On the occasion of the European Day against Trafficking in Human Beings, marked annually on 18 October, Caritas Moldova Charity Foundation carried out a series of information and awareness-raising activities on preventing human trafficking throughout October.

In addition to the joint campaign with the Border Police at border crossing points, activities continued in communities, schools and colleges. They targeted pupils, students and seasonal workers, groups that may be exposed to the risks of trafficking and exploitation.

As traffickers increasingly use digital technologies to recruit victims, participants learned about the signs that may indicate a dangerous situation, how to prevent risky situations, and where to turn for help.

The campaign in numbers:

• 7,000 information leaflets, including 2,000 in Ukrainian, were distributed at the Tudora and Sculeni Border Crossing Points and at “Eugen Doga” Chișinău International Airport;
• over 1,000 pupils, students and seasonal workers took part in information and awareness-raising activities.

The campaign was carried out in partnership with the General Inspectorate of Border Police (Tudora, Sculeni, Palanca and Leușeni Border Crossing Points and “Eugen Doga” Chișinău International Airport), the National Public Security Inspectorate (Edineț and Briceni Police Inspectorates and Police Sector No. 2 Corjeuți), the Edineț Youth Centre and its Cupcini branch, the agricultural company “ARMAN-PLANT” LLC from Corjeuți village, Briceni district, as well as the “Grigore Vieru” Theoretical High School in Briceni, Măgdăcești Theoretical High School, the “Alexei Mateevici” Centre of Excellence in Pedagogy, the National College of Commerce of ASEM and the “Raisa Pacalo” Centre of Excellence in Medicine and Pharmacy.

The activities are part of the cross-border project “Cross-border Cooperation in Preventing Human Trafficking and Counselling for Safe Return (Moldova, Romania and Ukraine)”, implemented in partnership with Caritas Romania and Caritas Ukraine and funded by Caritas Española.

Through this initiative, Caritas Moldova reaffirms its commitment to preventing human trafficking through awareness-raising, cross-border cooperation and strong partnerships between civil society, authorities and communities.