Providing Sustainability of Specialised Support for Victims of Human Trafficking.

Supporting and protecting victims of trafficking in human beings (VoT) is a top priority of Bulgaria's anti-trafficking system, relevant legislation and in its international commitments. Bulgaria has adopted a victim-centered approach in its National Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2017-21, the annual National Programmes and instruments such as the National Mechanism for Referral and Support of Victims of Trafficking, whose coordinator is the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (NCCTHB). As of end-2018, Bulgaria has the largest capacity for specialised support for VoT - 8 services in Sofia, Varna, and Burgas with a total capacity of 36. This is reflected in the positive assessments of the country in international reports such as the U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report. The financing of the services in Varna and Burgas is provided by the budget of the NCCTHB. The financing of the services in Sofia-the Shelter for Temporary Accommodation for Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings (STAVTHB) and the Crisis Centre for Children Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings - was provided by a project under the Bulgarian-Swiss Cooperation Programme, which ended in early 2019. While the functioning of the Crisis Centre is expected to be ensured in co-operation with the Sofia Municipality by the end of 2019, the STAVTHB ceased operations on 31 December 2018. Currently, the NCCTHB is in a situation where infrastructure and equipment are available to provide care for VoT but the necessary funding for its daily operation is unavailable. The current project will ensure sustainability in the provision of specialised services for VoT in human beings in Bulgaria by1) resuming the operation of the STAVTHB in Sofia; 2) training of staff to provide specialised care for VoT; 3) developing an integrated database for the services provided for VoT in the shelters in Sofia, Varna, and Burgas in order to access real-time information.

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