Chisinau, August 8 (Infotag). Monday, the La Strada Center – overseeing protection of women’s rights – presented a report “Human Trafficking in Moldova: comments, trends, and recommendations”.

Speaking at a news conference in Infotag Chair of the Center Anna Revenco said the survey is based on 2001-2004 statistics vividly illustrating the magnitude of this problem in Central and Eastern Europe.

“By doing this report we sought to determine specifications of trafficking in humans occurring these days in Moldova, and identify factors stimulating this phenomena,” she said.

The presented document – containing many valuable recommendations – may serve as basis for further strategies of fighting this menace, held Revenco.

One of its co-authors Tatiana Fomina said the Study features results of interviews with 150 HT victims, hotline calls, and sociological polls done by 105 non-governmental organizations dealing with the problem.

“This study will bring you face to face with the human traffic victims through the prism of statistics showing their age, marital status, education and family background,” Fomina said.

The majority of the victims are women aged under 25, unmarried coming from rural parts of Moldova; as of recently the number of kids involved in this has also increased. Oftentimes the victims are employed for sexual purposes or begging.

Head of the HT Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office Eugenie Rusu said the results of this research are extremely important for both, police and general public.

“So far, we’ve initiated 700 criminal cases on human traffic charges. In 2003 37 people were indicted, in 2004 – the number rose to 97, and in the first half of 2005 reached 50,” he said.

The current Moldovan law implies for HT up to 25 years in prison.

The Survey – 500 copies – has been issued in three languages: Romanian, Russian, and English, to be distributed free of charge among public and non-governmental organizations engaged in fight against human trafficking in Moldova.