International Human Rights Day: December 10

Today we mark December 10 - International Human Rights Day. Trafficking in human beings is a serious violation of human rights and a serious crime against the person, which requires special attention and action to support the victims.

The main focus of the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (NCCTHB) is the protection, rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of trafficking. In pursuance of the National Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2017-2021, the NCCTHB offers and implements operational measures to overcome the consequences of the crime and to reintegrate the victims into society by providing assistance, support and protection.

All this is envisaged in the National Mechanism for Targeting and Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking(NMT), which according to the Anti-Trafficking Act is coordinated by the National Commission. NMT follows an approach based on the rights of the victims. The objectives of the Mechanism are to ensure respect for the human rights of injured parties in the provision of effective care and referral to relevant specialized services. It includes basic principles of dealing with victims, including unconditional support, security, safety and confidentiality.

The NCCTHB has specialized services on the territory of Sofia, Varna and Bourgas, and for the period 2016-2018 for about 65 victims of trafficking in human beings have been taken care. Since the beginning of this year, medical, psychological, legal and social support has been provided by the National Commission to 29 victims. Basic principles of service performance are accessibility for all the victims, providing protection for individuals according to their specific needs and respect for their rights. In addition to helping to cope with and recovering from the crisis, victims also receive psychosocial support for reintegration into society.

The European Commission calls, in the context of the victim-oriented approach enshrined in the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive, Member States to focus their efforts on protecting victims and their rights.

According to the EU report for December 2018, 20 532 men, women and children were registered as victims of human trafficking in the EU between 2015 and 2016. Women and girls continue to be the most affected by trafficking in human beings (68% ), while children represent 23% of the registered victims. Trafficking for sexual exploitation remains the most widespread form (56%), followed by traffic for labor exploitation (26%).

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948. On this occasion, the International Human Rights Day was celebrated in 1950. The Declaration is the first major achievement of the world organization in this field and the first enrollment a world-wide level of rights, the bearers of all human beings. It consists of 30 members, which are further developed in subsequent international agreements, regional human rights instruments, national constitutions and laws.