26 January, 2016
On 26 January The National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (NCCTHB) organized in Hilton Hotel its Annual Anti-trafficking Meeting under the name:“Towards a National Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in Bulgaria“. The conference was focused on elaboration and realization of the Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in Bulgaria to be developed by the National Commission in 2016 in accordance with the EC Anti-trafficking Strategy. Mrs.Vassiliadou presented the European strategy and practices in the fight against the human trafficking and mentioned that the Strategy needs to include policy toward vulnerable groups and the group of children – victims of trafficking or at risk to be involved in trafficking. Ms. Gabriel stressed on the fact that in 2016 human trafficking will be a key topic at the European Parliament in relation to the global evaluation of the EU Strategy and the development of the future Anti-trafficking Strategy. She also paid attention to the prevention of recruitment of victims of human trafficking through Internet.
Official guests to the conference were: Her Excellency Emma Hopkins, British Ambassador to Bulgaria, His Excellency Tom van Oorshot, Netherlands Embassy, H.E.Denice Knobel, Swiss Confederation Embassy and H.E. Guru Katharina Vicor, Norway Embassy.
Her Excellency Emma Hopkins spoke about the British Experience in Developing the Government Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and H.E. Denice Knobel spoke about the Swiss experience against human trafficking and the achievements of the Swiss-Bulgarian Program for Counteraction of Human Trafficking, including identification, referral and reintegration of the victims.
The meeting was addressed by Ms. Kamelia Dimitrova, Secretary General of the NCCTHB, who outlined the directions in the development of the future national strategy toward human trafficking, and its key fields of intervention and priorities.
The meeting was attended by members of the NCCTHB, municipality mayors, chairpersons and secretaries of the Local Commissions for THB from the cities of Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Sofia, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Montana, Pazardzik, Plovdiv, Ruse and Sliven; representatives of the Expert Work Group to the NCCTHB, experts from leading NGOs and MOs working in the field of counteraction of the THB and protections of the victims in Bulgaria.
In the second part of the meeting: “Leading Principles and Partners in the Development and the Implementation of the Natioanal Strategy for Counteracting Trafficking in Human Beings” key speeches were delivered by: Ms. Rositsa Yaneva, Secretary of the LCCTHB – city of Bourgas – “Local Policies in the Fight Against Human Trafficking. Strategic and Operational Activities”; Ms. Svetlana Koeva, Head of the “Prevetion” Department in the The Municipality of Varna and Deputy Chairperson of the LCCTHB – city of Varna – “Role of the Local Commissions for Combating Traffic in Human Beings During Planning and Implementation of the National Anti-trafficking Strategy”; Ms. Genoveva Tisheva, Co-chairwoman of “Alliance for Protection from Gender-Based Violence” (APGBV) and CEO of the Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation (BGRF) – “Role of the Nongovernmental Sector and of the International Organisations in the Planning and the Implementation of a Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings on a National Level” and Ms. Nadya Kozhuharova, Coordinator of the Anti-trafficking Programme in Animus Association Foundation (AAF)/La Strada Bulgaria.
During the discussion participants made comments on the leading principles in the process of development of the National Anti-trafficking Strategy for Bulgaria and its practical issues ; on the tasks of the Local Commissions for CTHB and the role of the NGOs and MOs in implementing the National Strategy. The experts also stressed on the key areas which must be included in the National Strategy, following Directive2011/36/ЕС: victim protection, reintegration, legal aid to victims, specialized health services and special attention to the vulnerable groups like women and children – victims of THB.