link the fight against trafficking in human beings with the processes of granting residence permits for victims or persons at risk from the migrant population, asylum procedures, and application of international protection frameworks. The Guide in the introductory part presents a model of the ideal scheme of “unconditional assistance to victims of trafficking in human beings” in terms of enabling obtaining a residence permit and access to the labor market, regardless of their status and initiating criminal proceedings. The Guide presents good practices from six countries participating in the project and research, which lead to the realization of this model.
Trafficked persons’ access to long-term or permanent residence is critical for their safety, stability, and future perspective. The regularisation of their stay is an integral part of their right to effective remedies and access to justice, and it should be granted in practice – it is pointed out in the Guide.
Miroslava Jelačić, Program Manager of Group 484 and associate in this research, spoke about examples of good practice from the Guide and about experiences from Serbia concerning this issue. She pointed out that the realization of temporary or permanent residence for victims and potential victims of human trafficking is often slowed down or prevented by the competent authorities’ weak capacities, but that then other, even temporary solutions should be approached. For example, as one of the illogicalities that slow down the whole process, the practice was pointed out that in Serbia, only the Center for the Protection of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings can initiate the issuance of residence permits to potential foreign victims of trafficking. Given the Center’s capacity and burden, this practice may lead to a slowdown or non-enforcement of the rights of victims and potential victims of trafficking. Also, it is necessary to amend the rulebook for granting temporary residence so that it includes all potential victims and defines in more detail the rights of asylum seekers – Jelacic pointed out.
The second part of the meeting was dedicated to the discussion and exchange of experiences of the organizations’ present representatives. One of the forum’s main conclusions is that the Guide came at the right time, especially having in mind the Government’s program and announced changes in the relevant legislative framework. Also, she pointed out that it is necessary to act in time towards legal and structural changes that would enable victims and potential victims of trafficking faster and easier resolution of residence status.
A GUIDE OF PROMISING PRACTICES / Long term protection for trafficked persons is a bilingual edition, published in electronic form, and can be downloaded from these links:
