Sliven held a specialized training for police officers and social workers on the topic "Identification and psychosocial support of victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation"
On the 13th of October 2023, specialized training for police officers and social workers on the topic "Identification and psychosocial support of victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation" will be held in Sliven. The event is organized by the Local Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (LCCTHB) Sliven in partnership with the Municipality of Sliven and A21 Bulgaria, in implementation of the Programme for Prevention and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Protection of Victims for 2023, Section lll "Training and qualification of personnel" of the LCCTHB Sliven on the occasion of 18 October - European Day for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.
The specialized training was opened by Pepa Chilikova, Deputy Mayor for Humanitarian Activities of Sliven Municipality and Chairperson of LCCTHB Sliven, who emphasized that early identification of victims is crucial for immediate assistance, support and protection of victims of trafficking in human beings and enables the police and prosecution to investigate and punish traffickers more effectively. The role of frontline workers, such as police officers and social workers, is crucial.
The lecturers of the training are Anna Nikolova, President of the Association "SOS Families at Risk" and manager of the Shelter for Temporary Accommodation of Victims of Human Trafficking in Varna Dilyana Giteva, Lawyer, member of the Sofia Bar Association and Diana Kitova, Manager, National Helpline for Combating Human Trafficking - 080020100.
The training focuses on indicators for the identification of victims of trafficking, improving approaches in the process of communication with victims in order to gain their trust and stimulate their cooperation in the criminal proceedings, as well as preventing their secondary victimization.
The event involved 27 participants - Inspectors from Sector 02, Department 12 at the General Directorate "Fight against Organized Crime", inspectors from the Criminal Police Department, Sector "Fight Against Crime", inspectors from District Police Department "Police" Sliven, "West" and "Nadezhda" districts, inspectors from the Children's Pedagogical Room at the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior Sliven, as well as social workers from the Child Protection Department of the Social Assistance Directorate Sliven, the Centre for Social Rehabilitation and Integration and the Blue Room Sliven, the Complex for Social Services for Children and Families Sliven, the Community Support Centre Sliven, the Day Centre for Children with Disabilities and the Day Centre for Adults with Disabilities "St. Stiliyan Detepazitel" Sliven and Protected Housing for Persons with Mental Retardation Sliven.
According to the latest data from the European Commission, despite the progress made in the fight against human trafficking, the crime remains a serious threat in the European Union. Thousands of people, especially women and children, are at risk yearly.
Trafficking for sexual exploitation continues to be the most commonly reported form of the crime. Almost three-quarters, or 72%, of all victims in the European Union and 92% of victims of sexual exploitation are women and girls, and nearly a quarter of all victims of trafficking are children.