eLiberare

Child trafficking takes place in every country in the world, including in Romania, where half of human trafficking victims are children. We need to continue working across sectors and ensure safe and child friendly laws are supported with procedures and services to create the environment to prevent children being trafficked. Today, together with our partners from eLiberare, Autoritatea Națională pentru Protecția Drepturilor Copilului și Adopție - the National Authority for the Protection of the Rights of the Child and Adoption (ANPDCA) and the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (ANITP), we launched a practical tool to support specialists in identifying and assisting children victims of trafficking. Developed from a child perspective, this resource equips professionals with guidelines to recognize signs of trafficking, engage sensitively with affected children, and take essential steps to protect them. I am grateful for the collaboration with #ValentinVătăjelu, State Counselor in the Prime Minister's Office, Rareș Petru Achiriloaie, President of the National Authority for the Rights of the Child and Adoption, #CristinaStepanescu, Deputy Director of the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (ANITP), Ioana Bauer and Loredana Urzica-Mirea from eLiberare Association.   UNICEF is committed to ending child trafficking, supporting victims, and addressing the risk factors that make children more vulnerable to becoming victims — including poverty, discrimination and lack of opportunity to pursue an education.

Today we launched the Practical Guide for the Identification and Referral of Cases of Child Trafficking developed in partnership with Agenția Națională împotriva Traficului de Persoane, Autoritatea Națională pentru Protecția Drepturilor Copilului și Adopție and with the support of UNICEF Romania. How can we recognize a child victim of trafficking? How do we interact with a child victim of trafficking? Who do we report to and what are the steps to follow when there is a suspicion that a child is a victim of human trafficking? These are some of the specific questions the Guide answers. "In Romania, half of the victims of trafficking are children. This shows that traffickers adapted their methods to exploit the most innocent among us. Our response must also be specialized and adapted to the children’s needs and the Guide we launch today is the result of a collective effort that facilitates the early identification of victims and the provision of specialized services tailored to their needs. This way, we will ensure that no child will remain hidden in plain sight in front of law enforcement, social services or the justice system, and at the same time we will have a coherent implementation of the National Identification and Referral Mechanism (NIRM)”, said Ioana Bauer, Chairwoman of eLiberare. We would like to thank to all our speakers, Mr. Valentin Vătăjelu, State Counselor in the Prime Minister's Chancellery, Mr. Rareș Petru Achiriloaie, President of the National Authority for Children's Rights and Adoption, Mrs. Cristina Stepanescu, Deputy Director of the National Agency Against Trafficking Persons (ANITP), Ms. Anna Riatti, UNICEF Representative in Romania and Ms. Anda Mogoș, Psychotherapist and Author. We would also like to thank all the partners who contributed to the development and the dissemination of the Practical Guide and to those who were present today, our colleagues from the ProTECT Platform, IOM Romania, World Vision Romania, FONPC, E-Romnja, Terre des hommes Romania, Ateliere Fara Frontiere, the representatives of ASSMB - Administration of Bucharest Hospitals and Medical Services, DIICOT, BCCO, DGASPCs from Bucharest, School Safety Police, as well as the media representatives who helped us disseminate the message. #endingchildtrafficking #InspiringFreedom

On EU Anti-Trafficking Day we take a collective stance knowing that as long as human trafficking is seen as an issue only affecting victims and their dear ones, this form of criminality will continue to exist and thrive, hidden in plain sight. Nobody is safe in a community where the dignity of people can be bought and sold for pennies, generating profit for traffickers and pimps. Moreover, it’s time to call out fake influencers and pseudo-art that encourages trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, despite the fact that it is a recognized form of violence against women and children. eLiberare, with the support of the group of likeminded embassies in Romania, marked this day by reaffirming the importance of collaboration, coordination and collective action - today and every day, as long as exploitation continues to be a constant in the lives of millions of people across Romania and the globe. Check out the full campaign on our page. #humantrafficking #October18 #inittoendit #collective

On the occasion of the European Day against Trafficking in Human Beings, we want to express our gratitude for the strong commitment of the U.S. Embassy in Romania to combat this crime. As stated by Ambassador H.E. Ms. Kathleen Ann Kavalec: “Human trafficking is an evil that deprives millions worldwide of their dignity and freedom. Together with Romania, the United States stands firm in its commitment to end trafficking. This effort requires close coordination, persistent advocacy and steadfast commitment.” 🤝 We look forward to continuing our collaboration to ensure a safer and more dignified future for all. #EndHumanTrafficking #EuropeanDayAgainstTrafficking #eLiberare #Partnerships #HumanRights @USEmbassyRomania

✨ On the European Day Against Trafficking in Human Beings, Anna Riatti, Representative of UNICEF in Romania, emphasizes  the urgent need to protect children from violence and abuse. As she states: "Every child has the right to a life free from violence, exploitation, and abuse. Preventing and addressing child trafficking is a shared responsibility under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children must be safe in all environments – at home, in school, in the community, and online. We must intensify our efforts to prevent, protect, and respond to child trafficking, so every child can fully experience their right to a safe and dignified childhood. This is a goal we must all work tirelessly to achieve." 🤝 We are grateful to UNICEF for their dedicated partnership in preventing child trafficking and we are committed to continuing our close collaboration to ensure a safer future for children. #StopChildTrafficking #EuropeanDayAgainstTrafficking #eLiberare #Partnerships #ChildRights @UNICEF

🌍 On the occasion of the European Day against Human Trafficking, we emphasize the importance of raising awareness and educating society about this critical issue. As stated by Mircea Mocanu, Head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Romania: „Raising awareness about human trafficking is crucial in the ongoing fight against this grave violation of human rights. Effective prevention starts with education. When communities are informed about the warning signs of exploitation and know how and where to report them, we can build a powerful network of vigilance that protects those at risk.   By working together, we can empower communities, provide support to vulnerable individuals, foster a culture, and shape a society that refuses to tolerate exploitation in all its forms. Each one of us must work toward raising awareness of this issue. Through collective actions, we can build a safer future, ensuring no one remains vulnerable to trafficking”. 🤝 We are grateful to the IOM Romania for their dedicated partnership and look forward to continuing our collaboration in the fight against trafficking. #StopTrafficking #EuropeanAntiTraffickingDay #eLiberare #Collaboration #HumanRights

🌍 On the occasion of the European Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we emphasize the urgent need to intensify global efforts to combat this serious crime that violates fundamental human rights. As highlighted by the Ambassador of Greece to Romania, H.E. Ms. Lili-Evangelia Grammatika: “On October 18, European Anti-Trafficking Day, we emphasize the urgent need to strengthen global efforts against this heinous violation of human rights, one of the most lucrative and destructive forms of organized crime. A more comprehensive, united approach is essential to combat trafficking, as we recall the words of Martin Luther King Jr.: ‘Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle.’ Let this be a reminder that the fight for justice demands our collective commitment.” 🤝 We are grateful to the Embassy of Greece for their dedication and support in the fight against trafficking. We are committed to continuing a long-term collaboration to make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by this issue. #StopHumanTrafficking #EuropeanDayAgainstTrafficking #eLiberare #Collaboration #HumanRights

”Switzerland is engaged in the fight against THB, firstly at national level, by the adoption of its third National Plan against Human trafficking 2023-2027, developed by the Police Federal Office and focusing on the prevention of labor exploitation, exploitation of minors, strengthening of criminal prosecution, better support for victims and their rights, and the continuous training of those involved.   In Romania, Switzerland is supporting the fight against Human trafficking through its bilateral cooperation program, particularly through its Internal Affairs and Civic Engagement Programmes. One of the components of the Internal Affairs Programme will be the fight against organized crime and trafficking in human beings, while one of the areas of intervention of the Civic Engagement Programme will be to support the NGOs in providing assistance to victims of violence, human trafficking included.” Ambassador of Switzerland to Romania, H.E. Mr. Massimo Baggi

On October 18th, European Anti-Trafficking Day, we reaffirm our commitment to fighting human trafficking alongside our partners. We are grateful to the British Embassy in Bucharest for their continuous support in our joint efforts to prevent and combat human trafficking in Romania. “Combatting and preventing human trafficking is a key priority for the British Government in its relationship with Romania and for me personally. Through partnerships with Romanian and British NGOs and government cooperation, we work to prevent trafficking, bring criminals to justice, and support survivors' recovery and reintegration.” H.E. Giles Portman, British Ambassador to Romania Together, we are building a safer world for all! 💙  #EndHumanTrafficking #EuropeanAntiTraffickingDay #eLiberare #Partnership #UKEmbassy #SocialImpact

🌟 We express our heartfelt gratitude to the Embassy of Sweden in Romania for their strong and dedicated partnership in the fight against human trafficking. We fully support the powerful message conveyed by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Romania, H.E. Mrs. Anna Hällerman: “Human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights, affecting millions worldwide. Stringent laws and collaboration across all sectors are needed to help prevent exploitation and protect the vulnerable. My country, Sweden, stands firm in upholding human dignity and justice and is committed to eradicating this heinous crime against people’s freedom and self-worth. No one should live in fear and coercion.” We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden to prevent the exploitation of Romanian citizens both at home and abroad. #StopHumanTrafficking #EuropeanDayAgainstTrafficking #eLiberare #Collaboration #HumanRights @SwedishEmbassy