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Beneficiaries may require assistance for a broad range of legal issues: acquiring identification papers, child custody, compensation, divorce proceedings, property-related cases and other civil litigation. Beneficiaries returning home from exploitation abroad are in a particularly vulnerable position as they may not have the legal documents that entitle them to State delivered services. This is the case for example with children who are not registered at birth. The beneficiaries receive counseling on participation in prosecution against their traffickers as well as legal representation during investigation, interviews and court hearings. This counseling also includes witness rights and protection services. The specialized services of legal assistance are provided in collaboration with local NGOs, such as the Centre for Prevention of Trafficking in Women (CPTW), and with government agencies, especially the specialized unit, the Centre for Combating Trafficking in Persons.
In 1999, through deception, Svetlana was taken away from Moldova and sold in Turkey where she was exploited and re-sold several times. In 2000, she was bought by a Turkish man who kept her in a private residence for 6 years. There she was exploited sexually and made to work for the man and his wife. Under these circumstances she gave birth to two children: the first was born in 2002 and the second in 2003. She gave birth in the place of exploitation, assisted by a neighbor, and did not therefore gain birth certificates for her children. Svetlana was saved by a Moldovan woman who helped her to escape and contact the police. During the time of her escape, Svetlana was 5 months pregnant with her third child. In June 2006, Svetlana was brought to Moldova with the help of IOM. In October 2006, Svetlana gave birth to her third child. With the help of IOM, Svetlana received an identification card and legal assistance in obtaining documents for her two children that were born in Turkey. In August 2007, both of the children received birth certificates.
Svetlana and her children now live in a flat owned by her mother. Through this program, additional financial support was provided for Svetlana for her to be able to take care of her children. Svetlana received psychiatric and medical assistance and was diagnosed with a disability and awarded a handicap classification. She now receives a handicap pension from the state and other humanitarian assistance. Her children attend kindergarten and she works as a dishwasher in a restaurant. The case of Svetlana and her children continue to be monitored by her case manager.
A donation of $50 will afford the restoration of legal documents a victim like Svetlana has had stolen from them
Learn about other Moldova support services:
All photos credit: © Dana Popa
Disclaimer: The names in these stories have been changed to protect the identities of IOM beneficiaries. The people appearing in these photographs are IOM beneficiaries, but not the individuals mentioned in these stories.
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