Republic of Moldova

Republic of Moldova will benefit from a new project worth USD 3. 45 million

Chisinau, 6 November 2008 – The United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the International Organization for Migration and OSCE Mission to Moldova launched the project „Protection and Empowerment of Victims of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence in Moldova”.
 
The project’s goal is to provide protection and assistance to victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, to improve their access to basic services (medical, psychological, social, legal, and employment), to strengthen the capacity of Government institutions and civil society to provide quality identification, protection, and assistance services to victims of human trafficking and domestic violence on a sustainable basis.

“Both domestic violence and human trafficking represent a fundamental violation of human rights and a serious threat to human security, but they reach extreme proportions in Moldova. Each year, thousands of Moldovan women and children are being trafficked or suffer humiliation and violence in the family which is unacceptable”, said Kaarina Immonen, UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Moldova, at the launch of the project.

The project “Protection and Empowerment of Victims of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence in Moldova” approaches the issues from two perspectives: increasing protection of victims through a strengthened protection system and empowering communities, individuals, national authorities and the media to be better able to involve in prevention activities.

“I hope that this project will contribute significantly to finding the solutions to the existing problems and at-risk persons, including those exposed to human trafficking and domestic violence by increased equitable and guaranteed access to services provided by the state as well as empowered communities and civil society organizations”, highlighted Gosuke Horiguchi, Secretary II of the Japanese Embassy in Kiev.

“Cooperation among different organizations and among people is crucial to addressing both violence in families and communities, and trafficking in human beings. This project will increase cooperation at the local and national level to make Moldova a safer, stronger country for all her citizens", stated Judith Hale, Senior Anti-Trafficking and Gender Advisor of the OSCE Mission to Moldova.

The project, with a total budget of USD 3.45 million, is funded by the Government of Japan through the United Nations Human Security Trust Fund and it will be implemented during the next three years by UNDP Moldova, UNFPA, IOM Mission and OSCE Mission to Moldova, in partnership with national partners from the Ministry of Social Protection of Family and Child and the Ministry of Local Public Administration.

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For additional information please contact: Aliona Niculita, Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP, tel. 269 120, e-mail: aliona.niculita@undp.org

Supporting Documents:

• ABOUT THE PROJECT:“Protection and Empowerment of Victims of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence in Moldova” (ENG) (ROM)
• Embassy of Japan. Press Release: The Ceremony of launching of the Project “Protection and Empowerment of Victims of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence in Moldova” (ENG) (ROM)