The Republic of Moldova in time adopted a series of laws so that the national legal framework contains all the measures stipulated in a series of international acts designed to protect the private life of the victims of human trafficking. Despite this and the training of specialists in the field, there are cases when justice, instead of protecting, continues to cause victims, consider representatives of the International Center for Protection and Promotion of Women’s Rights “La Strada”. In a news conference at IPN, there were presented two cases of trafficking in children where the judges had an incorrect attitude in terms of legal procedures and showed indifference to the supreme interest of the child, violating children’s rights.
“La Strada” head Ana Revenco said that during the 15 years of the ratification by Moldova of the Protocol on the prevention, repression and punishment of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, there were written a number of laws that were applauded by the international community. The international monitoring mechanisms noted that corruption in the judicial system prevents the trying of traffickers and negatively affects the results of doing justice. “Then we ask ourselves how these applauded and good laws help the victims of human trafficking? What is the use of the training of judges if justice continues to cause victims? How friendly this justice is to the child?” she asked.
Ana Revenco stated that new practices in the area of human trafficking were implemented in the period. In the case of rehabilitation programs intended for children victims of abuse, long-term services, psychological counseling and costly medical treatment are needed, while for the implementation of the international conventions and treaties, additional resources are not needed. The judges must only be sensible and treat these cases not as statistics, but bear in mind that they affect human lives.
“La Strada” lawyer Natalia Bayram said that two cases of trafficking in children examined by a Chisinau court are an additional proof of the injustice to children victims of human trafficking. In one case, the judges rejected the application of the 16-year-old victim to be questioned in the absence of the offenders. “It is an absolutely clear and apparently reasonable request, but the judges described it as unfounded and rejected it,” she stated.
The Center’s representatives said the victim didn’t benefit from counseling to overcome the tragic experience. The state institutions explained that the lack of social assistance and rehabilitation services is due to the lack of money. According to the experts of “La Strada”, child-friendly justice does not imply financial resources. It requires only sensitive attitude on the part of justice, while the role of friendly justice is to contribute to the balanced psycho-emotional state of the victim.
