Human Trafficking in Moldova: It's All About the (Lack of) Benjamins

Every year, the U.S. State Department releases a Trafficking in Persons report which rates countries on their efforts to combat human trafficking.  Each week, I'll be providing a brief glance at human trafficking in one of those countries, based off the 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report, with my own (often snarky) analysis added.  This is just a snapshot of what's going on in the country.  For more information, you can check out the full text of the 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report here.

This Week's Country..... Moldova

Basic Info

The U.S. State Department ranks Moldova, Europe's poorest country, on their Tier 2 Watch List, meaning that while they don't come anywhere near meeting the minimum standards for combating trafficking, the government is trying really hard. A number of Tier 2 Watchlist countries face significant trafficking issues, and Moldova is no exception. Despite the government's best efforts, Moldova remains primarily a source country for trafficking victims, with people also trafficked to and through the country. So does Moldova have the political and economic stability to truly tackle trafficking? As the saying goes, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is still financially weak from the failure of communism followed by a multi-decade depression with negative job growth. Well, that might not be the exact saying, but it's what Moldova is facing.

Who Are the Victims and What Are They Doing?

Women and young girls continue to be trafficked into commercial sex at alarming rates, despite some successful prevention campaigns. Since Moldova has been focused primarily on combating forced prostitution for the last several years, trafficking into labor sectors of both men and women has been a largely ignored, increasing problem. Moldova is a case study in how prevention programs that ignore some forms of trafficking can just channel victims into those industries. Some Moldovan children are also trafficked to beg in other countries.

Where Are They Coming From and Where Are They Going?

Moldova is cold and the economy kinda sucks, so it's not an attractive location for a lot of people -- and that includes traffickers. That's why most of Moldova's trafficking involves Moldovans being sent abroad to Turkey, Russia, Cyrus, the Middle East, and and Western Europe.It's the drive to leave Moldova for more economic opportunities that tempts many Moldovans into accepting risky offers of overseas employment which turn out to be trafficking. In particular, men especially are trafficked to Russia to work in industrial factories. Moldovans are also trafficked internally, from rural areas into the capital, Chisinau.

What's Gotta Happen?

Along with any anti-trafficking measures, Moldova has to create ways for people to earn a living while staying in the country. Otherwise, no anti-trafficking programs, however effective, will stick. They also need to crack down on corrupt officials that allow trafficking to thrive, learn to identify victims trafficked internally, and reduce demand for human trafficking in Moldova. Overall, Moldova is a great country for outside organizations to fund programs in because the political will is strong, despite the lack of cash. This is truly a case where fighting trafficking is all about the Benjamins, baby.

Photo credit: akk_rus