ACASA Programme

Specialized protection and assistance program for victims of trafficking in human beings

Specialized protection and assistance services for victims of trafficking in human beings are permanent and have been provided in collaboration with relevant international institutions, NGOs and organizations in the field.

The protection and assistance services are approached in a flexible mode, adapted to the needs of the beneficiaries, the working method being case management, so as to focus on the beneficiaries’ resources, motivation for change and their initiatives, in order to increase the level of adaptation of the person to the requirements of an independent life.

This process varies from person to person because the needs are different, but a support program can take between 1 and 3 years.

The ACASĂ program included the following projects:

In order to achieve our proposed objectives ADPARE implement projects that are especially designed to victims of human trafficking involved in criminal procedures. The following projects are an integral part of the ACASA program.

"Alternatives for community assistance and support activities for victims of human trafficking"

This project is implemented from 2017 and will end in December 2022 and it is funded by – discretionary fund.

"Reintegration, education and social inclusion of trafficking victims in Romania and abroad”,

The project was implemented from October 2013 till September 2021, and it was funded by Wellspring International Association.

"Reintegration, education and social inclusion of trafficking victims in Romania and abroad”

Is implemented from October 2021 and will continue in 2023, this project is funded by Third Ladder Association

"Specialized protection and assistance services for victims of trafficking in human beings"
This project is implemented since 2018 and will end in 2023, it is funded by United Way Foundation Romania.
“VoT Support Project”,
This is a permanent project that was initiated in 2003 and funded by IOM Office in Romania.
“Leading a United Pathway to anti-Trafficking Action (LUPTA)”
Initiated in April 2021 and will end in January 2023, it is funded by IOM Office in Romania.
"Intercontinental collaborations for the protection of victims from Asia to Europe"
The project is being carried out simultaneously in Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania, initiated in January 2022 this project end in December 2023 and is funded by La Strada International.
“Choose Love – individual budget for victims of human trafficking”
This project is implemented in the period July-December 2022 and is funded by Choose Love UK.
“Emergency funds for people from Ukraine”
This project is implemented in the period April-December 2022 and is funded by La Strada International.
"Valeria"

From vulnerability to independence, this project is implemented in the period October 2022-June 2023 and is funded by International Rescue Committee.

Protection and assistance for vulnerable girls and women in the context of migration.
The project proposes an integrated approach to the risks of trafficking and exploitation, so that girls and women potential victims, presumed or identified, will benefit from specialized protection and integration services, regardless of whether they are from Romania, Ukraine, or other countries. Also, the project involves integrated coordination of protection and assistance services with all responsible actors: public social services, other NGOs, prosecutors and specialized police and international organizations.
The project has a duration of 12 months, with a start date of December 1, 2022.
Erasmus+ EU programme for education, training, youth and sport

SAPE- Adult Education in Victim Support: Empowering Men affected by Human Trafficking and Severe Exploitation. Exchange of Experience & Developing Recommendations.

The aim of the project is to bring forth the integration of adult education activities and programs into the field of victim support for men affected by Trafficking in Human Beings (THB) and severe exploitation.

The project will bring together 5 organizations in 5 EU-member-states, which are providing victim support services for affected men. All 5 organizations have gathered experience in working practically with male victims, applying a holistic, human-rights-based and gender-sensitive approach.

Partners:

Institute for Women’s and Men’s Health (location Men’s Health Center) Austria
Health in Portuguese, Portugal
ADPARE, Romania
Work and Life in Berlin, Germany
ANIMUS Association, Bulgaria

The coordination program for victims/witnesses in judicial proceedings 

The coordination program for victims/witnesses in judicial proceedings is implemented in partnership with National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons as an integrated part of supporting efforts to assist and protect victims of trafficking in persons/minors and child pornography.

The coordination of victims and judicial proceedings represents all the measures, activities and specific actions adopted in order to facilitate the participation of victims in these proceedings, with an emphasis on protecting their fundamental rights.

Concretely, the coordination of the victim begins when the presumed victim is informed about her rights, as well as made aware of the legal procedures.

Supporting the victim’s participation in all phases of the criminal process (prosecution and criminal investigation, trial and enforcement), as well as in obtaining compensation for physical and psychological harm and financial compensation granted based on law no. 211/2004, which consists of:
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Accompanying and emotional support at the hearings;

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Permanent information;

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Legal representation through specialized lawyers;

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Clinical psychological expertise at the request of criminal investigation bodies and judges;

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Emergency and safe accommodation;

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Ensuring safe transport;

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Financial support during their hearings.

The services offered under the protection and assistance program (crisis, medium or long duration) were carried out:

  • in the family of origin or extension of the victims;
    at the ADPARE counseling center – here the victims participated in individual, group and family counseling and therapy activities;
  • educational and recreational activities;
  • in residential system / regime – in transit and long-term, in the protected apartment of ADPARE.

Protection and assistance services for minor victims of trafficking were provided exclusively with the participation of guardians, both family members and representatives of social assistance and child protection services.

The integrated provision of assistance and protection services also involved this year the provision of services for the dependents of the victims (dependent minor children), as well as for the parents/support persons/guardians, in the case of minor victims.

The aim of the protection and assistance program for victims of trafficking in human beings is to generate a comprehensive and flexible mechanism for assisting victims of trafficking in human beings, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religious affiliation, and socio-economic status to overcome vulnerability and build independent living skills, by providing integrated assistance and partnership services.

The projects implemented by ADPARE has the following objectives:

• providing assistance and protection services to victims of trafficking in human beings, services offered through specialized and individualized intervention;
• community development through awareness activities of the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings;
• strengthening cooperation with providers of specialized services for victims of human trafficking in the countries of destination;
• strengthening physical, emotional security and strengthening economic/self-sustainability security for victims of trafficking in human beings and their dependents.

In order to support criminal cases, victim coordination can also represent their legal assistance in civil cases related to the criminal case. Examples: divorce, minor custody, paternity recognition, etc.

 

Other services complementary to the coordination in judicial proceedings:

Accommodation in ADPARE’s protected house:

Shelter for women victims of human trafficking who are either in a transit situation in Bucharest (for 1-2 nights) or in a crisis situation (for 1-2 weeks) and long -term (for several months, depending on individual needs).

Improving the housing situation in the nuclear family of origin, extended family or in the community:

It consists in ensuring a safe home by improving the housing situation: repairs, endowments with household items and furniture, paying utilities, paying rents in the community or in school camp, college, etc

Material support in crisis situation:

It consists in providing individualized funds necessary to cover the basic needs (food, hygienic and cleaning products, clothes and shoes) during the crisis intervention period and / or in the first six months after entering the program for long-term intervention. This activity is supported by the counseling service to develop individual budget management skills. In addition to the funds managed by victims and / or legal representatives, donations of material goods are distributed according to their needs.

Psychological counseling and psychotherapy:

Consist in providing permanent emotional support, individual and family psychological counselling and individual, couple/family psychotherapy.

Medical assistance:

Consists in covering the costs for medical insurance, investigation, and medical consultation, as well as for the purchase of prescribed medical treatments and /or usual medication.

Social assistance:

It consists of counseling regarding the rights to social benefits, mediating the relationship with the representatives of the public social services, support for the renewal of identity documents, covering the costs of: safe transportation, communication and parcels.

Educational assistance:

It consists of emotional and financial support for formal education: mediation of the relationship with school inspectorates, schools for school reintegration, payment of school fees and means necessary for schooling; as well as for informal education: educational toys for preschoolers, tutoring for students, development of skills (PC operation, learning foreign languages, etc.), educational leisure activities.

Professional assistance:

Consists of vocational counseling, support to undertake the professional qualification courses, education regarding rights at work, mediating relationship with professional coaching service providers, emotional support in finding and maintaining the job, education regarding the development of independent professional activities: authorized agricultural producers, individual authorized persons, individual or family businesses, etc.

Repatriation support:

Consists of pre-repatriation counseling, accompanying and emotional support, ensuring safe transport.