A delegation of the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) carried out an evaluation visit to the Republic of Moldova from 16 to 20 September 2019 as part of the third evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The focus of this evaluation round of the Convention is on trafficking victims’ access to justice and effective remedies. Prior to the visit, the Moldovan authorities provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire for the third evaluation round. In addition to the new thematic focus, GRETA examines how the main recommendations made in its second evaluation report have been implemented.
During the visit, the GRETA delegation met representatives of the Directorate of permanent secretariats under the State Chancellery and the territorial anti-trafficking commission in the town of Căușeni. It also met representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, including the Centre for Combating Trafficking in Persons, the General Inspectorate of the Border Police, the Bureau for Migration and Asylum, and the Centre for Combating Cybercrime, as well as the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organised Crime and Special Cases, and the Security and Intelligence Service. In addition, meetings were held with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection, including the National Labour Inspectorate, the Ministry of Justice, including the Interdepartmental Commission for State Financial Compensation, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, the National Legal Aid Council, the National Institute for Justice, and the Diaspora Relations Bureau. The GRETA delegation also met specialised judges from the Chisinau District Court. Further, meetings were held with members of Parliament, the Office of the Ombudsman and community mediators.
During the visit, the GRETA delegation met representatives of non-governmental organisations, lawyers and victims of trafficking. Discussions were also held with representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
In the course of the visit, the GRETA delegation visited shelters providing assistance to victims of trafficking in human beings in Chişinău and Căușeni, as well as the temporary placement centre for foreign nationals in Chişinău.
The visit was carried out by the Mr Ola Laurell and Ms Antoaneta Vassileva, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Ms Natacha De Roeck of the Secretariat of the Convention.
Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report which will be sent to the Moldovan authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report, to be published in 2020.
