BELGIAN EXPERIENCE: ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

OVERVIEW• HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• LEGAL FRAMEWORK:– DEFINITION

– VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS

• VICTIM ASSISTANCE

• STATISTICS

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• EARLY 90’s: media, studies, …

• TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN PUT ON THE

POLITICAL AGENDA

• PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION TO

INVESTIGATE SITUATION OF

TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN IN BELGIUM

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• NOT ONLY TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN

HUMAN BEINGS (ALSO MEN & CHILDREN)

• NOT ONLY SEXUAL EXPLOITATION ALL

FORMS OF EXPLOITATION

• POLICY BALANCE BETWEEN:

– NEED FOR SUPPORT & ASSISTANCE TO

VICTIMS OF THB (PROTECTION)

– FIGHT AGAINST ORGANISED NETWORKS

RESPONSIBLE FOR THB (REPRESSION)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• ACTIONS TAKEN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS:

• LAW 13/04/’95 10/08/’05

• MINISTRIAL DIRECTIVES ’94, ’97 & ’03 LAW 15/9/’06 MINISTRIAL DIRECTIVE 26/9/’08

• ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• TRHEE SPECIALISED CENTRES:

PAYOKE IN ANTWERP

PAG-ASA IN BRUSSELS

SURYA IN LIEGE

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

LAW OF 10 AUGUST 2005 DEFINING

TRAFFICKING OF HUMAN BEINGS

LAW OF 15 SEPTEMBER 2006 & MINISTRIAL DIRECTIVE 26 SEPTEMBER ’08 ON RESIDENCE PERMITS FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING AND SMUGGLING (AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES)

= « VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS »

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

LAW OF 10 AUGUST 2005:• CLEAR DEFINITION OF TRAFFICKING (ART. 433

quinquies CRIMINAL LAW) & DESTINCTION WITH SMUGGLING (ART. 77bis ALIEN’S ACT)

• COERCION/FORCE…: NO LONGER CONSTITUTIVE ELEMENT OF CRIME BUT AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE

• BELGIAN VICTIMS • DETECTION & IDENTIFICATION OF VICTIMS • DIFFERENT FORMS OF EXPLOITATION

DEFINITION OF TRAFFICKING

• DEFINED FORMS OF THB:• SEXUAL EXPLOITATION • EXPLOITATION OF BEGGING• LABOUR EXPLOITATION: PUTTING

PEOPLE TO WORK IN CIRCUMSTANCES CONTRARY TO HUMAN DIGNITY

• ORGAN TRAFFICKING• FORCING A PERSON TO COMMIT CRIMES

AGAINST HIS WILL

DEFINITION OF TRAFFICKING

VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS

• LAW OF 15 SEPTEMBER 2006• MINISTRIAL DIRECTIVES 26

SEPTEMBER 2008:INCREASE PROTECTION TO VICTIMS OF THB AND OF SMUGGLING IN AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES BY GRANTING THEM, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE RIGHT TO STAY IN BELGIUM & SOME BASIC RIGHTS

(CFR. PRESENTATION MR. HONGENAERT)

VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS

PRINCIPLES OF PROCEDURE:

MULTIDISCIPLINARY & INTEGRATED

INVOLVING ALL ACTORS

ISSUING OF PERMITS // STAGES IN

CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

DETECTION & IDENTIFICATION BY

FRONTLINE OFFICERS: INFO &

REFERRAL TO ONE OF 3 CENTRES

VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS

GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR VICTIMS: NO CONTACT WITH PRESUMED

SUSPECTS ACCEPT ASSISTANCE BY ONE OF THREE

SPECIALISED CENTRES COOPERATION WITH LEGAL

ENFORCEMENT (COMPLAINT/STATEMENT)

VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS

PHASE I: REFLECTION PERIOD: ORDER TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY OF 45 DAYS

• NO COMPLAINT: VOLUNTARY RETURN / ILLEGAL SITUATION

PHASE II: COMPLAINT/STATEMENTRESIDENCE PERMIT 3 MONTTH & WORK PERMIT

PHASE III: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR RESIDENCE PERMIT OF 6 MONTHS & WORK PERMIT

PROLONGED TILL END OF JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

FINAL PHASE: CONVICTIONPERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT

VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS

VICTIM PROTECTION STATUS – LlNKED TO STRICT CONDITIONS – CAN END AT ANY MOMENT:

ILLEGAL STAY OR

VOLUNTARY RETURN

VICTIM ASSISTANCE

3 SPECIALISED CENTRES SINCE ’94 ’95• PAG-ASA (BRUSSELS)• PAYOKE (ANTWERP)• SÜRYA (LIEGE)

DOUBLE MISSION:INFORMATION & AWARENESS RAISING (NATION. & INTERNAL.)PROTECTION & ASSISTANCE OF VICTIMS (PRIORITY!)

VICTIM ASSISTANCE

VICTIM ASSISTANCE

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM (CONSISTING OF S.A., CRIM., EDUC.…) STUCTURE:

LEGAL UNIT: LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCERESIDENTIAL UNIT (SHELTER): ACCOMODATION & PSYCHO-SOCIAL SUPPORTNON RESIDENTIAL UNIT: PSYCHO- SOCIAL SUPPORT & TRANSIT-PROJECT

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION •COOPERATION WITH THE ALIEN OFFICE•COOPERATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT

OPERATIONAL 24/24 & 7/7

VICTIM ASSISTANCE

REFERRAL LEGAL DEPT.

VICTIM OF THB?

YES NO: REFERRAL EXT.

WHAT DOES VoT WANT?• COMPLAINT PAG-ASA• NO COMPLAINT

• LISTEN & EVALUATE• ARE THERE CONCRETE ELEMENTS?• INFORM VoT ABOUT PROTECTION STATUS

NEED FOR SAFE RECEPTION SAFE SHELTER NO NEED FOR SAFE RECEPTION NON RESIDENTIAL CARE

• ILLEGAL/EXPLOITAT.• REFERRAL EXTERN.• VOLUNTARY RETURN

INTERPRETERPOLICE

VICTIM ASSISTANCE

•THE SPECIALISED CENTRES HAVE NO OUTREACH SERVICE •VICTIMS ARE REFERRED BY:

LOC. & FED. POLICE LABOUR INSPECTION SOCIAL SERVICES PRIVATE PERSONS: DR., CLIENTS, … VICTIMS THEMSELVES …

VICTIM ASSISTANCE

IF NO EMERGENCY: APPOINTMENT FOR « INTAKE INTERVIEW »:

• INTERPRETER• CONFIDENTIAL• TIME TO LISTEN• TIME TO EXPLAIN THE PROCEDURE IN

CALMTH

UPTO VICTIM TO DECIDEASSESSMENT OF SITUATION: SAFE RESIDENCE OR NOT (SHELTER)

VICTIM ASSISTANCE

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:

IMMEDIATE ACTION & RECEPTION

(24/7)• TELEPHONE-INTERPRETATION• FULFILL BASIC NEEDS: FOOD-BED-BATH

AND ABOVE ALL: REST!• INTAKE INTERVIEW WITH INTERPRETER

WHEN READY 

VICTIM ASSISTANCE

EACH VICTIM IS ASSISTED IN THREE WAYS:

PSYCHO-SOCIAL ASSISTANCEADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCELEGAL ASSISTANCE

VICTIM ASSISTANCE

PSYCHO-SOCIAL ASSISTANCE:WORKING ON TRAUMA, SECURITY & PROJECT FOR FUTURE (INTEGRATION)EMPOWERMENT & TAYLORMADE SHELTER (RESIDENTIAL UNIT)

• TEMPORARALY ACCOMMODATION• SECRET LOCATION

NON-RESIDENTIAL UNIT:• SUPPORT IN PRACTICAL ISSUES OF

EVERYDAY LIFE

VICTIM ASSISTANCE

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE: •CONSULT WITH ALIEN OFFICE FOR RESIDENCE PERMITSLEGAL ASSISTANCE:•PREPARE & ACCOMPANY VICTIMS FOR INTERVIEWS WITH POLICE•INFORM VICTIMS ABOUT LEGAL SYSTEM AND PROCEDURES IN BELGIUM•INTERVENTION OF A LAWYER:

• CONSULT THE JUDICIAL FILE• REPRESENT THE VICTIM IN COURT AS CIVIL PARTY

(MORAL AND/OR MATERIAL COMPENSATION)

STATISTICS

VICTIMS ASSISTED BY PAG-ASA IN 2011:

FROM PREVIOUS YEARS: 117

NEW CASES: 47

TOTAL: 164 CASES

STATISTICS

47 NEW CASES:10 SEXUAL EXPLOITATION 25 LABOUR EXPLOITATION7 SMUGGLING 2 COMMITING CRIMES0 BEGGING1 OTHERS

MEN 30 & WOMEN 17

STATISTICS

TOP 5 OF NATIONALITIES: MOROCCO ROUMANIA INDIA BULGARIA

STATISTICS

THANK YOU

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