Round Table Conference on The Prevention and Fight against Human Trafficking

A Round Table Conference on the Prevention and Fight against Human Trafficking was organized by the National and Regional Security Department and the Center for Strategic Researches in Defence and Security at UNWE. The Forum was devoted to the European Anti-Trafficking Day and in it took part Prof. Kamen Petkov, Executive Director of the International Institute of Security and Cooperation, Antoaneta Vasileva, Secretary of the National Commission for Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings, Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov, Head of the National and Regional Security Department, Prof. Stefan Hristov, lecturers, Doctoral students, undergraduates.

Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov (on the right), Antoaneta Vasileva and Prof. Kamen Penkov

In the report by the European Commission entitled Human Trafficking during 2010-2014: Abolition of Slave Trade which was published three days ago were pointed out some eloquent facts: during the period 2010-2014 in the EU states had been registered 30 146 victims of human trafficking as 80% of them had been women and over 1000 – children and all they were trafficked for sexual exploitation. It is a phenomenon as for the whole world as also for Bulgaria, pointed out Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov who was also a moderator of the event. The human trafficking is not only a profitable criminal business but it has also a disastrous social impact, said the Head of the National and Regional Security Department.

Participants in the Round Table Conference

This phenomenon is also one of the most serious challenges of our times, outlined Antoaneta Vasileva. In her presentation the Secretary of the National Commission for Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings focused on the issue in Bulgaria, its roots in the poverty, lack of information, social experience and education, methods of involving people in the traffic,  legislation framework, etc. Antoaneta Vasileva commented on the specific actions for a fight against the phenomenon, the mechanisms of support to victims and she paid a special attention to the role of young people for the solution of the problem.

During the presentation of Antoaneta Vasileva

The fight against human trafficking is extremely difficult, said Kamen Penkov who specified the criminological phenomenon also as serious business obtaining a high profit by sexual and labour exploitation of people. The Executive Director of the International Institute of Security and Cooperation assessed the work of the National and Regional Security Department for the preparation of professionals and pointed out that young people would have the chance for an encouraging progress in the solution of the problem.

In his presentation of the project titled Social and Economic Aspects of Human Trafficking in 2009-2012 Prof. Stefan Hristov, Head of the project outlined the major facts and conclusions done during the large-scale university research. He examined the relevance of the global problem directly affecting as the whole society security as also the security of particular individual. Prof. Hristov exposed also the practical results of the project and pointed out that for three years 698 people had participated in the implementation of the project . 

In the Large Conference Hall. On the right: Doctoral student Darina Zhelyazkova

Doctoral student Darina Zhelyazkova from the National and Regional Security Department spoke about the fight against human trafficking, prerequisites for the development of the phenomenon, the scientific and practical challenge, organizations and researchers abroad. She emphasized also on the impact of human trafficking on the national security.