"Government of the Republic of Moldova has strengthened its efforts so Moldova is ranked second in the fights against human trafficking. The government has increased efforts in investigating and prosecuting suspects, including accomplices. An increase in budget to protect victims has been realized. Center for Combating Human Trafficking, Institution specialized in Law Application has a new leadership which has resulted in favorable relations with civil society and international partners", quoted the report presented today by the US State Department.

At the same time, the report says the government has increased law enforcement efforts and increased measures to protect victims of trafficking and increased the budget predestined for these measures.
This report is a complex one and includes some recommendations for improving activities to prevent and combat all forms of human trafficking, such as: more rigorous investigations, harsher measures to combat corruption in the judiciary, improved protection of victims and witnesses saddle.

Please note that following relegation to the Tier 2 Watch List in 2017, the Government, the Ministry of the Interior and the other institutions responsible for preventing and combating this phenomenon have made maximum efforts to advance in that ranking. In order to implement the recommendations of the US State Department Report on the Situation of Human Trafficking in the Republic of Moldova, edition 2017, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has stepped up its efforts by successfully completing a series of priority actions aimed at reducing gaps in preventing and combating trafficking human beings.

In order to strengthen the coordination mechanisms and to improve the quality of the services rendered by the MIA employees, the victims and the potential victims of human trafficking, all the police officers in the country were trained to identify cases at an early stage. In order to exclude the manipulation or intimidation of the witnesses and to reduce the revival and ensure an effective investigation, at the stage of criminal prosecution, 12 criminal trials were initiated on the basis of art. 314 of the Criminal Code, regarding cases of human trafficking, child trafficking, as well as 2 criminal proceedings based on art. 312 Criminal Code.

The return of the Republic of Moldova to this stage means the actions made during the year, the concentration of the authorities in order to solve a serious problem. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and its subordinated institutions will continue to make every effort and apply all the necessary tools to improve the results in this important area.