System of social sub-contraction in action: First agreement between the state and the NGO signed on state co-funding of services on psychological and social support of victims of human-trafficking and domestic violence.

The working meeting “First steps and perspectives of state social sub-contraction financed via grants to NGOs by the government for rendering services on psychological and social support to victims of human-trafficking and domestic violence”.

The working meeting was organized by Grodno Oblast Red Cross Society jointly with Lida Region Executive Committee. The working meeting brought together the representatives of Lida Region Executive Committee (including Head and Deputy Head of the Executive Committee) and Lida City Executive Committee, specialists of the Territorial Social Service Centre, representative of Grodno Oblast Executive Committee, the representatives of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Belarus and the representatives of the Directorate of the Interior of Grodno Oblast Executive Committee, representatives of Boarder Guard Group and International Organization for Migration, including Chief of Mission and Manager of the Project in the field of combating trafficking in persons, Chairperson and specialists of Grodno Oblast Red Cross Society and representatives of Lida Region Red Cross Society.

The atmosphere of the meeting was constructive and positive. The goal of the meeting was to provide information about the first project in the sphere of state sub-contraction which is aimed at provision of services on psychological and social support to victims of human-trafficking and domestic violence. All the participants highly estimated the work of Grodno Oblast Red Cross Society and active state sub-contraction promotion carried out by Lida Region and Grodno Oblast Executive Committees.

The participants stressed the importance of joint efforts in the sphere of combating human-trafficking and also worked out a plan to eradicate the roots of this phenomenon in the region. It was noted that it’s necessary to conduct information events aimed at risk groups and to improve citizens’ legal literacy in terms of employment locally and abroad. Special attention was paid to the necessity of combating the demand for cheap sexual services and labour. Of not less importance remains the cooperation with the representatives of mass media and representatives of secondary specialized colleges.

The concerned participants of the working meeting expressed hope for more active involvement of other NGOs into the work of state social sub-contraction system as exemplified by Grodno Oblast Executive Committee.

7 August 2014, Lida, Lida Region Executive Committee