The Bulgarian state has developed an equivalent mechanism to the one of the National Rapporteur on THB - National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (NCCTHB). It was established by virtue of the Law on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (promulgated State Gazette, No. 46, 2003; amended SG, No. 86, 2005). The Regulation for the Organization and Activity of the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings was approved by Government Decree No. 40 of the Council of Ministers of March 1, 2004 (State Gazette, No. 19, March 9, 2004).

By virtue of the Law for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings five Local Commissions for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings have been established since 2007. They are structures of the National Commission, founded in the risk regions of Pazardjik, Sliven, Burgas, Varna and Montana. Two more are planned to be established in the beginning of 2009 in the towns of Blagoevgrad and Haskovo.

The role of the Local Commissions is to implement the national anti-trafficking policy on local level trough involvement and cooperation with all relevant state and municipal authorities and nongovernmental organizations.

By law The National Commission is responsible for the coordination of all activities undertaken in the field of counteraction of THB in Bulgaria by all state and non-governmental institutions and organizations.

In 2005, the Bulgarian state developed a Coordination Mechanism for Referral, Care and Protection of Repatriated Bulgarian UAM (including children victims of human trafficking). The complex character and the complicated structure of the problem impose the enforcement of a multidisciplinary and inter-institutional approach for its overcoming. As a result the responsible Bulgarian institutions joined their efforts for unifying practices and standards for working on cases of unaccompanied children as well as co-operation and due signalising for undertaking protection measures in the best interest of children.

In 2007, a Transnational referral mechanism for victims of human trafficking (TRM) was developed under a project of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). TRM regulates the necessary procedures that should be taken in cases of international trafficking - from the identification to the victim’s safe return, support and reintegration.

The collected experience from the development and implementation of those two mechanisms has been used in developing the National referral mechanism for victims of THB (NRM). When the victim is within the state borders, the National referral mechanism is the one that defines all relevant steps to be taken.

In order to provide access to programmes and services for protection and reintegration to the victims of human trafficking in Bulgaria, since April 2008 the National Commission together with Foundation “Animus Association” has been developing the NRM under a MATRA funded project (“Development of a National Referral Mechanism in Bulgaria to provide protection and support measures for the (re)integration and social inclusion of trafficked persons” implemented by La Strada International Bulgaria).

According to this, in cases of victim identification the activities under the existing NRM practices are coordinated by the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and its local structures.

As main governmental body, responsible for the development and implementation of the national policy on combating trafficking in human beings, the National Commission exercises the role of National Rapporteur. The Commission is a collective body with the Council of Ministers of Republic of Bulgaria. The Commission is chaired by a deputy prime minister, at present – Mr. Daniel Valtchev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Science. The members of the Commission are representatives at a level of vice ministers or vice directors of the following institutions:

• Ministry of Interior
• Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Justice
• Ministry of Health
• Ministry of Education and Science
• State Agency for Child Protection
• State Agency “National Security"
• Supreme Cassation Court
• Prosecution General’s Office
• National Investigation Service
• Central Commission on Juvenile Delinquency

The National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings has been established on the highest possible state level in order to ensure the implementation of the measures and actions taken on combating trafficking in human beings.

Additionally, the National Commission has established an expert group, consisting of - representatives of all institutions-members of the Commission, including other relevant institutions such as the Agency for Social Protection, the Labour Agency and three major NGOs that work in the field of victims’ protection. The participation of NGOs ensures the involvement of non-governmental actors into policy development and implementation.

9. What are the main tasks and responsibilities of the National Rapporteur in your country?

The main responsibilities of the National Commission are to: 

• Develop, manage, co-ordinate and supervise the implementation of the national policy and strategy for counteracting trafficking in human beings and protection of the victims
• Organize and coordinate the interaction between the individual administrative bodies and organizations for the implementation of the Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Act and the National Programme for Prevention and Counteraction of Trafficking in Human Beings and Protection of the Victims
• Organize research, analysis and statistical recording of data on human trafficking, risk factors, risk groups and new tendencies
• Carry out information, awareness and educational campaigns targeted at potential victims of human trafficking
• Work for the protection and reintegration of the victims of human trafficking
• Suggest new legal measures for synchronization of Bulgarian law with international law in regard to victims’ protection.
  
  
• 9.1. Monitoring and analyses of the situation, trends and possible threads.
• 9.2. Collection of data on THB.
  By virtue of Art.7 of the Law on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, the National Commission is responsible for organizing, studying and analyzing the tendencies, root causes, risk factors, etc. and for collecting statistical recording of data for the purposes of research.
  • 9.2.1. There is a central collection of a statistical data on THB and the data is received is received from various stakeholders.
    At present, the National Commission receives general information for cases of human trafficking from the Ministry of Interior, Prosecution General’s Office and National Investigation Service. Data is also available from a number of non-governmental organizations.
    The National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings does not collect data directly.
• 9.3. Coordination of anti-trafficking activities on a national level.
  One of the main responsibilities of the National Commission is to organizes and coordinate the interaction for the implementation of the Law on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and to manage the implementation of the national policy and strategy in the field of counteraction of THB.
• 9.4. National Reports.
  • 9.4.1. Annual reports
    The National Commission prepares and submits an annual Report on the implementation of the National Programme for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Victims Protection. These annual reports were developed for the following years: 2005, 2006 and 2007. (The reports are attached to the questionnaire).
  • 9.4.2. Reports based on a longer period
    Since the National Commission has existed for 2.5 years, no long-term reports have been developed and released up-to-date. The Commission is looking forward to the possibility for developing specific reports on tendencies in THB in the country, on the main root causes for THB, etc.
• 9.5. Preparation and evaluation of the National Action Plans.
  The National Commission is responsible for the development of The National Programme for Prevention and Counteraction of Trafficking in Human Beings and Protection of Its Victims each year. The Programme represents the national policy for combating trafficking in human beings.
  The newly estimated needs and the current state of affairs on human trafficking in Bulgaria are included into the Programme.
  • 9.5.1. To whom are the above mentioned documents submitted?
  • 9.5.2. Who approves these documents?
    The National Programme is submitted for approval by the National Commission’s members and then sent for adoption by the Council of Ministers.
  • 9.5.3. Who enforces the actions stipulated by the documents?
    All ministries and state institutions members of the National commission, including the Commission itself, enforce the relevant activities of the National Programme for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. The National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings is also responsible for the implementation of the Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Act.
• 9.6. International cooperation in the majority of the above mentioned areas.
  International cooperation is a main responsibility of the NCCTHB and activities on active international cooperation are included in the National Programme for Prevention, and Counteraction of Trafficking in Human Beings and Protection of Its Victims, Section V.
  The National Commission has several joint projects and activities with the governments of The Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Italy and Spain and with international and non-governmental organizations from Austria, France, etc.
• 9.7. Other – please introduce briefly.
  The additional functions of the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings are: 
  • To organize informational, explanatory and educational campaigns for people and groups at risk;
  • To manage and control the activity of the local commissions and centres for protection and help to the victims of illegal traffic of people;
  • To register individuals and non-profit bodies providing asylum to the victims of illegal traffic of people.

Contacts:

National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
Postal address: 52A “G. M. Dimitrov” Blvd., Sofia 1797
Bulgaria
Tel: + 359 2 807 80 50
Fax: + 359 2 807 80 59

Email: office@antitraffic.government.bg  

www.antitraffic.government.bg