site.btaChanges in Legislation Improve Care for Victims of Human Trafficking

October 3 (BTA) - Parliament passed conclusively
revisions to the Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings Act on
Thursday, which provide opportunity for opening specialized
asylums for reintegration, as well as free legal aid and
appropriate language assistance to the victims of human
trafficking.

The term of accommodation of such persons at temporary asylums
is increased from a minimum of 30 days with an option for
extension by a proposal of the asylum.

The revisions were necessitated by the need of effective
application of the Council of Europe Convention on Action
against Human Trafficking which introduced minimum national
standards and mechanisms for treatment of victims of
trafficking.  The revisions guarantee a recovery and reflection
period for the person concerned to recover and escape the
influence of traffickers and/or to take an informed decision on
cooperating with the competent authorities to take action
against the offending party.

The amendments also define the status of the National Commission
 for Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings as the national
rapporteur according to Article 19 of Directive 2011/36/EU of
the European Parliament and of the Council on preventing and
combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its
victims. The national committee is to establish asylum centres
for victims of human trafficking.