The International Center "La Strada" organizes a workshop aiming to improve the draft Concept of the National Referral Mechanism for the Protection and Assistance of the Victims of Crimes (NRMV). The workshop is being carried out within the framework of the Technical Assistance Project to the Government of the Republic of Moldova "Supporting national authorities to advance policy response to THB with full respect to HR and rights of trafficked persons", funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.
Overview of NRMV Concept creation
During the years 2009-2016, a special cross sector cooperation model, called the "National Referral System for the Protection and Assistance of Victims and Presumed Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings" (NRS), was developed in Moldova. This model of cooperation was developed in partnership with La Strada experts, in line with international recommendations for the protection of the rights of victims of trafficking in human beings. The National Referral System was developed based on the NRS Strategy (2009-2016), approved by the Parliament Decision no. 257 of December 5, 2008.
Even at the stage of implementing the NRS Strategy, this model of cross sector cooperation in ensuring the rights of victims of trafficking in human beings, created in Moldova, has been recognized by international experts as one of the best practices and models for combating trafficking in human beings for developing countries. At the end of the NRS Strategyperiod, the results of the implementation were evaluated by several experts, including external experts. They appreciated the progress made in implementing the NRS Strategy and noted the positive impact of this model on the development of the social protection system, in general.
The cooperation model, created 10 years ago, needs to be developed to eliminate the problems arising from changes in the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings, changes in the national legislation, related reforms, institutional barriers and inertia of social relations.
Convergence of views and collection of recommendations for improving the national social policy in order to put into practice the rights of the victims of crimes
The draft NRMV Concept was developed to adapt the NRS as a model of inter-departmental and cross-sector cooperation to the changing needs of victims of trafficking and needs of victims of other types of crimes to whom, according to the legislation, free assistance and protection is guaranteed by the state. This policy document was drafted by a working group consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova (MHLSP), representatives of the International Center "La Strada" and of the International Organization for Migration, Mission to Moldova. At the today's workshop, the MNRV Concept is presented in detail by the heads of the MHLSP subdivisions, not directly involved in the development of this document. Their recommendations can serve to improve the Concept and prepare it for public consultations with other ministries and civil society, scheduled for the second half of the year. It is expected that the document will be submitted to the Government for official approval by the end of this year.
It should be noted that the draft of the new NRMV Concept provides significant innovations for the current social assistance system in our country. It is clear from the discussions of the workshop participants that this political document provides for the inclusion in the list of beneficiaries of the social assistance system of all victims of the offenses, mentioned in the Law no.137/2016 on the rehabilitation of the victims of crimes". This is already an innovative element and requires a review of the whole regulatory framework, the creation of new types of services, including social and psychological, for several categories of victims of crimes (trafficking in human beings, domestic violence, torture, sexual offences, etc.).
Cross-sector cooperation for a viable system in support of each victim
The other key elements of the NRMV reform were pointed out by the main author of the draft Concept, Tatiana FOMINA, expert in public policies, La Strada representative:"The NRMV concept comes with concrete solutions for the implementation of the Law no.137/2016 on the rehabilitation of crime victims. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection would assume the role of coordinator of inter-departmental and cross-sector cooperation as required by international treaties in this field and the national legal framework. This role implies the adoption by the MHLSP of leading positions which are binding on other ministries and require considerable implementation efforts.It will also be necessary to create a unique mechanism to identify offenders outside the criminal process as beneficiaries of social assistance and to create new services for victims. We must not forget to train the staff in the spirit of observing the human rights and to ensure an efficient link between the NRMV and other national mechanisms responsible for ensuring the observance of human rights. All are new but inevitable elements if we really want to guarantee a viable mechanism responsive to the needs of all categories of victims of crime”, mentioned La Strada expert.
