Moldova - Support Moldovaian Victims of Trafficking in UAE
Case Story 106 of 178 
Organization(s): Association Women for the Contemporary Society
Country(ies): Moldova
Primary thematic focus: Other capacity development focus
In a Nutshell:
Trafficking in human beings aiming at sexual exploitation the most severe crime. Moldovan girls are trafficked to different destination but the most dangerous is United Arab Emirates, as a new country of destination. Girls support exploitation for a long time by traffickers.
The Story:
Trafficking with human beings aiming at sexual exploitation is one of most severe consequence of the circumstances created lately in the Republic of Moldova, a flagrant breach of the human rights and an offence of the dignity and integrity of the human being, being a type of organized crime. Annually a lot of Moldovan girls are sent to different countries of destination but the most dangerous is the situation in the United Arab Emirates, as a new country of destination. The traffickers from Russia, Moldova identify the most vulnerable persons living critical situations in their lives. Under false pretences persons are kidnapped, threatened and taken abroad and forced into prostitution. In the destination countries the victims are deprived of identity papers and money, thus they are unable to return to their home country continuing to practice prostitution in order to pay back the so called “debts” fabulous amounts of money, invented by the traffickers. Due to the fact that Moldova doesn’t have an Embassy, Consulate or other direct contact with the Government Agencies in the United Arab Emirates, makes it even more difficult for its citizens, victims of human trafficking to solve their problems. This fact motivated us as an NGO to initiate partnership actions between decision-making bodies of the two countries. During the period of 2000 to 2004 we have more reclamations about victims trafficked in the United Arab Emirates both from victims and from their relatives. They tell us about many meetings with representatives of low enforcement bodies that couldn’t help to repatriate victims just because Moldova doesn’t have any cooperation’s procedure to resolve these situations. These problems motivated us to start research on this issue in May 2004: Trafficking In Women For United Arab Emirates: Disturbing Facts
We considered that this can be a start to encourage our Government to find solutions and save our citizen, victims of trafficking from the very dangerous international criminal system. During the period of 11 mount of 2004 we bring from this region, so foreign for Moldavian citizen 80 victims of trafficking. More that 50 % were imprisoning in different prison in Dubai, Abu Dhaby or other prisons. Some of victims at the moment when was found were imprisoning by criminals in apartments, houses, and nightclubs. The identification and repatriation process was possible due to the insistent negotiations process between our associations and representatives of Governmental structures of United Arab Emirates. That initiative was a solution in changing situation of our citizens, victims of trafficking in human beings in this region, and in the same time it was possible to show the people of Moldova, via the Exchange Program that the Arab People, especially civil, are very open, reliable, and welcoming and treat others with respect and solidarity.
These human qualities have been proven by many citizens of the United Arab Emirates supporting the citizens of Moldova who faced difficult situations in their country. Association Women for the Contemporary Society, tray to do the best, to identify solutions to assisting other victims of trafficking from this region, that awaits our support. This case can be a good experience for counties that have victims in Emirates.
Results and Critical Factors:
The accomplishments of our Association can be that - we are the first NGO that start communication with representatives of Emirates Low Enforcement Bodies and Human Right structures about trafficking as a crime and especially an international organised crime. In 2004 United Arab Emirates doesn’t has legislations again trafficking. The UAE anti-human trafficking law - Federal Law 51 adopted in November 2006 and is the first of its kind in the region. Very productive, in a short negotiations process with representatives of Emirates Low Enforcement Bodies and Human Right structures to describe the crime of trafficking in human beings and starts to work in this region to identify victims. During May 2004 to June 2005 we bring from this region, so foreign for Moldavian citizen 80 victims of trafficking even we have no financial and logistical support of Moldova Government. The identification and repatriation process was possible due to the insistent negotiations process between our associations and representatives of Governmental structures of United Arab Emirates.
Name of Primary Contact Person: Veronica Lupu
Title of Primary Contact Person: Chairwoman
City: Chisinau