Meeting of the State Secretary of the Ministry of Justice with the OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
21 September 2023, Chisinau – The Secretary of State of the Ministry of Justice, Eduard Serbenco, had a meeting with the OSCE Special Representative and Acting Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Andrea Salvoni, during which they discussed the national simulation exercise to combat trafficking in human beings, aimed at improving the investigation and prosecution of such cases.
During the discussion, the main objectives of the simulation-based training exercises were evoked, such as improving the interaction between the entities with competences in the field, the identification of trafficking cases in mixed migration flows, the improvement of the referral mechanism of trafficked persons to victim-centred assistance, protection and support providers, as well as the specifics of the investigation of criminal trafficking cases.
In this context, Secretary of State Eduard Serbenco expressed his gratitude for the support given to our country by the OSCE, underlining the particular interest in strengthening national capacities to combat trafficking in human beings.
At the same time, the Ministry of Justice has prepared a comprehensive draft amendment to the Criminal Code, a process in which all the actors concerned have been involved, and which has already been adopted in the first reading by Parliament. This draft law also proposes certain amendments to the section on offences relating to combating trafficking in human beings. The Ministry of Justice has now initiated further amendments to the Criminal Code, which aim to prevent and combat sexual exploitation and abuse of children. The Ministry of Justice has also contributed to the development of the National Programme for Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for the years 2024-2028.
For his part, the OSCE representative, Andrea Salvoni, stressed the readiness to support the Republic of Moldova, including through practical training methods, as these exercises support the implementation of states’ obligations under international legal instruments to combat trafficking in human beings, especially women and children.
