CONTINUATION OF “TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION”


01.01.2000-31.03.2000


Country Report

ESTONIA



Name of organization    AIDS-i Tugikeskus - AIDS Information & Support Center
Address                Kopli 32,  10412   Tallinn ,  ESTONIA

Contact person        Jury Kalikov

Name of project    Continuation of “TRAINING and CAPACITY BUILDING AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION”-project


General activities of organization    
    
AIDS-i Tugikeskus (AIDS Information and Support Centre) is a social non-profit non-governmental (NGO) organization.  Our basic field activity includes:
counseling of safer sex, pre- and post testing, AIDS/HIV consulting and consulting about STD-s for public in general and youth; anonymous HIV/STD testing;
collaboration with organization of people, living with HIV/AIDS  -  ESPO
work with target groups: sex-workers - project SEASTAR (1996-1999), concerning
migratory prostitution, project against trafficking of women and girls in Baltic Sea region (in co-operation with Kvinnoforum, SWEDEN and Likestilling Centeret, Norway;  i/v drug users - Needle Exchange Program (support of Lindesmith Centre, NY), Harm Reduction program, rehabilitation centre, needle exchange program.
Organization is the member of EuroCASO, EATG, ILGA, Sex Workers Projects Network.

The aim of the project

To enhance the capacity of work related to trafficking among local Estonian NGO-s interested and working with women and adolescent girls at risk of being trafficked or victims of trafficking in Estonia
To provide case management for trafficked women (layer, crisis financial help, psychologist consultation, medical services, travel expense for return home etc)


Activities, carried out

 Interview for the Kanal 2 television channel - youth program about possibilities for working abroad - 14 January 2001
Interview for Finnish “Nelonen” channel, news - situation with trafficking in Estonia
Articles in Russian and Estonian newspapers - “Den Za Dnjom” 18 January 2001; youth magazine “Cool” - 12 February 2001; Eesti Paevaleht - 24 March 2001.
Article in Finnish newspaper “Iltasanomat” - 12 April - common problems regarding trafficking in women
Day talk-show on KUKU Radio 21 April
Total messages 
 184   
Female callers
 168     
Male callers  
 16     
Callers aged 17-25
 114
Callers aged 25-35
 38
Callers aged 35-60
 26
No versification
 8
Problems of trafficking
 52
Unemployed  
 18
Need information
 161
Parents calls
 32


Financial resources were spend mostly for the securing case management for the trafficked women, such as psychological, legal, medical help, emergency case help, computer and language course, recovery of passports and other documents, telephone and Internet (reaching necessary information, finding information about missing persons etc), testing and counseling possibilities on HIV-STD, women health problems, providing for some women (IDU-s) methadone treatment etc.

Following activities were financed by the project additional budget:
Good practices and Lessons learned
Recommendations for the future

Research of sex business advertising should be continued constantly for mapping of situation of the ways, main manners, countries of destination etc.
It is necessary to implement constantly working help-line by phone with case management possibilities.
Lectures and presentations to students and youth are one of the most effective methods to make awareness about issue of trafficking.
The quality of the printed materials (leaflets, brochures, stickers, etc) should be increased from using mostly copying of existing materials to use of culturally and linguistically appropriated methods, recourses and our new possibilities (computer) and creating of own issues.
Continue lobbying of politicians, mass media, and key persons of state policy for the awareness about trafficking issues.
Continue to find new funding possibilities with the aim of aware the range of activities and services, provided by the project.

Example of case

In April this year young women from Sillamae 29 y.o. Natalia receive the invitation for the job like disainer in “Global Commerce” trade company from Norway (they find she’s personal site in Internet and send message that “were impressed by this site design”.
Natalia come to Norway. She has received work permission in Embassy of Norway in Tallinn and visa (she have Alien’s Passport)
But after the day she’s fiancée from Kohtla-Jarve received by e-mail emergency message from Natalia, she was in panic: “ They beat me like the animal. It’s no exit from this… They abuse me sexually… It’s not near to web-disain! Only abuse…” Natalia were asking to help to do everything possible to help her.
Fiancée was calling the Criminal Police of Oslo and describes the situation. He was informed, that to the moment they receive official statement, its no reasons to worry. They contact Estonian Interpol and receive the answer that it is not in their responsibility.
After that the parents of Natalja and she’s fiancé were once again call to Estonian Interpol. The women who answer on the call were asking to print the text of message of Natalia and also write story on paper. No reaction.
Relatives were take contact with Embassy of Norway in Estonia. The personal of embassy were explain, that they are not able to give any personal information, but promise to contact Estonian Interpol.
Only after some days the representative of Estonian Interpol was informed the news papers about receiving the telephone number of Global Commerce and that with help of Norwegian Police they try to find background of this company.
He makes attention, that it is not difference in fact, that Natalja have no Estonian citizenship.
“Our organization is out from politics - we should help any people, who live in Estonia and take measures to punish people, who makes criminal acts,” says Olavi Kavald, representative of Estonian Interpol.
He was confiding general public that Estonian Government helps Natalja to return home.

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