Asociația Eliberare
eLiberare
eLiberare is a Romanian organization focused on preventing human trafficking & sexual exploitation.
ID: 377339245648-75
Lobbying Activity
Response to Amendment of the EU rules on victims’ rights
26 Sept 2023
eLiberare is a Romanian organization focused on preventing trafficking in human beings & sexual exploitation (THB). Our priorities include a comprehensive approach to combating THB through prevention education, capacity building, providing assistance through our four Regional Centers for Assistance and Information for the Detection of Human Trafficking Cases, and through conducting advocacy work, forging connections across diverse sectors to enhance legislative processes and bolster victim protection. We commend the Commissions revision of the Victims Rights Directive and would like to express the following: First, we highlight the need for specific measures regarding the rights of vulnerable victims, specifically victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation (VoTs). All across EU states there is a clear need for proactive identification of victims of trafficking, and for member states to begin offering assistance and services with an early and low threshold preliminary identification. The trauma informed approach needs to be a flagship in all legislation that impacts VoTs. Therefore, identification of VoTs has to also be trauma informed, holistic and comprehensive, and we recommend moving away from the approach of burdening the victim with the identification process, expecting them to self-identify. Since THB is one of the most complex forms of trauma that exists, the responsibility for being identified and ensuring the fundamental human rights to protect a VoT should not be a responsibility of the victim, but of the Member State. We need indicators that are unified across member states and the implementation of a European Referral Mechanism in order to ensure swift and early identification of VoTs. followed by clear referral pathways available for victims across the EU member states. This is also in line with the need for minimum standards regarding case management, and statess obligations for the alignment of protection measures with the specific needs of victims to ensure their safety during the entire duration of the criminal proceedings. Moreover, we advocate for facilitated access to compensation, both from offenders and from the state in cases where offenders are insolvent. This should entail a binding obligation for the state to promptly provide compensation to victims, with the option for the state to recover these funds from the offender at a later time. Such measures should not only ensure that victims receive timely compensation but also hold the state responsible for its role in assisting victims when offenders are unable to fulfill their financial obligations, thus fostering a more equitable and efficient system of reparation. In this context, we also emphasize the importance of compensating victims for non-pecuniary damages, especially for those who have endured severe trauma, such as victims of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, child victims of child sexual abuse materials, and online-facilitated child sexual abuse. Lastly, we support the proposal for granting victims the right to receive free psychological support for as long as necessary, particularly for vulnerable victims. This brings multiple benefits to the entire criminal process, as research shows that victims that have received specialized psychological support give better evidence, are better able to articulate what happened to them and keep their declarations until the end of a criminal trial. This is therefore a necessity for vulnerable victims who need to be able to process the trauma that they suffered (especially in the case of VoTs), and we highly recommend the adoption of these revisions to become mandatory for all member states. All these recommendations are in line with the clear obligation and responsibility of member states to protect all victims of trafficking identified within the States territory, regardless of country of origin, and provide long-term assistance on a non-discriminatory basis.
Read full responseMeeting with Cristian Terheş (Member of the European Parliament)
26 Oct 2022 · anti trafficking in human beings
Meeting with Hilde Vautmans (Member of the European Parliament)
26 Oct 2022 · Trafficking in human beings