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The Local Commission for Combating Human Trafficking in Sliven held its first regular meeting for 2021


On the 27th of January 2021, the first regular meeting of the Local Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (LCCTHB) was held in the May Hall of the Sliven Municipality, in compliance with all epidemiological measures. The first meeting of the Human Trafficking Committee was held in the first half of the year.

The meeting was opened by Mrs. Pepa Chilikova - Deputy Mayor of Sliven Municipality and Chairperson of LCCTHB Sliven.

The meeting was attended by members of the Local Committee, and representatives of the following institutions District Prosecutor's Office Sliven, Territorial Sector "BOP" Sliven, Yambol, Department of the Interior Ministry Sliven, Territorial Directorate of SANS Sliven, Department of Child Protection at SSP Sliven and Association "Doctors of the World" Sliven.

In the framework of the regular meeting presented and adopted the Annual Report of the LCCTHB Sliven for 2020, in the implementation of the Local Programme for the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Human Beings and the Protection of Victims for the past year, about the implementation of the National Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, the state policy and the interaction between the different institutions and organizations on the implementation of the Law on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and the National Mechanism for Referral and Assistance to Victims of Trafficking at local level.

During the meeting, the current trends in the crime of trafficking in human beings in the Sliven Region were discussed based on summarized statistical information and professional practice of the members of the LCCTHB Sliven to develop and implement further targeted policies to combat human trafficking.

The Local Programme for Prevention and Counteraction of Trafficking in Human Beings and Protection of Victims for 2021 was presented and adopted, focusing on the key activities to be implemented, including through upcoming information campaigns and planned specialized training.

* Trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation continues to be the main form of exploitation in the Sliven district, with the tendency to exploit victims outside Bulgaria (Mostly in EU countries).

There has also been a marked decline in recorded violence by pimps against prostituted women. Traffickers mainly use so-called "soft methods" against victims, which in turn leads to a decrease in the number of exploited persons cooperating with investigating authorities.

For the period 01.01.2020 - 31.12.2020, 9 cases concerning the crime of human trafficking, all initiated in previous years, were examined in the District Prosecutor's Office Sliven. There were also 9 victims of trafficking. The number of persons accused of committing the crime was also 9.