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Moldova - Efforts to Engage Church Leaders in Counter-Trafficking Gather Momentum in Moldova

 

More than 700 priests and pastors are now involved in counter-trafficking prevention techniques in Moldova thanks to efforts by IOM and its partners to engage religious leaders in the battle against the crime.

As part of this programme, which is carried out under the auspices of the Inter-Denominational Coalition for the Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings, clergymen and employees of social organizations are trained to use advocacy techniques to better fight human trafficking.

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 young people, who remain most-at-risk to human trafficking.

Trainings focusing on preventing human trafficking within communities and on encouraging a tolerant attitude towards victims among lay and religious communities have been organized throughout the country. Eighteen prevention projects involving the broad distribution of information materials such as DVDs and flyers have been carried out in high-risk communities.  

Moldova remains a major source country for the trafficking of women, children and men for sexual and labour exploitation.

In 2007, 273 victims were assisted by the Chisinau Rehabilitation Centre with requests for assistance being received on an almost daily basis.  

The Inter Denominational Coalition for the Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings includes the Moldovan Orthodox Churches from both Patriarchs, the Union of Christian Evangelical Baptist Churches and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Republic of Moldova.

This programme is funded by the US State Department's Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration as part of the President's initiative to combat trafficking in persons.  


For further information, please contact Rodica Okani, IOM Moldova,  Tel: +373 22 23 29 40 (ext.131) email: rokani@iom.int





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