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Programmes and Operations
Present Programmes |
A Counter-Trafficking
: Overview of ICMC Counter-trafficking Programming
Croatia
Country overview
In November 2000, the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) and the International Organization for Migration
(IOM) convened a counter-trafficking meeting of relevant parties
in Croatia. The participants in this meeting formed four working
groups to respectively address the issues of Prevention, Legislation,
Law Enforcement, and Assistance and Protection. In February of
2001, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs replaced OSCE in
leading the activities.
ICMC's involvement initially included a vital role in the Assistance
and Protection working group, which it co-chaired with IOM. With
the input of the other members of this working group, the Ministry
of Labor and Social Welfare, UNHCR, Caritas Croatia and several
local NGOs, ICMC has developed a program for the implementation
of a national referral system, a plan for the formation and implementation
of a shelter to provide assistance and protection to victims,
a plan for voluntary victim return, as well as a plan for reintegration
that collaborates with partner organizations in the victims' countries
of origin. However, as the Government of Croatia began taking
ownership of the counter-trafficking activities, these working
groups dissolved and instead, the National Action Team was formed.
ICMC played an important role in counter-trafficking activities
in Croatia. With funding from USAID, ICMC coordinated and hosted
a series of trainings in cooperation with the Croatian NGO, the
Rosa Center for Women (the Center). Preparation for activities
began in October 2002 and in January 2003, ICMC and the Center
coordinated with La Strada Czech Republic to host a 3-day training
to build the capacity of local NGOs to implement an awareness
and information campaign. Also in January, ICMC and the Center
coordinated with the Croatian Ministry of Justice, the Croatian
Bar Association, the American Bar Association (ABA/CEELI) and
the US Department of Justice to host a 1-day seminar for Croatian
judges, prosecutors and lawyers. Presenters from Italy, Bosnia,
Romania and Macedonia shared their experiences and expertise with
over 130 participants including local judges, prosecutors and
lawyers, international NGOs, IOs and press from all regions of
Croatia.
In addition, ICMC and the Rosa Center received funding from the
Canadian Embassy in Zagreb to renovate and make secure a shelter
for trafficked women as well as to coordinate training activities
for Croatian youth to implement an information and awareness campaign.
ICMC cooperated with the NGO Zenska Soba to produce a quarterly
newsletter titled Trafficking in Human Beings. The newsletter
provided information, events and updates from Croatia and the
region.
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