Counteraction towards the Trafficking of “Human Beings”: The Experience of The Republic of Moldova

The paper analyses the attempts made by the Republic of Moldova to take measures against the traffic of human beings. Sexual migration as a mass social phenomenon began in Moldova in the mid 1990s. According to the estimates of experts, today 20,000 to 30,000 people are caught up in it. The reasons forcing people into sexual migration are the socio-economic crisis and the low standard of living of the population. The main destinations of sexual migration from Moldova are Italy, Cyprus, Turkey, Germany, Russia and the Balkan countries. The main route of the traffic in live merchandise goes over the Balkans. The paper identifies four main social groups that voluntarily or by coercion are most often drawn into sexual migration. On the basis of social research, the social portrait of victims of this traffic is presented, and its socio-demographic, economic and organisational traits are described. The authors of the text show that opposition to trafficking in live merchandise has a complex character, which involves integration into the international mechanisms that combat it, using the experience and aid of the international community, and co-ordination of the actions of legislative bodies, of international structures and non-government organisations, both on a national and international level. The authors single-out three main directions of countering the traffic in live merchandise: 1) Prevention of the traffic by providing information to the population on its consequences. Analysis of the press made by the Moldovan non-government organisation for public information showed that the problem of trafficking of women was already an public opinion issue in Moldova. 2) Penalties for persons that organise, recruit and forward “live merchandise”. The article describes the development of legislation in Moldova and the introduction of stricter measures. At the same time, the authors conclude that these measures are so far not sufficiently efficient. 3) Rehabilitation of the victims of trafficking and their reintegration into Moldovan society. Generalising the experience of the Rehabilitation Centre for victims of trafficking, the authors present the results of its activities and note that the process of reintegration will remain inefficient, if adequate socio-economic conditions for a normal human existence are not created