Final Report STROMII Project Estonia 2016-2017
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Strengthening the Role of Municipalities in the Work against Trafficking in Human Beings in the Baltic Sea Region NGO Living for Tomorrow (Estonia) FINAL REPORT 2016-2017 National Inter institutional roundtable in Tallinn Roundtable was held on 14.09.2016 in Ministry of Justice, http://www.just.ee/en with a 21 participants (18 women, 3 men). Attached: program, participant list, power point presentation. Main speakers of the meeting: Anu Leps (Ministry of Justice, Criminal Policy Department), Kristiina Luht (Ministry of Social Affairs, Equality Policies Department), Veljo Uustal (East prefecture, Migration Surveillance Unit) and Sirle Blumberg (NGO Living for Tomorrow, Human Trafficking Prevention and Victim Help Service), see picture link: https://www.facebook.com/living.for.tomorrow/posts/1278615295511473) Highlights of the National meeting: Surprisingly all participants saw the necessity to be part of the STROMII project, but we had to choose only two regions - eight counties were represented and two (Läänemaa West and Ida-Virumaa East) were selected as a partners to carry on with the municipality roundtables). Contact person in Läänemaa is Laura Siht (e-mail: [email protected], tel: +372 53402027) from Social Insurance Board Victim Help Unit in Läänemaa and Hiiumaa, and Annela Floren (e-mail: [email protected], tel: +372 3372351) from East prefecture, information office. The topic of human trafficking and better assistant of victims was relevant issue for all. The chosen regions were accepting a challenge of finding out local municipality possibilities, capability and readiness for better assistance of human trafficking victims. Training and prevention in certain target/risk group was relevant and important component. Timeline activities in Läänemaa county - Haapsalu city 1st multidisciplinary round table meeting in Läänemaa area held in Haapsalu (West County Government https://laane.maavalitsus.ee/kontakt) on 28.10.2016 with a 15 participants (12 women, 3 men). Attached: program, participant list, power point presentation and pictures https://www.facebook.com/living.for.tomorrow/posts/1319099171463085) Local coordinator Laura Siht invited local key actors in the first meeting (West County Government education and social department, Lääne-Nigula Parish, Social Insurance Board Victim Help Unit, Haapsalu Vocational School, Läänemaa Welfare Center, Haapsalu City Government, Haapsalu Police Department, NGO Läänemaa Women Support Center, Haapsalu Social House). Participants were introduced a National Coordination Mechanism and Structure of Government responsibilities on the topic of Human Trafficking by Anu Leps. Concept of the STROM II project and activities in local municipalities was introduced by Sirle Blumberg. The local meeting included also an interactive part were participants resolved a group work “Story about Maria” by trying to identify a status of victim. Conclusions of the meeting: Identification of human trafficking victim is still challenge, social workers complain about lack of knowledges and skills of identification and methodology of assistance procedures. Unclear is also who are the main risk groups of their region. How big should be the working group will be decided by local coordinator and plans for the 1st meeting of the local experts is under the discussion. Key actors unformal meetings in Haapsalu will take place before the planned trainings. Working groups meetings were held on 17.01, 23.01 and 25.01.2017 in Haapsalu city, West County Government. Under the discussion was three main topic: to find out the possible service providers for human trafficking victims in local level (list of institutions, organizations, people with contacts); to draft a concrete action plan for quick reaction during 12h or/and 24h when victim is found and before sending to shelter. planning a training – target group, themes, possible speakers. First training in Haapsalu municipality was held on 05.04.2017, 10.00 a.m. to 14.30 p.m. with 19 participants. Second training was held in Haapsalu municipality on 09.05.2017, 10.00 a.m. to 14.45 p.m. with 19 participants. Training involved several head speakers: head specialist on THB cases from Social Insurance Board, Police and Boarder Guard Migration Surveillance Department, National Expert from Ministry of Justice, National Human Trafficking and Victim Help Hotline +372 6607320 Service. Training program aspects: - The role and responsibilities of government and governmental institution on fighting with THB; - Available services in national level for THB victims: procedure, service providers and service purchaser; - Migration surveillance: purpose, tasks and activities, rules for third country nationals working in Estonia. - Recognising THB victim: how to recognize, main indicators, second victimization issues, reflection period, main procedures, human right prospective etc. - Municipality capacity in recognizing THB victim, housing and referring to national service providers: concreate action plan with responsibilities. Facts and outcomes: In Haapsalu lives 9 946 residents. The cooperation in local level and inside the community is good. STROMII project local coordinator Laura Siht (Victim Support Unit specialist in Haapsalu and Hiiumaa island) have active role in local specialist network, together with Haapsalu County government social and education department, local constable, Social housing workers and etc. Unformal network is gathering minimum once-twice a week or more if there is some prompt issues to solve. There is no reason to organise another network or committee dealing only with THB topics, instead of that THB topic can very easily integrate to different interest (working) group agendas. In local municipality there is very many committee´s and most of specialist are part of different ones. Police and Boarder Guard Migration Department started a new program by opening migration adviser’s phone line https://www.politsei.ee/migrationadvice/ which purpose is to support foreigners settling in Estonia and to be a partner to employers, entrepreneurs, educational institutions and to others who invite foreigners to Estonia. During the roundtables and working group meetings raised several time a question and concerns about the transportation and housing. Problem was solved by Social Insurance Board by announcing that they cover all costs and chosen service provider is responsible implementing the contract responsibilities. Haapsalu Social Housing can provide for potential human trafficking victim a housing for first 12/24 hour. Local victim support specialist in Haapsalu is the first contact point/person for organizing a services for presumed human trafficking victim. Awareness raising activities in Haapsalu (Läänemaa district) LifeStyle Marathon in Haapsalu – tent in Haapsalu city. We conducted also a questionnaire among participants in the marathon and each participant got to choose a price (cup, flashlight, pen, notebook, frisbee, bag, usb, pen and visit cards with THB local contact person). Information leaflets are distributed among all local institutions. Timeline activities in East-Virumaa, Jõhvi 2nd multidisciplinary round table meeting in East-Virumaa was held in Jõhvi (East prefecture https://www.politsei.ee/en/kontakt/kmb/johvi-teenindus/index.dot) on 23.11.2016 with a 15 participants (14 women, 1 man). Attached: program, participant list and pictures https://www.facebook.com/living.for.tomorrow/posts/1368710926501909). Local coordinator Annela Floren invited local key experts in the first meeting (East Prefecture - senior border official; East Prefecture - Senior Inspector for Migration Surveillance, Aseri Municipality – social adviser, Ida-Viru County Vital Statistics Department, Ida-Viru County Government Education and Social Services Department, Sillamäe Town Central Library, Avinurme Gymnasium, Ida-Viru County Government – governor, Kohtla-Jarve Town Government - Child Protection Specialist, Newspaper “Põhjarannik” – journalist, Social Insurance Board victim support unit). We followed the same procedure like in the meeting in Haapsalu – introducing the STROM II project goals and setting up working group principles for East- Virumaa Region. Conclusions of the meeting: East-Virumaa roundtable participants were more familiar with the concrete cases of human trafficking, especially they were concerned about labour exploitation and sham marriage cases which are growing trend in the region. Main problem was, how to help victims and what kind of prevention activities people need in the region. Participation of East-Viru County Government governor showed clearly the serious interest and engagement to the topic. Working groups meetings in Jõhvi - working group meetings were held on 19.12.2016 and 18.01.2017 in Jõhvi city, East-Viru County Government. Under the discussion was four main topic: victims of human trafficking assistance system in national and coordination in local level possible service providers in local level (list of institutions, organizations, people with contacts); drafting a concrete action plan for quick reaction during 12h or/and 24h when victim is found and before sending to shelter; planning a training – target group, themes, possible speakers. First training in Jõhvi municipality was held on 15.03.2017, 10.00 a.m. to 14.30 p.m. with 19 participants (15 women, 4 men) Second training was held in Narva on 27.04.2017, 10.00 a.m. to 14.45 p.m. with 20 participants (16 women, 4 men) Training