IOM Organizes Study Visit to Albania on National Referral Mechanism Issues

IOM Minsk organized a study visit to Albania on 27-31 October 2014 with a purpose to enhance the knowledge of Belarus Task Force Group on development of National Referral Mechanism in the field of establishment and functioning of such mechanisms.

The delegation was represented by ministries of the Republic of Belarus, Minsk Prosecutor’s Office, the Programme “La Strada” (NGO “Gender Perspectives”), “Business Women Club” and IOM Minsk.

The participants received comprehensive information from the competent agencies about the identification of victims of human trafficking, their referral and assistance provided to them. The visit became a platform for exchange of best practices in the counter-trafficking sphere between the Belarusian delegation and Albanian colleagues from IOM Tirana and relevant governmental and non-governmental agencies. During the trip the visitors learned about the Albanian approach to the NRM establishment and got the insight into the cooperative work of Albanian agencies in the sphere of counter-trafficking, in particular into the work of the Anti-Trafficking National Office of the Ministry of the Interior, the State Social Service and Albanian National Coalition of Anti-Trafficking Shelters formed by NGOs responsible for provision of assistance to VoTs.

The study visit was organized with the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The study visit to Albania helped to enhance the understanding of the components of NRM, their interrelation and interdependence, such as identification, referral to respective agencies and provision of reintegration assistance to VoTs. It is expected that the gained experience and knowledge will contribute to the development of NRM in Belarus.