One third of the cases of trafficking in human beings are classified as less serious crimes and the culprits get milder punishments. This discourages the victims and encourages the traffickers. Such a conclusion was reached by penal law experts who made the first analytical study concerning the investigation and trying of human trafficking cases, IPN reports.

In a meeting of the Investigative Journalists Club, International Organization for Migration expert Andrei Lutenco said the study centered on the complex analysis of 380 criminal cases that were judged in 2006-2010. The study revealed that very often the criminal cases started over trafficking in persons were reclassified as acts of procuring, forced labor or organization of begging. As a result, the offenders were able to avoid imprisonment and paid only a fine.

“Moldova remains the country of origin of victims of trafficking in persons. The prosecutors not always insist on charging the offenders and this leads to the discouragement of victims, who are not sufficiently protected. Only an insignificant number of victims benefited from legal assistance during the trial and very few victims were paid damages,” said the expert.

Andrei Lutenco specified that the compensations paid during four years totaled 11,000 lei in the case of trafficked adults and 45,000 lei in the case of trafficked children.

The study was carried out within the project “Prevention of corruption and impunity in the fight against trafficking in persons by empowering the media and strengthening cooperation between civil society and the law enforcement bodies 2010-2013” that is implemented by the International Organization for Migration and financed by the U.S. Department of State.