A conference organized by the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child (MSPFC) with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM Moldova) was held in Chisinau on 28 June 2007, marking the end of the year-long pilot phase of the National Referral System (NRS); a long-awaited cooperation framework for identifying and assisting vulnerable people.

The NRS was established in five pilot raions during 2006 in response to the lack of services available to victims of trafficking outside the capital. The MSPFC has taken the lead in developing the system, comprising multi-disciplinary teams, which bring together local authority and civil society actors overseen by Focal Points working under the umbrella of the MSPFC. Expansion of the system is now underway, with newly recruited social assistants from all parts of the country - part of an initiative by the Moldovan President's office --- currently receiving training in identifying, monitoring, and supporting victims and potential victims of trafficking.

The NRS is a direct consequence of the Moldovan Government's efforts in institutional and law reform and builds on the strong cooperation already established between the Government and IOM in facilitating the repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of trafficking victims into Moldovan society.

Representatives from central government institutions and their local authority colleagues spoke together with their NGO counterparts, emphasizing the effective partnerships that have been formed within the NRS.

To further highlight the vital role already played by civil society within the NRS, the conference also featured an NGO Fair, where the NGO participants in the NRS had the opportunity to showcase the services they provide.

This was the first time that all of the individuals and organizations that form part of the NRS came together to look back on the successes of the past year, take stock of the current situation, and discuss the best way forward.

For further information, please contact Iraida Margineanu, IOM Chisinau, Tel. +373 222 329 41, imargineanu@iom.int