Human trafficking has always been a major issue, especially in the highlight of the refugee crisis. An important event has happened this week, related to the problem: the National Commission for Combating Traffic in Human Beings and the Burgas Municipality have signed a contract for the usage of two estate properties for accommodation and reintegration of human trafficking victims. Vice Premier and Chair of the Commission Meglena Kuneva visited Burgas due to the occasion, explaining that the creation of the reintegration centers was done for a first time in Bulgaria. According to her the issue is a major one, as victims of human trafficking may remain unnoticed in this huge refugee wave that has intruded Europe. The problem shouldn’t be mixed with the smuggling of refugees, as trafficking is an existing topic that has been identified and the authorities have the capabilities and tools to cope with it, according to Kuneva. The good coordination between the prosecution, the General Directorate for Fighting the Organized Crime, Border Police and the committee for the fight with trafficking is a good example of that. It now has its results in Burgas with a large number of sentences and the creation of the first accommodations. One of the goals of the latter is the victims to feel safer to testify against the traffickers. Sexual exploitation and the purchase of newly born babies are the two most common crimes.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev