More than 650 priests and clergymen including monks are now
involved in counter-trafficking efforts in Moldova thanks to
efforts by IOM and partners to engage religious personnel in the
battle against the crime.

Between March and July this year alone, IOM, in partnership with
Moldavian Christian Aid, the Moldovan Orthodox Church - Moldovan
Mitropolia, Russian Patriarchate, the Moldovan Orthodox Church -
Bessarabian Mitropolia, Romanian Patriarchate, the Union of
Christian Evangelical Baptist Churches, and the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of the Republic of Moldova, have held 25
information seminars for clergymen and employees of social
organizations affiliated to churches.

Implemented under the aegis of the Inter-Denominational
Coalition for the Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings in
which all the Churches representing the majority faiths from the
Republic of Moldova participate, the seminars play a major role in
efforts to engage a wider spectrum of players in countering human
trafficking. Moldova is a major source country of the trafficking
of women, children and men for sexual and labour exploitation.

Such seminars focus on alerting participants to the risks of
human trafficking, encouraging a tolerant attitude towards victims
among lay and religious communities, and involving the clergy in
promoting and working towards the prevention of human trafficking
within communities.

"If the Church and its members have more knowledge about the
hidden wounds in these women's souls, it will be better prepared to
understand and assist them. It will be more open to reach out to
them and to alleviate their suffering," says IOM's Chief of Mission
in Moldova, Martin Andreas Wyss.

The Chisinau Rehabilitation Centre for victims and potential
victims of trafficking continually receives requests for assistance
from priests while the NGO La Strada Hotline (0 800 77777) actively
cooperates with the clergy to facilitate the rescue and return of
victims of trafficking. At the same time priests greatly contribute
to reducing the rate of trafficking and re-trafficking by granting
protection and assistance to trafficking victims during their
reintegration back into society.

A guide entitled "Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings
through Clerical and Didactic Activities" has also been developed
by IOM, which serves as a teaching tool for members of the clergy
in their prevention activities with youth most-at-risk to human
trafficking.

A National Day of Prayer for those affected by migration and
trafficking will take place in December in Moldova.

For additional information, please contact:

Rodica Okani

IOM Moldova

Tel: +373 22 23 29 40 (ext.131)

Fax: +373 22 23 28 62

E-mail: "mailto:rokani@iom.int">rokani@iom.int