The EU Anti-Trafficking Day was established by the European Commission in 2007 and it is marked on October 18 of every year.

The main purpose of the EU Anti-Trafficking Day is to raise awareness on trafficking in human beings and increase the exchange of information, knowledge and best practices amongst the different actors working in this field.

Chisinau, October 18, 2023. 

Alexei and Olga (names changed) are citizens of Ukraine. They came to Moldova in February 2022, when the war in Ukraine started. They lost their documents while leaving their homeland. Alexei and Olga received accommodation in the north of Moldova, working as day laborers in the surrounding villages. 

One day, someone who said he was a sheepfold owner, offered work to Olga. She accepted. For three days Alexei did not hear from her and decided to look for her. He went to the sheepfold, but the owner chased him away. Someone urged him to call the Safe Migration and Anti-Trafficking Hotline 0 800 77777. The case was referred to the Anti-Trafficking Centre for investigation. 

From the perspective of transnational organized crime, trafficking in human beings is a complex phenomenon. Trafficking in human beings is a serious violation of human rights, which continues to affect countries around the world, including the Republic of Moldova. Moldova remains the country of origin. Human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation predominates in the country. 

According to the data from the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS), during the first six months of this year, 143 victims of trafficking in human beings were supported in Moldova in criminal cases, including 129 adults and 14 children, compared to 87 victims identified in the same period of 2022. Of these, 72 people were trafficked for the purpose of labour exploitation. 

With regional security instability, trafficking in human beings and children has taken on new forms and trends. War creates many vulnerabilities and this calls for a new approach by authorities and partners to prevent and combat trafficking. 

Thus, on 26 September this year, the Government approved the new Programme for Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for 2024-2028. The Programme aims to ensure the continuity of the national policy on trafficking in human beings and to implement the latest recommendations of international committees. The Programme derives from the provisions of international law documents in the anti-trafficking field, to which the Republic of Moldova has adhered.

Since 2001, the Safe Migration and Anti-Trafficking Hotline 0 800 77777, managed by the International Centre "La Strada", has been operating in the Republic of Moldova and can be called free of charge and confidentially, daily between 8.00 and 20.00. From January to September 2023, the Hotline registered 22,176 calls. Of these, 26 refer to alleged cases of human trafficking, including 18 alleged cases involving citizens of the Republic of Moldova and 8 alleged cases involving displaced persons from Ukraine. 

A national information campaign on combating trafficking in human beings is being conducted from July to November this year with the support of the International Organization for Migration, Mission to the Republic of Moldova in partnership with the International Centre La Strada in the framework of the project "Strengthening national efforts to prevent human trafficking and rehabilitate victims of trafficking in the Republic of Moldova", funded by the US Department of State.

The State Chancellery has also launched the national campaign "Week of Fighting against Trafficking in Human Beings", taking place from 18 to 25 October this year, which will be carried out nationwide for the 12th consecutive year. Central and local public authorities, development partners and civil society are involved in the Campaign.

According to the data collected by the International Organization for Migration mission in Moldova, during 2023 there were supported 88 victims of trafficking in human beings, among them 84 adults (65 men and 19 women), and four girls. Of all the victims, 75 people were trafficked for the purpose of labour exploitation. 

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For more information, please contact: 

Riccardo Severi, Communications and Public Information Officer, IOM Moldova 
rseveri@iom.int