On 31 May 2023, from 09.30 to 15.30, in Hall 17 of the Youth House, Varna Municipality, in implementation of the National Programme for Prevention and Counteraction of Trafficking in Human Beings and Protection of Victims, in connection with the implementation of the measures set out in the National Mechanism for Referral and Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings, the Local Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (LCCTHB), Preventions Directorate, Varna Municipality in partnership with the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (NCCTHB), held an information session for professionals, 20 officers of the Varna Police Department, Varna Port Border Police Station and Varna Airport Border Police Station.
The topic of the training: 'Trafficking in human beings and victim protection - trends and responses to challenges'.
Objective: To educate and train the Ministry of Interior officers working in the field to detect, and prevent the crime of human trafficking, sensitize, identify, and refer victims of this crime.
The topic will be developed and presented in the following modules:
The Crime of Human Trafficking. Legislative framework. Types of exploitation targets and new forms of trafficking. Differentiation of trafficking in human beings from other similar crimes.
National Commission for combating trafficking in human beings. Local commission for combating trafficking in human beings. Structure, functions, and activities.
National referral and assistance mechanism for victims of trafficking in human beings. Standard operating procedures.
Provision of protection and support to victims of human trafficking. Social inclusion (reintegration).
Case management. Feedback.
The lecturers were Dimitar Vassilev - Secretary of NCCTHB Varna and Anna Nikolova - Chairperson of the SOS - Families at Risk Foundation.
After the case studies and the discussion that followed, the participants in the training expressed their support to the NCCTHB - Varna and the Directorate "Prevention", Varna Municipality and shared the need to organize similar training in the future in order to build successful models for prevention, counteraction, early identification, and social support.