About Us

Who Are We?

The ProTECT Platform is a coalition of specialized organizations dedicated to combating human trafficking and protecting the rights of victims and survivors. It currently brings together twenty-three of the most active non-governmental organizations in the field. Launched in 2020, the ProTECT Platform gained legal status in 2024 through the establishment of the ProTECT Federation. Established in 2020, the ProTECT platform acquired legal status in 2024 with the formation of the ProTECT Federation.

ProTECT’s mission

ProTECT’s mission is to serve as a catalyst and resource center for its members and other public and private entities with similar goals, enabling them to collaborate effectively in prevention, victim protection and assistance, public policy development, advocacy, and initiatives with an increasingly significant impact in combating human trafficking.

ProTECT Members

Alba Arad Argeș Bacău Bihor Bistrița-Năsăud Botoșani Brașov Brăila București Buzău Caraș-Severin Călărași Cluj Constanța Covasna Dâmbovița Dolj Galați Giurgiu Gorj Harghita Hunedoara Ialomița Iași Ilfov Maramureș Mehedinți Mureș Neamț Olt Prahova Satu Mare Sălaj Sibiu Suceava Teleorman Timiș Tulcea Vaslui Vâlcea Vrancea

Bihor

Dorcas Aid Romania

– founded in 1990 –

Associate Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

  • Head Office: Strada Blajului nr. 27, Cluj-Napoca
  • TeL: 0264 416 336
  • Program: Monday– Friday: 09.00 – 17.00
  • Email: office@romania.dorcas.org

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

Dorcas Aid Romania is a Christian community development organization that implements programs and projects dedicated to supporting vulnerable individuals, regardless of race, gender, religion, or nationality. The organization facilitates cooperation among community actors by developing partnerships and mobilizing local resources.

The mission of the organization is to support and empower people to grow by ensuring access to basic services, restoring dignity, building resilience to shocks, and fostering strong, inclusive communities with a special focus on marginalized individuals.

The organization’s strategy is centered on developing programs and projects that aim to create a lasting and meaningful impact on the development of vulnerable individuals and communities.

OBJECTIVES

Together with local partners, the association aims to identify and protect the most vulnerable people. The goals are based on Christian values and are linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals:

  • without poverty;
  • Zero hunger;
  • Good health and well-being;
  • Quality education;
  • gender equality;
  • Gender equality;
  • Partnerships for the Goals.

CAPACITY

Projects are implemented in disadvantaged communities across 9 counties in Romania, benefiting over 1,500 individuals from 131 communities.

SERVICES OFFERED

In partnership with Dignity Restored, Dorcas Aid Romania provides the following support services for victims of human trafficking:

Multidisciplinary assistance, including:

  • Material and financial support
  • Counseling and social assistance
  • Medical care
  • Psychological assistance and psychotherapy
  • Legal counseling and court representation
  • Educational support
  • Assistance for independent living/vocational training, including professional qualification courses
  • Mediation for socio-professional integration
  • Transit assistance
  • Group activities or support groups
  • Support for repatriation

ONGOING PROJECTS

  1. Developing Social Safety Networks for the Elderly
  2. Roma Inclusion Initiatives:
  • After-School Educational Program
  • Sukhar Center, dedicated to Roma women
  1. Social Entrepreneurship
  2. Social Farms
  3. Humanitarian Aid for War-Affected Individuals
  4. Human Trafficking Prevention
  5. Blue Bucket Charity Campaign
  6. Training and Development:
  • Local Resource Mobilization
  • Community Development Based on Local Resources
People to People Foundation

– founded in 1999 –

Statutory Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

The People to People Foundation is a non-governmental organization active in the social field since 1999, an accredited provider of social services, and since 2009 it has been a provider of specialized assistance services for victims of human trafficking with licensed social service – Restore Center – the center for integration/reintegration for victims of human trafficking.

They are active in prevention programs (vulnerable and at-risk groups), education and training (for awareness, empowerment and training of specialists or other workers for the detection of possible victims of human trafficking, as well as for the assistance of possible victims) and aftercare (direct assistance) for victims of human trafficking. The approach is holistic and integrative – social assistance services – including support for repatriation, medical, residential (accommodation), educational, professional, vocational and legal (including assistance and representation in court, as well as in the phases subsequent to the existence of the criminal sentence of enforcing the sentence). Within this service, any category of people – men/women, adults/minors – is supported, regardless of the form of trafficking or the country of exploitation.

More than 550 officially identified victims and survivors of human trafficking have been supported over time. In addition to this service, People to People works in the field of community development through education – developing numerous formal and informal education programs in vulnerable areas and communities (such as ProRroma Tinca School – Authorized private social school), where more than 200 children of kindergarten, primary education and “Second Chance” programs officially study. Formal education programs are complemented by informal and remedial education for young people, skills development programs, parental education, development of local leaders.

SERVICES OFFERED

“RESTORE” CENTER – CENTER FOR SOCIAL INTEGRATION/REINTEGRATION FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING (licensed social service).

The services provided may consist of:

  1. Pre-repatriation assistance and repatriation assistance.
  2. Social assistance: information, social counseling, procurement of documents/identity documents, social mediation, obtaining rights and facilities, facilitating transportation for access to services, facilitating communication (phone cards/subscriptions), assistance to family/caregivers, etc.
  3. Healthcare: facilitating access to investigations, medical services and treatments, specialist consultations, medical equipment, etc.
  4. Psychological assistance: assessment and psychodiagnosis, personal development, psychological counseling, therapy, psychological support for carrying out various reintegration procedures, couple or family therapy, etc.
  5. Educational assistance: school integration/reintegration, tutoring/mentoring, informal education (budget management, conflict management, etc.), accompaniment, purchase of educational materials, school supplies for direct beneficiaries or dependents, school uniforms/clothing, payment of tuition fees for direct beneficiaries or dependents, etc.
  6. Legal assistance: legal advice, legal assistance, representation in court (both related to the trafficking situation and complementary aspects related to family, divorce, housing), etc., various evaluations requested by the monitoring and investigation bodies or by the court, such as psychological evaluations, psychosocial report, etc.
  7. Independent living assistance/vocational/professional assistance: occupational therapy, facilitating access to vocational training courses, apprenticeship programs, skills development programs, professional reintegration, purchase of materials and equipment necessary to carry out an income-generating activity, establishment of income-generating activities (PFA, II, SRL) etc.
  8. Material/financial assistance: food packages, hygiene products (intimate hygiene products, body hygiene, body deodorants, etc.), sanitary products (specific to needs) and cleaning (of the home), clothing, shoes, various equipment for beneficiaries and children/dependents or their families, as well as other necessary products/equipment, etc.

     

  9. Residential Assistance/Facilitating Access to Housing/Improving Housing Conditions: protected or independent housing in various social services or with individuals – payment of rent, temporary accommodation in accommodation structures. If the beneficiary/his/her family owns a home, they can benefit from support in improving living conditions – purchase of furniture, construction materials for renovations and rehabilitation of the home, equipment and appliances (stove, refrigerator, stove, etc.), firewood, etc.

     

  10. Transit Assistance: short-term accommodation for participation in hearings, additional assessments, court statements for persons from localities other than the place where they are required to make these statements. This category also includes assistance provided for travel to another country in order to carry out the legal procedures associated with the status of victim of human trafficking.

     

  11. Group Activities or Support Groups.

The assistance provided within the Social Service is mainly addressed to the victim of trafficking in human beings – the direct beneficiary. However, depending on the assessment carried out and the intervention plan agreed, the assistance may target dependent persons in the family (minor children of the victim or adult children with disabilities), the life partner (for example, if the partner is the only one who can currently work – vocational assistance focuses on him or her in the short term, in order to support the family) or parents/adult siblings in the case of minor victims.

 

The assistance involves:
– activities in which the beneficiary actively participates or which he/she carries out alone or with minimal accompaniment/support;
– activities carried out for the beneficiary;
– activities carried out on behalf of the beneficiary.

 

As a working method, the case management method (evaluation and intervention method) is used with the following stages:
– assessment of the situation;
– planning the intervention;
– implementation of the intervention plan or provision of services;
– periodic monitoring and evaluation of the progress made in the implementation of the intervention plan;
– final evaluation;
– post-intervention monitoring;
– re-opening the case (if the situation requires it);
– closure and archiving of the case.

AVAILABLE SPECIALISTS: social workers, psychologist, lawyer, lawyers, nurse, facilitators as well as other external collaborators such as – doctors, lawyers, various specialists depending on the needs of the supported person.

Important

Starting with February 8, 2024, the People to People Foundation is enrolled in the voucher distribution mechanism to cover the basic needs of crime victims.

Dignity Restored

– established in 2023 –

Associate Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

  • Headquarters: Oradea, Romania
  • Phone: 0757771066
  • Email: nextsteps.romania@yahoo.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

The Dignity Restored Association is a non-governmental organization, whose purpose is to provide multidisciplinary assistance for the socio-professional integration of victims of human trafficking and prostitution, victims of other crimes, young people released from placement centers, refugees and victims of domestic violence.

The Dignity Restored Association also carries out awareness and prevention campaigns on human trafficking, as well as training and training offered to social workers to detect possible victims of human trafficking.

SERVICES OFFERED

Multidisciplinary assistance, including:

  • Material and financial support
  • Counseling and social assistance
  • Medical care
  • Psychological assistance and psychotherapy
  • Legal counseling and court representation
  • Educational support
  • independent living assistance, vocational/professional assistance, including professional qualification courses;
  • Mediation for socio-professional integration
  • Transit assistance
  • Group activities or support groups
  • Support for repatriation

Bucharest

ADD

– established in 2003 –

Statutory Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

  • Headquarters: Bucharest
  • Tel.: +40 212 532 904
  • Email: adpare@adpare.eu
  • Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 09.00 – 17.00

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

ADPARE is an association made up of involved and passionate experts with a long experience in the anti-trafficking field. ADPARE carries out exclusively activities specific to the fight against trafficking in human beings.

Since September 2019, ADPARE has been a member of the La Strada International network – the European platform of NGOs promoting the rights of victims of human trafficking, and since October 2020, ADPARE has been part of the ProTECT network – the Platform of Specialized Anti-Trafficking Organizations.

OBJECTIVES

Starting from the vision that a man is a universe, the association aims to develop research, training and prevention projects and programs for the protection and promotion of the rights of victims of human trafficking/minors and child pornography. The main activity of supporting victims is their coordination in judicial proceedings.

CAPACITY

The average number of victims coordinated annually is 200: children and adults, all genders, Romanian citizens and citizens of a nationality other than Romanian, all types of exploitation – sexual, forced labor, forced begging, forced crime, Slavic – exploited domestically and internationally.

Current activities with people from Ukraine: training in the field of combating trafficking in human beings, addressed to 300 vulnerable people, including 150 women, 50 men, 100 children and young people aged 6-18 years and 30 specialists and volunteers from several day care and accommodation centres for people from Ukraine.

SERVICES OFFERED

  • The program for the coordination of victims/witnesses in the criminal process by supporting the participation of the victim in all phases of the criminal process (criminal prosecution and investigation, trial and execution), as well as in obtaining compensation for physical and mental damage and financial compensation granted based on Law no. 211/2004, which consists of:
  1. accompaniment and emotional support at hearings;
  2. permanent information;
  3. legal representation through specialized lawyers;
  4. clinical psychological expertise at the request of criminal investigation bodies and judges;
  5. emergency and safe accommodation;
  6. ensuring safe transport;
  7. financial support during hearings.

 

Other services complementary to coordination in judicial proceedings:

    • accommodation in ADPARE protected housing: sheltering women who have physical security problems;
    • Material support in crisis situations: consists of providing individualized funds necessary to cover basic needs (food, hygiene and cleaning products, clothing and footwear) during the crisis intervention period and/or in the first six months after entering the program for long-term interventions. This activity is supported by the counseling service for the development of individual budget management skills. In addition to the funds managed by the victims and/or legal representatives, donations of material goods are distributed according to needs;
    • psychological counseling and psychotherapy: consists of providing permanent emotional support, individual and family psychological counseling and individual, couple/family psychotherapy;
    • medical assistance: consists of covering the costs for medical insurance, investigations and medical consultations, as well as for the purchase of prescribed medical treatments and/or usual medication;
    • social assistance: consists of counseling on the rights to social benefits, mediation of the relationship with representatives of public social services, support for the restoration of identity documents, coverage of the costs of safe transport, communication and parceling;
    • educational assistance: consists of emotional and financial support for formal education: mediation of the relationship with school inspectorates, schools for school reintegration, payment of school fees and the means necessary for schooling; as well as for informal education: educational toys for preschoolers, tutoring for students, skills development (PC operation, language learning, etc.), educational leisure activities;
    • professional assistance: consists of vocational counseling, support for professional qualification courses, education on labor rights, mediation of relations with providers of professional coaching services, emotional support in job search and maintenance, education on the development of independent professional activities: authorized agricultural producers, authorized individuals, individual or family businesses, etc.;
  • Support for repatriation

 

AIDRom

– established in 1991 –

Statutory Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

  • Headquarters: str. Ilarie Chendi nr. 14, Bucharest, sector 2.
  • Tel: +4.021.212.48.68 | Fax: +4.021.210.72.55
  • Email: aidrom@gmail.com
  • Program: Monday– Friday: 09.00 – 17.00

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

AIDROM (Ecumenical Association of Churches in Romania), is a joint initiative of the Churches present in the country, the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Reformed Church and the Lutheran Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Synodal Presbyterian Church and the Armenian Orthodox Church, which since its establishment in 1991, promotes the inclusion of marginalized people, contributes to the social reintegration of people at high risk, ensures equal opportunities and fights against human trafficking and discrimination. Guided by the slogan “We are here to help”, the AIDRom team provides assistance to refugees and migrants who want to integrate in Romania, fights violence and human trafficking and has an emergency response in case of disasters. Through its actions, AIDROM strengthens ecumenical and interethnic cooperation for peace and stability to alleviate segregation in multi-ethnic communities and ensure respect for human rights.

The Multifunctional Counseling Centers for people at risk, as well as the Accommodation centers, developed by AIDROM in Bucharest, Iasi and Timisoara, aim to counsel and assist people in difficulty, refugees and migrants.

Through the TOLERANT project, AIDRom has established the “Transnational Network for the Integration of Women Victims of Human Trafficking”, and through the SAFE HUT project, it contributes to the rehabilitation and facilitation of the social and professional integration of women and girls from third countries who are in vulnerable situations, including survivors of violence and trafficking in human beings.

CAPACITY

Over 45,000 refugees from Ukraine were beneficiaries of services offered through the projects carried out in the last 2 years. For them, AIDRom provided psychological, spiritual, social and legal counseling and assistance services, material assistance, emergency assistance, medical assistance.

OBJECTIVES

  • Promoting the inclusion of marginalised people, the social reintegration of people at high risk, equal opportunities and the fight against trafficking in human beings and discrimination, by counselling and assisting people in need, refugees and migrants;
  • Encouraging women and girls from vulnerable backgrounds, including victims of trafficking, to express their needs, experiences and aspirations; raising awareness of their rights, giving them the tools to become advocates for change;
  • Providing education, training and vital information to women and girls;
  • Equipping them with knowledge and skill sets, psychosocial support to improve their integration into society;
  • Ensuring permanent access for survivors of trafficking or violence to personalized support services, through partnerships and collaborations with specialized service providers;
  • Connecting with survivors, through WGSS, to resources essential to their journey to healing and independence.

SERVICES OFFERED

  • Multifunctional Counselling Centres for people at risk (Beneficiaries: women at high risk of exploitation, unemployed people looking for a job in Romania, migrant women, third-country nationals who need special attention in the integration process):
    • legal advice;
    • psychological counseling;
    • social counseling;
    • training courses and workshops;
    • mediation for job search in Romania;
    • mediation between beneficiaries and local authorities;
    • social inclusion, vocational courses.
  • SAFE HUT – creating safe spaces for the empowerment of women and girls (Beneficiaries: women and girls from third countries who are in vulnerable situations, including survivors of violence and trafficking in human beings):
    • rehabilitation and facilitation of social and professional integration;
    • implementing the WGSS (Women and Girls Safe Spaces) model, which focuses on creating places where the physical and emotional safety of women and girls is respected and where women and girls are supported through empowerment processes to seek, share and obtain information and access services, to express themselves and to enhance their psychosocial well-being, to know and make full use of their rights.
Salvation Army Romania

– founded in 1999 –

Statutory Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

  • Headquarters: 16 Dumitru Zosima Street, Bucharest, sector 1.
  • Tel.: +40 727 116 466
  • Email: office@armatasalvarii.ro
  • Program: Monday– Friday: 09.00 – 17.00

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

The Salvation Army is an international Christian mission with a history of more than 150 years and a presence in more than 130 countries. This year it celebrates 25 years of activity in Romania. The Salvation Army operates in 6 cities, Bucharest, Ploiesti, Craiova, Iași, Bacău and Buzău, through social, educational, psycho-social and spiritual counseling projects.

The actions to prevent and raise awareness of human trafficking, carried out in programs for children, young people, people living in vulnerable conditions, but also through collaboration with local institutions, authorities and international networks, have changed the direction and influenced the lives of many people over the years.

Through the internationally adopted “Fight for Freedom” strategy, The Salvation Army aims to achieve a strong and sustainable response to modern slavery and human trafficking in every area, territory, command and region where it operates.

OBJECTIVES

The mission of the Romanian Salvation Army is to respond to human needs, to improve the quality of life of people in suffering, to restore hope, to promote a world of solidarity, peace and well-being, without discrimination.

SERVICES OFFERED

  • Preventing school dropout by promoting education and supporting the education process in all ways. We are thus committed to maintaining the activities carried out by social workers in the field, by educators in Day Care Centers and to provide a daily hot meal to the children in our centers;
  • Combating poverty and social inclusion by continuously carrying out socio-medical assistance projects, providing needy, psycho-social, material and spiritual help for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, adults or children;
  • Combating human trafficking by promoting programs to defend fundamental human rights, prevent and raise awareness of the danger of this scourge, provide emergency social counseling, support for repatriations as well as resume contact with the family;
  • Intervention in emergency/disaster cases through mobile teams and with volunteers. We thus maintain the commitment of 150 years of emergency service at the service of the people by providing on the street: food, medical consultation, emergency outpatient treatment, counseling, redirection to centers, hospitals or shelters;
  • Promoting a responsible and conscious attitude towards the environment through the environmental education programs carried out, the recycling actions undertaken and through the permanent urge to moderation and avoid waste in the use of resources;
  • Bringing Christian values and morals to the fore through the programs carried out within the support and spiritual counseling groups established for all age categories; through the summer camps dedicated to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, through the Sunday services held to share the mystery of the word and thanksgiving in a world where you cannot provide rational answers to all questions.

Services offered to victims of human trafficking

  • material support;
  • Medical care
  • social assistance;
  • assistance for educational reintegration;
  • Support for repatriation

ONGOING PROJECTS

  • “Salvation Army Mobile Team” (December 2015 – present);
  • “Integrated Education Program” in Bucharest, Buzău, Bacău and Craiova (March 2018 – present);
  • “Mercy Street” Soup for homeless adults in Craiova (December 2019 – present);
  • “Showers and Social Laundry in Iași” (2004 – present);
  • Day Centers for Children from Disadvantaged Backgrounds S.M.A.R.T (Multifunctional Anti-Poverty Services for Reintegration and Transformation) in Ploiesti and Iași (2020 – present);
  • NextStepsRomania – Prevention of trafficking and assistance in the reintegration of victims of human trafficking
release

– Established in 2013 –

Statutory Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

The eLiberare Association is a social movement against human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Romania. Founded in 2013, eLiberare pursues, in its activity, several objectives, which involve both education, prevention and combating trafficking in human beings, as well as the protection of victims and involvement in the process of improving the legislative framework.

eLiberare follows five directions of action:

  1. Education and prevention. Reducing the risk of exploitation by creating practical tools that contribute to critical thinking and the development of discernment.
  2. Capacity building. Organizing training sessions on the detection of human trafficking for social workers, teachers, police officers, priests or other groups of people and informal leaders active at the community level.
  3. Aid. Through the Information and Assistance Center for the Detection and Notification of Trafficking in Persons, we offer support to victims, but also to citizens who have detected a potential case and wish to report it.
  4. Advocacy and public policy. Creating opportunities and links between representatives of different fields leading to the improvement of the legislative framework and the protection of victims.
  5. Awareness campaigns. Raising awareness among the general public, both online and offline, in order to inform them about trafficking in human beings and the effects it has on individuals and society.

SUPPORT SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME:

  • Information about the risks associated with trafficking, sexual exploitation and abuse and preventive advice to avoid this danger;
  • Support for identification, detection of cases of human trafficking, sexual exploitation and abuse, provided by:
    • eLiberation crisis line on 0757 749 845. The crisis line is available in Romanian and English (for other languages, we use translation services);
    • eLiberation dedicated email address for handling trafficking cases and other related cases: asistenta@eliberare.com;
  • Direct referral of cases of trafficking, sexual exploitation and abuse to the competent authority – eLiberare acts as an intermediary between the person who notifies any suspicion of human trafficking and the authorities. We send an official notification to the police, DIICOT, ANITP and other relevant authorities;
  • Intervention in crisis situations by ensuring the minimum necessary (emergency kit containing the bare necessities, provision of food and accommodation – in case of emergency);
  • Social counseling for vulnerable people, victims or third parties;
  • Psychotherapy – we collaborate with specialized psychotherapists for the cases we manage;
  • Legal advice/assistance – we have a legal advisor and we provide legal assistance to Romanian citizens as well as migrants regarding their rights in Romania, employment contracts and other issues, as well as regarding any type of abuse or exploitation (sexual exploitation, labor exploitation and violation of other rights);
  • Referral, depending on the needs of the beneficiaries, to specialized social assistance services;
  • Reference to other relevant public organisations and institutions in case of notification or identification of other offences (other than trafficking in human beings).
FREE

– Established in 2013 –

Statutory Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

F.R.E.E. is an organization that fights for the rights of sexually exploited people; Our mission is to make the voice of every exploited person – woman or child – heard through prevention, assistance and protection programs and make a difference in their lives.

OBJECTIVES

  • Sexually exploited women and children in Romania to be released, restored and empowered, to build the life and future they want;
  • Assisting women who are caught or exposed to the sex industry;
  • Supporting those who want to get out of the sex industry and start a new dignified lifestyle;
  • Restoring the lives of sexually exploited people through holistic support;
  • Offering alternatives, regarding the socio-professional integration of sexually exploited people;
  • Prevention and raising awareness about the problems of sexual exploitation.

SERVICES OFFERED

The FREE Association coordinates several assistance and support programs in order to identify and support people who are victims of sexual exploitation. Also, through specific activities and programs, we contribute to preventing and reducing the risks of exploitation among vulnerable groups at risk. The main services offered to victims of human trafficking are:

  • telephone assistance and emergency intervention;
  • hotel accommodation and support package, consisting of covering basic needs (in an emergency regime);
  • long-term hosting, through an assisted program;
  • material and financial support;
  • legal advice;
  • psychological counseling;
  • assistance and support for socio-professional reintegration;
  • assistance services within the day center (group therapy, personal development courses, mentoring, etc.);
  • support and support to victims in legal proceedings.

ONGOING PROJECTS

  • Casa Talita (accommodation for a period of 6 to 12 months depending on the needs of the beneficiaries, social assistance, psychotherapy, basic medical support, support group);
  • Outreach (providing resources, assistance, support and information to women who engage in prostitution in the “red” areas – street, strip clubs, online);
  • Non-residential program (reception center, mentoring and counseling, transitional apartment);
  • Prevention programs for children and young people at risk (“3D – Decisions Determine Destiny”, “Leadership Academy”, “Born to fly”);
  • Awareness (campaigns).
International Justice Mission - Romania

– Established in 2019 –

Associate Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

  • Headquarters: Bucharest
  • Email: ro.contact@ijm.org

WEB and SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

International Justice Mission (IJM) is an international non-governmental, non-profit organization whose mission is to support and protect vulnerable people from human trafficking and violence. The IJM works with local authorities through its 31 operational offices in 16 countries to combat slavery, violence against women and children, and police abuse of power against people living in poverty. The IJM works to rescue and rehabilitate victims, hold perpetrators accountable and contribute to strengthening justice systems.

In 2019, the International Justice Mission started its activity in Eastern Europe by launching, in Romania, the cross-border anti-trafficking program to Western Europe. IJM collaborates with the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime within the Romanian Police (DCCO), with the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (ANITP) and the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) to implement the program “Strengthening the Proactive Response of Criminal Justice to Trafficking in Persons in Romania”, funded by the United States Department of State, The Office for Combating Trafficking in Persons, which aims to support the Romanian Government in its efforts to respond to the problem of human trafficking in Romania.

In 2022, immediately after the start of the war in Ukraine, the International Justice Mission developed a program dedicated to Ukrainian refugees. The IJM, together with institutional and civil society partners, provides humanitarian aid, legal services and other assistance to combat the risks of human trafficking among Ukrainian refugees.

OBJECTIVES

The International Justice Mission in Romania focuses on assisting victims of trafficking in human beings and strengthening the justice system.

SERVICES OFFERED

– receiving, registering and forwarding cases of human trafficking and exploitation to law enforcement partners;

– information on human trafficking, including risks, safety measures and prevention resources, meetings and engagements with NGOs and government partners;

– legal advice and assistance in cases of suspected exploitation, representation in court;

– safe transport and accommodation in Bucharest, Cluj, Oradea, Suceava and Galati;

– material and financial assistance;

– counseling and social assistance;

– psychological assistance and psychotherapy;

– facilitating access to medical assistance through the Regina Maria medical program in Bucharest;

– educational/vocational/professional assistance (including professional qualification courses);

– facilitating access to integration services, including employment services, immigration status, medical services;

– repatriation support.

STILL

CONTACT

  • Headquarters: Romania | Italy
  • Phone: +40 752 249 803
  • Email: romania@inca.it

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

INCA Romania Association is a non-profit association. Among the areas of activity are assistance in the field of social security, information and protection of the social and labor rights of Romanian citizens working in Italy and those who intend to go to work in Italy, in order to prevent labor exploitation, but also supporting those who have returned to their country of origin, after a period of work in Italy, in order to obtain social security rights.

OBJECTIVES

The Association aims to facilitate the obtaining of social security rights, to contribute to the prevention of labour exploitation and to increase collaboration in the field of social protection between Romania and Italy.

SERVICES OFFERED

Romanian citizens who have worked or want to work in Italy and Italian citizens in our country can receive information, assistance and advice regarding social and labor rights in Italy through the INCA Romania Association, social and professional assistance being free of charge.

SERVICES FOR UKRAINIANS/REFUGEES

  • counselling, assistance, advice, referral for Ukrainian women working as carers in Italy and who are thinking of moving to Romania because their relatives/grandchildren are in Romania;
  • informing them about the legislation, procedures and services offered in Romania;
  • free social and professional services for Romanian citizens in Italy.
Justice and Care - Romania

– established in 2021 –

CONTACT

  • Headquarters: Bucharest
  • Email: office@justiceandcare.org
  • Program: Monday– Friday: 09.00 – 17.00

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Justice & Care Romania Foundation is to bring together specialists from all fields to work together to prevent human trafficking, protect and assist victims, help uncover and dismantle organized crime networks, and trigger systemic change in the field.

OBJECTIVES

The Justice & Care Foundation aims to protect and promote the rights of victims of human trafficking and to support them after the period of trafficking through our Victim Navigator Project in which we assist survivors of human trafficking to access the necessary services for reintegration. Justice & Care interacts, supports and connects victims, authorities and NGOs to increase proactive and reactive results and developments against trafficking in human beings.

SERVICES OFFERED

We work with police, law enforcement agencies, and civil society stakeholders to rescue, protect, and assist victims of human trafficking, track and dismantle criminal networks, secure communities at risk from traffickers, and initiate systemic change.

Through our Victim Navigator Program, we:

  • we manage a set of victims’ cases related to police efforts in the UK and Romania;
  • we support police investigations and operations to secure successful convictions of human traffickers and increase the identification and rescue of trafficking victims;
  • provide strategic advice on victim engagement;
  • we assist victims in navigating the services, benefits and advice they need from local or national providers;
  • we interact, collaborate and support law enforcement, NGOs and other independent agencies to increase proactive and reactive results against trafficking in human beings and developments in the field;
  • We build collaborative relationships with other relevant actors.

The Victim Navigator directly provides or facilitates access to:

  1. repatriation support;
  2. social assistance services;
  3. emergency residential assistance;
  4. facilitating access to medical services;
  5. psychological counseling and psychotherapy;
  6. material assistance (food, clothing, hygiene products);
  7. legal assistance in civil or criminal cases;
  8. educational counseling;
  9. professional reintegration counseling/facilitating the relationship with the employer/access to professional training courses.

Justice & Care also provides support for:

  • voluntary repatriation;
  • risk assessment and application of measures to reduce and/or eliminate them;
  • obtaining identity documents;
  • different procedures in relation to local administration and institutions;
  • supports victims during their participation in the criminal trial phases, from prosecution, trial to execution;
  • supports victims in obtaining the compensation and financial compensation to which they are entitled.
Open Door Foundation

– established in 2002 –

Statutory Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

The Open Door Foundation provides assistance in the reintegration of survivors of human trafficking. Over 85% of the people assisted by the Foundation over time are reintegrated into communities, having social and financial independence, as well as emotional stability. At the same time, the foundation’s legal team has achieved successes in court in all cases of human trafficking in which it has represented victims, obtaining in some situations maximum sentences for our country.

OBJECTIVES

  • Implementation and development of an integrative system of protected assistance and services offered to victims of human trafficking;
  • Promotion of human rights;
  • Facilitating access to specific social reintegration services, offered by various NGOs or other state institutions;
  • Facilitating access to the educational and vocational training system;
  • Informing and educating the assisted persons in all aspects of health and medical problems;
  • Support and assistance to the assisted persons towards the acquisition of full autonomy and reintegration into society.

SERVICES OFFERED

  • Residential assistance in shelter for a period of 18 months (with the possibility of extending or reducing it, depending on each case);
  • Material support;
  • Psychological, emotional and spiritual counseling and psychotherapy;
  • Assisting the victim for medical consultations and emergency medical situations;
  • Legal assistance – coordination of victims of criminal proceedings, including obtaining financial compensation;
  • Professional qualification courses;
  • Family counseling;
  • Developing the management of the house and activities of daily life;
  • Assisting the victim outside of residential hours, within their family;
  • Monitoring and supporting post-programme survivors between 1 and 3 years.

*All mentioned services are also offered to victims who do not want or need to be in a residential program.

Beneficiaries: children, women and men – victims of human trafficking, sexually exploited, through labor, begging and committing crimes.

Safe Pol

– established in 2021 –

Associate Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

  • Headquarters: Bucharest
  • Tel.: +40723153571
  • Email: safepol22@gmail.com
  • Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 17.00 – 20.00

DESCRIPTION

The Safe Pol Association is founded by 10 police officers from the General Police Directorate of the Municipality of Bucharest in 2021 with the mission of developing the practical professional education of the associates (active or reserve police officers already) and creating a bridge between active and reserve police officers, at this moment there are over 60 police officers, some of them are already at other territorial structures in Romania (Buzău, Dâmbovița, Teleorman).

OBJECTIVES

The mission of the Association is to protect the physical and mental health of the associates by jointly practicing the various passions or extra-professional activities in which the associates are involved, as well as in the development of their legal education, by promoting the values and principles of good practice at international, regional or national level, as well as by creating a bridge of communication between the generations of former police officers and the current generations of police officers.

The main activity in relation to trafficking in human beings is the mission we have undertaken: No victim of trafficking in human beings should be treated as an offender or criminal, every person who practices prostitution should be treated as a presumed victim of trafficking in human beings until it is clarified whether he or she is practicing prostitution voluntarily or is identified as a victim of trafficking in human beings.

SERVICES OFFERED

  • Police training program, Identification and referral of victims of human trafficking. A perspective centered on understanding trauma , through which we permanently train police officers, especially in Bucharest, but also at national level;
  • safe accompaniment and transport for legal proceedings.

Brasov

Micu Bogdan Foundation

– established in 2014 –

Statutory Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

  • Headquarters: Brașov, Covasna, Sibiu
  • Tel.: +40 368 402 012
  • Email: office@fundatiamicu.org

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

The activity of the Micu Foundation began in 2014, at the initiative of a group of volunteers who fight against human trafficking in Romania. Founder Micu Bogdan, an international renewable energy entrepreneur, has put in a lot of energy and funded the establishment of local support teams and shelters for victims of human trafficking.

OBJECTIVES

The Micu Foundation works for the reintegration of victims of human trafficking into society. The aim is to improve the quality of life of victims and provide a full range of social assistance services. The foundation’s programs and projects consist of organizing and promoting awareness and prevention actions through educational activities carried out in schools and institutions, as well as training sessions for various relevant actors, police officers, social workers.

SERVICES OFFERED

  • emergency accommodation;
  • material support;
  • Medical care
  • social assistance;
  • psychological counseling;
  • legal support;
  • educational/vocational/professional counseling;
  • qualification or professional retraining courses;
  • socio-professional integration mediation;
  • repatriation support;
  • awareness and prevention;
  • cooperation with (inter)national authorities and organisations;
  • training sessions;
  • monitoring and advocacy.

Cluj

Center for the Study of Democracy

Associate Member of the ProTECT Federation

The Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) is a think-tank established in 2006 within the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, “Babeș-Bolyai” University of Cluj, within which it operates as an accredited research center. CSD has developed, over time, research projects and analyses mainly from a comparative perspective, with an important applied component, on topics such as: democratization, migration, ethnicity, civic education, human rights, institutional design or electoral behavior. The Center collaborates with governmental and non-governmental institutions as a resource for research, monitoring and evaluation of public policy initiatives.

Iasi

Social Alternatives Association

– established in 1997 –

Associate Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

  • Headquarters: Nicolina Road no. 24, Bl. 949, Iași, postal code 700733
  • Tel: +40 332 407 178 | Fax: +40 332 407 179
  • Email: office@alternativesociale.ro
  • Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 08.30 – 16.00

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

The Social Alternative Association is a non-governmental organization founded in 1997 whose mission is to defend and promote human rights through prevention, assistance, training, research and advocacy activities. In over 20 years of activity, the organization has assisted over 38 thousand beneficiaries, created over 45 specialized publications and trained over 6000 specialists in over 100 successfully implemented projects in the field of protection and promotion of children’s rights, reform of the Romanian justice system, prevention and combating of the negative effects of migration (protection of victims of human trafficking, children at risk of labour exploitation, children left alone at home as a result of their parents leaving to work abroad, children and families returning to the country after a failed migration experience, third-country nationals), education and social economy.

OBJECTIVES

  • Promotion and defence of human rights;
  • Monitoring the application and observance of human rights in Romania according to national and international legislation in the field;
  • Assistance to people in difficulty;
  • Optimizing the professional skills of specialists with responsibilities in the promotion and defense of human rights;
  • Community development, information and community involvement in the activities carried out by the association;
  • Research of psychosocial phenomena;
  • Legislative analysis in the field of promotion and defense of human rights and proposals for laws in order to streamline the legislative activity;
  • Research, lobbying and advocacy activities in the field of human rights;
  • Providing consultancy for public and private institutions;
  • Training, education, sensitization, influencing public opinion in relation to the defense and promotion of human rights;
  • Promotion of the professional status of psychologist and social worker;
  • Carrying out adult vocational training activities.

CAPACITY

The capacity is conditional on existing funding. Alternative Sociale has licensed a service for children and parents separated or at risk of separation, with a capacity of 30 beneficiaries/month.

SERVICES OFFERED

The Alternative Sociale Association offers psychosocial services dedicated to children separated or at risk of separation from one or both parents (as a result of migration for work, divorce, parental incarceration, refugee children, etc.)
The services offered are subject to the financing accessed and include:
– information and counseling for accessing rights (social assistance services and benefits, medical, educational services, etc.);

– psycho-social services;
– vocational counseling;
– educational and recreational activities (including before/after school);

– developing independent living skills;
– mediation of the relationship with other institutions;
– material support.

Alternative Sociale has expertise in conducting studies and research, developing proposals for lege ferenda, developing working methodologies, guides and other publications for specialists, training, awareness and prevention campaigns, civic awareness activities, for the development of critical thinking and media literacy for students.

Restart Plus

– established in 2021 –

Associate Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

RESTART PLUS Association is a non-governmental organization active in the social field since 2021, based in Iasi.

In order to achieve the purpose for which it was founded, the association will pursue the fulfillment of certain objectives, such as:

  • Identification of victims of human trafficking, prostitution and pimping;
  • Initiation and implementation of programs to prevent this phenomenon (schools, high schools, disadvantaged environments);
  • Carrying out information and awareness campaigns for the population regarding this scourge;
  • Promotion activities on law enforcement, initiation of draft laws aimed at defending the rights of victims of prostitution and pimping;
  • Organising national and regional meetings, members’ meetings, conferences, seminars, congresses, debates, local or regional, on combating and preventing the exploitation of persons;
  • Reintegration into society of women victims of prostitution and pimping by establishing partnerships with legal entities willing to provide help;
  • Material and moral support for the victims of this scourge;
  • Cooperation with state institutions for the identification of victims;
  • Charitable actions and fundraising through various social activities;
  • Psychological and vocational counseling services;
  • Establishing partnerships with doctors;
  • Cooperation with other associations with similar purposes;
  • Developing and implementing measures and activities to prevent and combat the phenomenon of exploitation (of any nature) of persons;
  • Developing and implementing measures and actions to protect and help victims;
  • Developing and implementing measures to ensure medical, psychological, legal and material assistance;
  • Developing and implementing measures for social reintegration consisting of activities to support victims’ development, education, training and integration into the labour market;
  • Establishing partnerships with county employment agencies, social assistance and child protection directorates, school inspectorates, social assistance services, embassies for identifying and helping victims;
  • Initiation of social programs of respect for human rights, defense of morality and public order, individual freedom;
  • Identification and surveillance of persons with high potential to be trafficked/exploited;
  • Developing and supporting, at the level of educational institutions, educational programs aimed at preventing the exploitation of persons (social, sexual, behavioral education);
  • Developing and financing programs to create real opportunities for overcoming crisis situations that generate/favor the appearance of victims;
  • Support and monitoring programs for victims reintegrated into society.

SERVICES OFFERED

The services provided may consist of:

  1. Social assistance: information, social counseling, procurement of documents/identity documents, social mediation, obtaining rights and facilities, family/caregiver assistance, etc.
  2. Healthcare: facilitating access to investigations, medical services and treatments, specialist consultations, medical equipment, etc.
  3. Psychological assistance: assessment and psychodiagnosis, personal development, psychological counseling, therapy, psychological support for carrying out various reintegration procedures, couple or family therapy, etc.
  4. Educational assistance: school integration/reintegration, tutoring/mentoring, informal education (budget management, conflict management, etc.), accompaniment, purchase of educational materials, supplies for direct beneficiaries or dependents.
  5. Legal assistance: legal advice, legal assistance, representation in court (both related to the trafficking situation and complementary aspects related to family, divorce, housing), etc., various evaluations requested by the monitoring and investigation bodies or by the court, such as psychological evaluations, psychosocial report, etc.
  6. Independent living assistance/vocational/professional assistance: occupational therapy, facilitating access to vocational training courses, apprenticeship programs, skills development programs, professional reintegration, purchase of materials and equipment necessary to carry out an income-generating activity, establishment of income-generating activities (PFA, II, SRL) etc.

     

  7. Group Activities or Support Groups

The assistance provided within the Social Service is mainly addressed to the victim of trafficking in human beings – the direct beneficiary. However, depending on the assessment carried out and the intervention plan agreed, the assistance may target dependent persons in the family (minor children of the victim or adult children with disabilities), the life partner (for example, if the partner is the only one who can currently work – vocational assistance focuses on him or her in the short term, in order to support the family) or parents/adult siblings in the case of minor victims.

The assistance involves:

– activities in which the beneficiary actively participates or which he/she carries out alone or with minimal accompaniment/support;

– activities carried out for the beneficiary;

– activities carried out on behalf of the beneficiary.

As a working method, the case management method (evaluation and intervention method) is used with the following stages:

– assessment of the situation;

– planning the intervention;

– implementation of the intervention plan or provision of services;

– periodic monitoring and evaluation of the progress made in the implementation of the intervention plan;

– final evaluation;

– post-intervention monitoring;

– reopening the case (if the situation requires it);

– closure and archiving of the case.

AVAILABLE SPECIALISTS: psychologists, lawyers, lawyers, facilitators as well as other external collaborators such as doctors, lawyers, various specialists depending on the needs of the supported person.

Maramureș

ASSOC Association

– established in 1995 –

Statutory Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

Headquarters: 3 Lascăr Pană Street, Baia Mare, 430204.

Tel.: +40 262 222 226

Email: assoc@assoc.ro

Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 08.00 – 17.00

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

ASSOC Association is a non-governmental organization established in 1995, which operates in the field of social services, developing activities that support vulnerable groups (people with disabilities, the elderly, migrants, young people leaving the child protection system, survivors of human trafficking, as well as other disadvantaged groups that require integration and support).

OBJECTIVES

  • promoting social assistance in order to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged groups;
  • supporting people with disabilities, the elderly, migrants, young people leaving the child protection system, as well as other disadvantaged groups in need of integration and support;
  • the organization of a viable social services structure, which would meet the categories in a state of social exclusion;
  • promoting public participation in social policy decision-making;
  • promoting the attitude of respect towards nature and the environment.

ACTIVITIES

The association carries out humanitarian and charitable activities, as well as social economy activities aimed at helping people from vulnerable groups to integrate into the labor market. It also organizes formal and non-formal courses, including professional qualification in various trades.

SERVICES OFFERED

The organization has over 10 licensed social services, including: the Day Center for Adults with Disabilities, the Social Canteen, the “Pinochio” Care and Assistance Center and the Home Care Service for the Elderly.

The organization also focuses on encouraging social innovations and the social economy. A successful example is Restaurant Social & Catering ASSOC, founded 10 years ago for the integration of people with disabilities into the workplace and which is now among the main catering service providers in Maramureș.

Social Services focuses on:

  • Ensuring a viable social service structure that meets the needs of all categories in a state of social exclusion;
  • Ensuring the quality of the services offered;
  • Establishing an efficient system of self-assessment of the degree of satisfaction of the beneficiaries, but also of the capacities of adequate response of the staff to the requests of the beneficiaries;
  • Inclusion in the working principles of the association of the four important elements for the evaluation of social services: related quality standards, cost, efficiency and performance standards;
  • Promoter of contracting social services;
  • Involvement in the promotion and formation of social policies.

SERVICES OFFERED TO VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

  • Material support;
  • Guidance to provide medical assistance;
  • Social Assistance;
  • Psychological, legal, educational, vocational, professional counseling;
  • Professional training courses;
  • Support during criminal proceedings;
  • Support for finding a job.

SERVICES FOR UKRAINIANS/REFUGEES

Maramureș for Ukraine – integration and support of Ukrainian refugees (children and adults) from the Maramureș region (Baia Mare and Sighetu Marmației areas) through the involvement of specialists who offer social, employment/occupational, psychological services and primary medical assistance in the Activity Centers in Baia Mare and Sighetu Marmației, but also telephone support through the UMAS Call Center, operated by Ukrainian speakers.

Socio-professional integration of refugees from Ukraine, by providing social assistance, information and entrepreneurial and employment counseling services, access to vocational training and skills development courses, as well as facilitating their access to the labor market through mediation services.

During the last two years, from the moment of the outbreak of the war in Ukraine until the end of last year, ASSOC has provided material, social and psychological support to refugees from Ukraine.

The activities were carried out in partnership with foreign funders, including UNICEF, Care France, Norway Grants, but also local, Maramureș County Council, Satu Mare County Council, Baia Mare City Hall, Satu Mare City Hall. An example was Light Blue Dot, through which ASSOC managed four Light Blue Dot centers, on the territory of two counties: Maramureș County (Baia Mare and Sighetu Marmației) and Satu Mare County (Satu Mare and Negrești Oaș). Within these centers, the beneficiaries (Ukrainians and Romanians who are part of vulnerable groups) had access to mediation services in order to access medical services, social services, counseling, as well as afterschool, educational and recreational activities for both children and their mothers. Support was also provided to prevent abuses against foreign citizens, including so that they are not victims of human trafficking, information being available on the website www.stoptrafic.ro

Suceava

Bucovina Institute

Statutory Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

  • Headquarters: Mun. Suceava. Str. Zamca nr 17A, Suceava county, postal code 720214
  • Contact person: Cristina Voinea, social worker (Tel: 0770 367 654) |
  • Phone: +40 230 524 128
  • Email: info@bucovinainstitute.org | suport.ua@bucovinainstitute.org
  • Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 09.00 – 17.00

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

Our mission is to support the sustainable development of communities in Romania, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, by concluding partnerships for learning, organizing and conducting professional training programs and promoting continuing education.

OBJECTIVES

  • Creating programmes to facilitate intercultural learning, cross-border cooperation and the exchange of experience in the field of the social economy and employment of vulnerable people in the labour market.
  • Supporting young people and adults in rural areas, migrants, minorities and people with disabilities, in order to ensure access to all forms of learning and to the labour market.
  • Promoting regional and community development by conducting qualification, retraining, upskilling, specialization, apprenticeship courses and the establishment of skills assessment and certification programs, with access for all social categories.
  • Organizing volunteering activities to develop work skills and thematic trainings to prevent human trafficking, bullying and segregation of children with disabilities and Roma ethnicity in schools.
  • Provision of accredited social support services for the social inclusion of people at risk of poverty.

SERVICES OFFERED

  • Training courses;
  • ANOFM accredited employment services:
  • Mediation services on the internal labor market (accreditation certificate SV36-00062/03.04.2020);
  • Information and professional counseling services (accreditation certificate SV36_00061/03.04.2020);
  • Consultancy for the establishment and development of non-governmental organizations;
  • Administration of grants for start-ups in social economy;
  • Consulting in organizational management and project management;
  • Counseling and mediation on the labor market for people with disabilities;
  • Center for Social Inclusion (community assistance services);
  • “Together Club” Day Center (information and occupational therapy services within the center).

SERVICES OFFERED TO VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING:

  • legal and psychological counseling;
  • independent living assistance/vocational/professional assistance;
  • community support services;
  • training courses;
  • mediation on the internal labour market.

CAPACITY

Center capacity: 30 beneficiaries/day

Specialized staff: 1 social worker, 1 professional counselor, 2 Ukrainian/Romanian translators, 5 volunteers.

Offer of organization and provision of courses:

– Training of trainers – specialization courses with ANC certification;

– Trade worker – qualification course with ANC certification;

– Waiter – qualification course with ANC certification;

– Cook’s assistant – qualification course with ANC certification;

– Chambermaid – qualification course with ANC certification;

– Computer skills – initiation courses with ANC certification;

– Entrepreneurial skills – specialization course with ANC certification;

– Community Champion – courses accredited by the Ministry of Education and carried out in partnership with the “George Tofan” Teaching Staff House Suceava

– Non-formal training courses for anti-bullying, anti-trafficking and segregation prevention activities in schools

– Volunteering internships.

Timiș

“Young Generation” Association

– established in 2001 –

Associate Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

The “Young Generation (Unga-Liv)” Association – GTR, has been active, since 2001, in the field of assistance and protection of victims of human trafficking, but also in the prevention of human trafficking. The direct assistance services provided by the GTR association are adapted to the needs of the victims and have as their ultimate goal their reintegration into society. GTR holds a license in offering community assistance services for children and families in difficulty.

OBJECTIVES

The association advocates for a better and safer future.

CAPACITY

10 seats.

SERVICES OFFERED

Within the Young Generation Romania association, the assistance services that victims of human trafficking can benefit from are:

  • psychological counseling and emotional support;
  • general and specialized medical assistance;
  • legal advice;
  • counseling and social information;
  • educational re/integration (covering tuition costs);
  • vocational counseling and career guidance;
  • socialization and cultural activities;
  • family and community reintegration;
  • temporary emergency accommodation and material support;
  • initial case assessment;
  • preparation of documentation and intervention plan;
  • assessment of the risk of re-trafficking;
  • obtaining temporary documents or identity documents;
  • mediation and family reintegration;
  • creating community support/support networks;
  • mediation of the relationship with the authorities, with the family, with other social assistance services;
  • obtaining rights and facilities, direct steps on behalf of the beneficiary to various institutions to solve situations;
  • primary counseling;
  • Information;
  • support during legal proceedings;
  • repatriation support;
  • post-intervention monitoring;
  • summer camps.

Detailed Services:

  • Psychological assistance – from the moment the victim is admitted to the GTR, the association provides the victims with a psychologist to carry out a first psychosocial assessment of the victim. Depending on the severity of the victim’s difficulties and the nature of his problems, the steps to be followed are established:
    • establishing the therapeutic relationship;
    • obtaining patient data;
    • forming a general framework of the problem;
    • establishing a preliminary hierarchy of issues to be explored.
  • In the final stage, the psychologist will describe and interpret the results obtained, will correlate them with the purpose and objectives of the evaluation, transposing them into the final document – the psychological report. Also, during the counseling procedure, the psychologist prepares interim evaluation reports.
  • Educational re/integration – the educational preparation is done after an assessment of the beneficiary’s school situation and, of course, taking into account the beneficiary’s desire to continue the school he interrupted due to the traffic situation or to enroll in school because until that moment the beneficiary has not attended school at all for various reasons not related to the beneficiary.

The decision to enroll or re-enroll in the school belongs to the beneficiary and/or his/her legal representative (if it is a minor) after discussions and analysis with the members of the multidisciplinary team. The GTR Association has partnerships with schools in Timiș County through the Timiș County School Inspectorate, and the enrollment of beneficiaries in school is done with respect for their confidentiality in order to avoid any discrimination, stigmatization or emotional abuse from colleagues or other children. Thus, the GTR association covers the costs related to attending school.

  • Vocational counselling and career guidance – in terms of professional qualification courses and vocational guidance, this is a crucial stage in the beneficiary’s personal development process. The multidisciplinary team provides the necessary support to the beneficiary in order to orient himself and choose an appropriate professional course/training, which will help him build a professional future and, of course, become autonomous.
  • Food and accommodation – the GTR association provides food and accommodation for the victims of modern slavery by concluding a social services contract between the organization and the beneficiary. This contract provides for the assistance services provided to the beneficiaries upon entering the assistance of the association, and subsequently an addendum may be drawn up for the introduction of new services or for the modification of some of the existing ones.
  • Material support – the GTR association offers material support to the beneficiaries, such as: clothes, shoes and money for the purchase of indispensable and immediate things, where appropriate.
  • Summer camps – The Young Generation Romania Association organizes summer camps for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, at risk of social exclusion.

SERVICES Provided within the SSI (International Social Service)

As part of the SSI, Young Generation offers services for unaccompanied minors, family reunification, root tracing for adopted persons from Romania, development of micro-projects to support the voluntary repatriation of Romanian citizens in difficulty abroad.

LOGS

– established in 2019 –

Statutory Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

  • Headquarters: Timișoara, str. Tebea nr. 12
  • Tel.: +40 783 001 667
  • Email: contact@grupullogs.ro
  • Program: Monday– Friday: 09.00 – 17.00

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

The LOGS Association – Group of Social Initiatives is a grassroots organization established in the western part of Romania, which promotes the integration of vulnerable groups of migrants, fights against human trafficking and uses education as a means of overcoming social vulnerabilities. The members of the organization are social professionals, trainers and refugees and migrants settled in Romania.

The LOGS Social Initiatives Group was established in 2019, after years of voluntary actions by the founding members who come from Timiș and Arad counties. The group’s initiatives are closely linked to the expertise of the members, namely: social and psychological counseling, migration, education and training, prevention of human trafficking and social graphics.

The mission of the LOGS Association – Group of Social Initiatives is to actively participate in the development of urban and rural communities in Romania in order to support the identification, response and overcoming the specific needs of refugees and migrants, with the help of the involvement of the local community and volunteers through the organization of social, intercultural and educational projects.

Since 2019 we have assisted more than 15,000 refugees and asylum seekers with emergency packages (food, medicine and clothing), counselling and integration services.

OBJECTIVES

A society in which refugees and migrants are welcomed and helped to integrate into an inclusive local community, attentive to their needs and open to new cultures. We want an open and welcoming local community for refugees, so that they can start a new life in the middle of the Timisoara community.

SERVICES OFFERED

  • preventing trafficking in human beings through awareness campaigns and information sessions with different vulnerable groups;
  • facilitating access to housing/improving housing conditions;
  • Material and financial support
  • Counseling and social assistance
  • Medical care
  • Psychological assistance and psychotherapy
  • legal advice;
  • Educational support
  • independent living assistance/vocational/professional assistance;
  • Transit assistance
  • Group activities or support groups
  • Support for repatriation

ONGOING PROJECTS

  • Early Response for Ukrainian Refugees in Romania, funded by SOLIDAR Suisse together with AWO and Swiss Solidarity;
  • EIP – Educate, Empower, Prevent;
  • LOGS House (as of 2021);
  • Four seasons of resistance (starting in 2023);
  • Giarmata on the move;
  • EHART – Emergency Humanitarian Assistance for Refugees in Timisoara, funded by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest (March 2023 – April 2024).
Missio Link International Foundation

– established in 2001 –

Associate Member of the ProTECT Federation

CONTACT

  • Headquarters: Timișoara 300151, 22 Ion Barac Street.
  • Tel.: +40 256 218 875
  • Email: office@mli.ro

SOCIAL MEDIA

DESCRIPTION

The Missio Link International Foundation has been fighting child abuse and human trafficking since 2001. Through two licensed residential centers, it provides protection and assistance to minor victims and runs programs for their social inclusion, but also for the prevention of child exploitation and human trafficking in high-risk communities.

In the 20 years, over 149 underage girls victims of abuse and human trafficking have been rescued and assisted by becoming independent. The two residential centers provide protection and assistance to a maximum of 24 underage girls/series. Annually, the foundation assists an average of 500 school and preschool children at high risk of exploitation and trafficking.

SERVICES OFFERED

Services for people at risk (SPeR)

Deborah House

Deborah House consists of two multifunctional residential care homes, each equipped with a couple trained and equipped to function as parents within the home, for up to 12 girls in need of shelter. Offers:

  • safe recovery in a Christian family environment;
  • post-traumatic counseling and psychotherapy;
  • access to vocational education and training;
  • basic and specialized medical care;
  • legal assistance;
  • continuous family counseling, in case of reintegration into the family of origin;
  • participation in the “social entrepreneurship” effort (development of orchards, greenhouse, small farm animals) for economic support and educational/therapeutic benefits.

Aspirations Program

When every girl turns 18, she becomes eligible to switch to the Aspirations Program. Aspirations is a program for Young Women at Risk, which aims to meet the needs of young women who „exit the social protection system” in Romania and are at risk of social and professional discrimination as they transition to becoming fully independent adults. The Aspirations program provides ongoing psychological and family counseling, helps young women develop social skills, provides training in personal finance and household budget management, and even provides financial assistance. The program also includes job application assistance and interview skills, as well as additional job search assistance. University scholarships are made available to those who demonstrate a desire to work and succeed academically.

The goal of each participant in the Aspirations Program is to become a well-adapted, independent and self-sustaining adult, fully integrated into the Romanian society.

Go to School Program

Through the Go to School program, we strive to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, school dropout, and child exploitation in the Recaș area, near Timisoara. In addition to educational activities, we provide basic food, school supplies and hygiene products for more than 250 children and their families.

Harmony Program

Armonia – MLI was invited to offer a moral/religious educational program in an attempt to create an alternative route for these young criminals incarcerated in the largest juvenile prison in Romania. From the beginning, the program has had a positive impact in reducing the recidivism rate and has earned the appreciation of Center officials for its effectiveness.

SERVICES OFFERED TO VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

  • Residential assistance;
  • Counseling and social assistance;
  • Healthcare;
  • Psychological assistance and psychotherapy;
  • Educational counseling;
  • Legal advice;
  • Representation in court;
  • Independent living assistance/vocational/professional assistance;
  • Material and financial assistance;
  • Participation in the “social enterprise” effort (development of orchards, greenhouses, small farm animals) for economic support and educational/therapeutic benefits;
  • Mediation for socio-professional integration.

Areas of action

Prevention

We stop the phenomenon before it happens. Programs tested and informed by survivors’ experiences, which are based on concrete evidence, good practices, data and statistics.

Empowerment

We develop training and capacity building programs for those involved in the field. Combating the culture of impunity, preventing re-victimization and measures to disrupt the profitability of traffickers.

Aid

We protect victims and survivors through improved identification, personalized and quality support, and specialized programs for children informed of the impact of trauma.

Advocacy

We create a legislative framework that ensures the protection of victims, the punishment of traffickers, the deterrence of clients and the harmonization of policies and procedures in the field.

PROTECT SUPPORT SERVICES

Non-governmental organizations members of the ProTECT Platform
providing assistance services to victims of trafficking in human beings

United Against Human Trafficking

people informed

victims supported

specialists trained

ProTECT Fundamentals:

Member organisations individually set different priorities for their work, but we have agreed on the following fundamental principles:

The principle of eliminating structural causes – eradicating slavery and human trafficking by suppressing the underlying causes, namely poverty, exploitation and all the inequalities that fuel them.

The principle of law enforcement and enforcement – upholding and strengthening the rule of law through comprehensive reforms, rigorous law enforcement, and proactive prevention.

The principle of punishing perpetrators – holding accountable all persons who are guilty of crimes against the person, such as slavery, human trafficking, etc., according to international standards, ensuring a fair criminal trial.

The principle of victim protection – ensuring the full protection of victims, excluding any form of criminalization, sanctioning, guilt or forced repatriation, regardless of their legal status.

The principle of encouraging and supporting survivors – guaranteeing survivors’ unhindered access to essential resources for self-sufficiency, including social protection, effective and qualified legal assistance, education, employment opportunities and specialised psychotherapeutic support for trauma.

Principle of ensuring equality of services – prioritising the provision of services according to the real needs of victims, without discrimination related to the form or place of exploitation, always ensuring equal treatment for all victims.

The principle of imposing corporate responsibility – obliging commercial entities to take all necessary steps to eliminate exploitation of any kind from their activity, offering effective remedial measures, not just reorientation.

The principle of guaranteeing sustainable freedom – the implementation of integrated and holistic programs, aimed at strengthening the autonomy of survivors and allowing them to build a sustainable life, free from any form of exploitation.

The principle of amplifying survivors “voices – promoting truth and dignity, countering disinformation, and ensuring the priority of survivors” narratives in public discourse and decision-making processes.

Principle of non-discrimination – ensuring non-prejudice-free services for all victims, survivors and vulnerable people, in line with the principles of non-discrimination and equal treatment.

The principle of protection against re-victimization – protecting and supporting victims of trafficking in human beings through measures that prevent re-traumatization, stigmatization or exposure to new forms of exploitation, ensuring their access to justice, recovery and social reintegration in safe and dignified conditions.