Investigating Sexual Investigating Sexual Exploitation in Cluj-Napoca, Exploitation in Cluj-Napoca, Romania and the Memorable Romania and the Memorable

Adventures that will last a Adventures that will last a LifetimeLifetime

By Janet HoBy Janet Ho

MHIRT Summer 2007MHIRT Summer 2007

ResearchResearch

Center for Health Policy and Public Center for Health Policy and Public HealthHealth

Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaCluj-Napoca, Romania Length of time: 10 WksLength of time: 10 Wks My team: Noemi Salantiu, Anca My team: Noemi Salantiu, Anca

Magyar, and Georgiana ButMagyar, and Georgiana But First experience as researchersFirst experience as researchers

What is Trafficking in What is Trafficking in Persons?Persons?

Trafficking Victim’s Protection Act Trafficking Victim’s Protection Act (TVPA)-minimum standards (TVPA)-minimum standards (The Office to Monitor and (The Office to Monitor and

Combat Trafficking In Persons, 2007)Combat Trafficking In Persons, 2007)

Department of State’s Definition Department of State’s Definition (Department (Department

of State, 2007)of State, 2007)

2007 TIP Report 2007 TIP Report – Tier 1Tier 1– Tier 2Tier 2– Tier 2 Watch ListTier 2 Watch List– Tier 3Tier 3

Human Trafficking in Human Trafficking in RomaniaRomania

Law no.678/2001-created to combat Law no.678/2001-created to combat all forms of human traffickingall forms of human trafficking

Law no. 211/2004- measures Law no. 211/2004- measures whether or not victims are protected.whether or not victims are protected.

Law no. 211/2005- informs victims of Law no. 211/2005- informs victims of their rights and offers free legal their rights and offers free legal assistance and counseling assistance assistance and counseling assistance (Natioanl Agency against Trafficking in Persons, 2006)(Natioanl Agency against Trafficking in Persons, 2006)

Human Trafficking in Romania Human Trafficking in Romania (continued)(continued)

Sexual exploitation is the most Sexual exploitation is the most common formcommon form– 86.1%-200386.1%-2003– 85%-200485%-2004

In 2003 and 2004, women and girls In 2003 and 2004, women and girls ages 18-25 were the majority of ages 18-25 were the majority of victims assisted victims assisted (Surtees, 2005)(Surtees, 2005)

DifficultiesDifficulties

MethodologyMethodology

Purpose: offer a comprehensive Purpose: offer a comprehensive description of the current situation in description of the current situation in RomaniaRomania

Objective 1: Objective 1: Objective 2:Objective 2: Objective 3Objective 3

Interview MethodsInterview Methods

Convenience Sample (Cluj County)Convenience Sample (Cluj County) On-site interviews and personal On-site interviews and personal

interviewsinterviews– Public institutionsPublic institutions– NGOsNGOs– Religious leadersReligious leaders

Romanian/EnglishRomanian/English Open-Ended QuestionsOpen-Ended Questions

ResultsResults

Outreach and ActivitiesOutreach and Activities– NGO’s and Public InstitutionsNGO’s and Public Institutions

FundingFunding– Cluj County is not at high riskCluj County is not at high risk– Open to collaborationOpen to collaboration

Religious Community ResponseReligious Community Response– Religious leaders: Orthodox and CatholicReligious leaders: Orthodox and Catholic

RecommendationsRecommendations Train individuals in well respected positions as Train individuals in well respected positions as

well as individuals working with populations who well as individuals working with populations who are at high risks.are at high risks.

Include subjects in curricula planning in order to Include subjects in curricula planning in order to help educate youth.help educate youth.

Encourage collaboration among all the major Encourage collaboration among all the major stakeholders.stakeholders.

A regional network consisting of various private A regional network consisting of various private and public organizations should collaborate to and public organizations should collaborate to prevent human trafficking and assist victims.prevent human trafficking and assist victims.

Establish a protocol for the stakeholders who do Establish a protocol for the stakeholders who do not directly work or assist victims.not directly work or assist victims.

Recommendations (Cont.)Recommendations (Cont.)

Encourage government officials to help Encourage government officials to help strengthen international borders.strengthen international borders.

More programs need to be established to More programs need to be established to address the most vulnerable populations.address the most vulnerable populations.

Professionals are trained to assist victims Professionals are trained to assist victims of trafficking, but are not training others to of trafficking, but are not training others to assist victims.assist victims.

Promote hotlines to assist families, Promote hotlines to assist families, victims, or individuals who might victims, or individuals who might encounter a victim.encounter a victim.

Theoretical ModelTheoretical Model

Phases to take action for stakeholders

Human Trafficking

Potential Victim

Victim

Post Victim

Prevention Education

Intervention and Rescuing

Recovery

NGOs Public Institutions

Churches

NGOs Public Institutions

NGOs Public Institutions

Churches

Overall ExperienceOverall Experience

Research article is being edited and Research article is being edited and will be published in the Journal of will be published in the Journal of Global Health and Health DisparitiesGlobal Health and Health Disparities

Broad generalizationBroad generalization Motivation to continue researchMotivation to continue research

CultureCulture

Leisure ActivitiesLeisure Activities

International StudentsInternational Students– Botanical gardenBotanical garden– Progressive DinnerProgressive Dinner

Leisure Activities (cont.)Leisure Activities (cont.)

RunningRunning Central ParkCentral Park Eating outEating out Dorm LifeDorm Life Cafes Cafes Transylvania Film FestivalTransylvania Film Festival

Workshop/ConferenceWorkshop/Conference

Maternal and Child Health WorkshopMaternal and Child Health Workshop

Summer Institute for Rural and Summer Institute for Rural and Environmental HealthEnvironmental Health

TripsTrips

BucharestBucharest Sibiu-European Cultural capitalSibiu-European Cultural capital SighisoaraSighisoara BranBran BrashovBrashov TurdaTurda

Pictures from TripsPictures from Trips

ReferencesReferences Department of State. (2007). Department of State. (2007). Trafficking in persons reportTrafficking in persons report. .

Retrieved July 6, 2007, from Retrieved July 6, 2007, from http://www.state.gov./g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2007/

National Agency against Trafficking in Persons. (2006). National Agency against Trafficking in Persons. (2006). National National action action plan for 2006-2007: For implementing plan for 2006-2007: For implementing the national the national strategy against strategy against trafficking in persons trafficking in persons 2006-20102006-2010. Retrieved . Retrieved on July 6, 2007, from on July 6, 2007, from http://anitp.mai.gov.ro/en/docs/pna%20_en.pdf

Surtees, R. (2005). Surtees, R. (2005). Second annual report on victims of Second annual report on victims of trafficking in trafficking in South-Eastern South-Eastern Europe. Retrieved June 13, Europe. Retrieved June 13, 2007, from 2007, from http://www.childtrafficking.com

The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. (2007). (2007). Trafficking in persons reportTrafficking in persons report. Retrieved . Retrieved October 16, 2007, from October 16, 2007, from http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2007/86205.htm

Questions???Questions???