SOCIAL EXCLUSION AS CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE OF TRAFFICKING IN CHILDREN IN SOUTH-EAST EUROPE

SOCIAL EXCLUSION AS CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCEOF TRAFFICKING IN CHILDREN IN SOUTH-EAST EUROPE Sydney, 20-22August 2012 Vesna Sucur-Janjetovic PhD in Social Work University of Banja Luka Bosnia and Herzegovina

What is trafficking/ modern slavery? • United Nations Definition of Trafficking in Persons • In 2002, many countries ratified the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, otherwise known as the Palermo Protocol. In the Palermo Protocol, the following definitions are provided: • 'Trafficking in persons' shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs; • Holding a peroson in slavery is the most important element of trafficking.

HISTORY OF SLAVERY • 6800 BC – first cities in Mesopotamia • 4000 BC – drawings of slaves on clay • 2100 BC – Documents on papyrus: slaves are private property of citizens • 1790 BC – first written codes and slave’s values • 1724 – Slavery Code from Louisiana • 1865 – Slavery abolished in USA • 1888 - Slavery abolished in Brazil • 1980 - Slavery abolished inMauritania • 1992 - Slavery abolished inPakistan • 2008 – New YorkConvention

TRAFFICKING IN PEOPLE = MODERN SLAVERY • Over 4 million people are victims of trafficking every year – UN assessments. • Approx. $ 7 -10 billion annual profit from this illegal industry. • Third biggest illegal industry in the World (after drugs and weapons smuggling).

“I felt like a piece of meat with two eyes. I thought that I would end up like nobody and nothing.”Caroline, from Romania to Bosnia(17 years when trafficked; 20 years when interviewed by IOM) Photo taken from NEST –STOP Trafficking NGO(Denmark) , 2007

Trafficking in people in Balkans/Social and Professional Problem • Balkan countries as considered as countries of origin, transit and destination. • There is no official and reliable statistics on total number of victims of trafficking in Bosnia. However, approx.1300 victims have been identified and assisted during the period from 1999-2010 (“dark number” is much higher) • Inadequate cooperation between relevant institutions (police, prosecution, health care, social welfare, education institutions, NGO sector, media etc.)

WHY RESEARCH HUMAN TRAFFICKING FROM SOCIAL WORK PERSPECTIVE • The main goal: Assessment of mechanisms and processes that suppose to provide social reaction via different social actors involved in combat against human trafficking, during the processes of identification, rehabilitation, re-socialization and re/integration of victims.. • Two topics of Social Work: • New research topic in the field of social work in SE Europe; • New field in which social workers intervene in SE Europe;

SOCIAL WORK THEORETICAL FRAMWORK • Theoretical framework of social work as social reaction on deviations and phenomenon of human trafficking • Ecological perspective on deviations • Structural-functional perspective on deviations • Relevant Models of Social Work treatment of victims of human trafficking 1. System approach with family orientation 2. Some concepts of feministic paradigms 3. Empowerment model (recovery and re/integration) • We can talk about social integration and social reintegration of VoHT

CONSEQUENCES OF TRAFFICKING • PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) • Difficulties in psycho-social functioning • Reintegration problems after the process of repatriation

Main routes of human trafficking in South-East Europe

Specificity of BiH compared with the countries in the Region • Total number of identified victims of human trafficking in BiH 1999-2009 (approx.1100). 91% CHILDREN VICTIMS.

BiH – from mainly transit and destination country to mainly country of origin • Ration between identified foreign citizens and citizens of BiH victims of human trafficking

ETIOLOGY OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING • Etiology of HT in BiH is mainly conditioned by global and regional socio-political processes, and individual characteristics. • Main factors: • Poverty and lack of possibilities • Disintegration of family and wish to leave the country • Gender (feminization of poverty, feminization of migration, family violence) • Market demands • Conflicts and social transition • Globalization and migrations

Term “social exclusion” • It is usually used to describe the position/status of some social groups in terms of conditions that do not allow certain groups to participate in social life of certain society; • It is the issue of fulfilling human rights and social potentials; • Sometimes it is brought in line with a psycological phenomenon of social deprivation; • However, it is much wider then the definition of poverty; • Points out that certain social groups have unsuitable social position, and it usually gets even more difficult; • It is also connected to conditions in which certain social groups are depending on, or are deprived from fulfilment of their human rights;

Socialy excluded = socialy marginalised? Term “marginalisation” as a key term! • Marginalised = distanced from some social values (wellbeing, health, work etc.) • Social incapability is a caracteristic of marginalisation/social dependence • Has cummulative character (live sand effect) • Not wanting to be in such living position (in difference to those ones that decide to live socialy excluded upon their own will – for example – monarsh) • Some are in conflict with social systems (eg. delinquents) • Some have so called “poor social communication skills) • All of those characteristics are in line with the position of children victims of trafficking (before and after the experience of trafficking)

Forms of Social Exclusion • Weakening of “individual-society” connections • Consequences of faliures in one or more social systems • Exclusion from the school and work activities

Tasks of Social Work as a science and practical-applicative discipline • To understand and assess the past of victims and determining socio-economical factors that made the fruitful grounds for their later exploatation; • To analyse and document psycological influences of trafficking experience, including in-detail analyses of traums caused by trafficking experience; • To provide counseling services using methods that are designed to support victims of trafficking to overcome their traumas and to prepare them for later re/integration activities.

IS THERE A NEED TO STRENGHTEN THE LINKS IN THE SYSTEM OF SUPPORT TO CHILDREN VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING?

Question: What is the current situation? CHAOS! Early interventions Health Police and Prosecutors Family support Social Services Sanctuary, deportation, Court proceedings Public health Municipalities Community services National and local institutions Social Work Centers Support network NGOs Mental Health Care Centers Education inst.

Do we need change? • If we take into consideration the fact that everyone involved in combating human trafficking “have a problem”, we can not expect only individuals to change, but we should expect that patterns of relationships change between an individual and its social environment. This means that all involved need to change to a certain extent. • Also, people/professionals who are expected to be significant resourse in community (among many are social workers) need to change in order ro fulfill the needs of those ones in trouble. • One of the key and central tasks of social work is to introduce changes in social situations throughout introduction of new approaches towards certain social problemsor phenomenons.

INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH – SINCE 2008. • State Coordinator • Regional Monitoring Teams • NGOs and other partner organizations • Social Welfare Centers • Appointment of Inter-Ministerial group and coordination of activities; Bringing Action Plans etc. • Identification of victims, escorting to shelter; information management and cooperation with other partners. • Shelter, necessary help and support while in Shelter. • Prevention activities, diagnostics, treatment and counseling, organizing local resources (community), monitoring etc. Specially important role: custody.

Possible tasks of Social Work Constantly develop practice through partnership with others involved in combating human trafficking. Why is this so important? • Social workers orbit in space of different definitions and different experiences of reality of certain social situation and/or problem, including the problems of victims of trafficking that are marginalised and socialy excluded. • Problem Formulating is always a result of joint efforts and achievments of people that are involved in it (so it is with social workers too). • Assessment, interventions and providing services are also result of joint efforts and achievments. • In order to make a change, sometimes it is necesary to re-shape the problem. • Alternative behavior patterns need to be available to observations. • Resources often need to be re-arranged differently (which is a system problem).

FORMS OF SERVICES • Shelter • NGO Forum of Solidarity – EMMAUS 2. Medical care and support • By NGOs 3. Psychological and psychiatric assistance • By NGOs 4. Legal aid and support • By NGOs • Education and professional training • By NGOs 6. Employment support • By NGOs 7. Family mediation and counseling • NGOs do not provide this service • Social Welfare Centers – 74% never provided shelter; 26% - Yes via NGOs • Social Welfare Centers – 79% never; 21% - Yes via NGOs • Social Welfare Centers – 80% never; 20% - Yes via NGOs • Social Welfare Centers – 76% never; 24% - Yes (1-4 times) • Social Welfare Centers – 87% never; 13% - Yes (in 1-2 cases) • Social Welfare Centers – 95% never; 5% - Yes (in 1 case) • Social Welfare Centers – 83% never; 17% - Yes (in 1-3 case)

SWCs participation in treatment of VoHT in BiH • Counseling with families of children VoHT • Group therapy activities during rehabilitation process • Occupancy therapy with VoHT • RESEARCH RESULTS • 56% no experience; 23% always provide this service • 56% no experience; 22% do not provide this service • 70% no experience; 17% do not provide this service

REHABILITATION, RE-SOCIALIZATION AND REPATRIATION PHASE • Goals: • Rehabilitation – providing psycho-physical and social support to victims in order to regain lost capabilities and re-vitalize regardless all difficulties; • Re-socialization – planned and system-programmed process of correcting socially not-adjusted opinions, beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviors. Basic goal: re/integration; • Repatriation – concerns victims that are foreign citizens. This process begins with free-will-agreement to return to the country of origin.

Participation of SWC during phases of Rehabilitation, Re-socialization and Repatriation • Change of communication patterns in family • Learning new social roles • Contact with children VoHT during re-socialization process • Social network assessment • RESEARCH RESULTS • 58% no experience; 26% often apply activities in this direction • 60% no experience; 25% often and always • 53% have no contact; 34% if needed, a 5% weekly and monthly, while only % had daily contacts with children VoHT as their clients • 58% no experience; 3% never; 16% often

Re/integration of children into their community of origin 8% 11% 5% 11% 58% 7% No experience Always Often Not often Rarely Never RE/INTEGRATION PHASE 4 DIMENTIONS OF RE/INTEGRATION: • Physical • Socio-economical • Socio-political • Cultural

PARADIGMA CHANGE????!!!! INDIVIDAL • FOCUS ON NEEDS OF CLIENT

INSTEAD OF CONCLUSIONS • Current situation • Human trafficking phenomenon statistically exists in BiH since 1999. and has its specificities in comparison with other countries in the Region – the highest number of identified VoHT and significant decrease in number of identified VoHT foreign citizens in past 5 years. At the same time, there is an increase in number of domestic victims, first of all children. • Establishing the Office of State Coordinator for Fight against Human Trafficking meant the beginning of systematic suppression of HT, as well as organization of help and support to VoHT. • Partners’ Networking formally started a process that demanded more active participation of participants from the social welfare field. • Education of Social Workers – since 2010. – process has not been finished and evaluation was not carried out. • The role of Social Work is recognized from all other partners as very important, but not developed and present in practice.

INSTEAD OF CONCLUSIONS • Critical reflection • Etiology factors recognized in SE Europe context require more active role of society and states in order to reduce their impact, and to reduce possibilities for recruitment of new victims and/or re-victimization. • Social Welfare Centers officially exists as partners, but participation in Interdisciplinary Teams and work with VoHT in practice depends on individual activities of social workers and there is no system solutions and procedures. This fact limits the success of rehabilitation and re-socialization processes which therefore has direct impact on the re/integration of VoHT.. • Such approach leaves room for constant critics towards social welfare sector and at the same time the field of social work does not have sufficient support from authorities in comparison to responsibilities. • Consequences of such approach: Re/integration Programs are neglected which has direct impact on position of VoHT, meaning that their position is worse then before the recruitment in the chain of HT.

INSTEAD OF CONCLUSIONS • Some recommendations • It is necessary to intensify prevention activities and social strategies and programs that anticipate more active role of representatives of social welfare. • Formal cooperation of all partners at State and Regional level requires permanent reviewing and evaluation of existing Action Plans, but municipal level of authorities and social welfare sector have to be more involved in the whole process in order to increase the chances for VoHT to re/integrate into the society. • It is recommended that future researches include the opinions of VoHT on protection programs, as well as on individual plans and programs of re/integration.

CONCLUSION • This time, just as many other times before this presentation, an open question remains – the question about the motives and instincts of humans to behave inhumanly towards other humans. Today, in the 21st Century, we look at the phenomenon of human trafficking, asking ourselves: “When would we place this social phenomenonin history?” Thank you for your attention!

SOCIAL EXCLUSION AS CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE OF TRAFFICKING IN CHILDREN IN SOUTH-EAST EUROPE