Trafficking in human beings

Its main feature is trade and consists in transferring an individual from his/her origin country to another against his/her will for the purpose of exploiting his/her labour or body.

Many victims have been abducted by international criminal groups, others have been sold by their own families or lured by making false promises to provide them with a job.

This phenomenon is closely linked to organised crime on a large scale, which gains huge profits from the exploitation of human beings and it is often involved in other criminal activities, such as drugs and arms trafficking.

Women and children are the most vulnerable victims of this modern form of slavery, essentially based on sexual exploitation. Generally, victims are deprived of all fundamental rights, they have no legal status and are placed in a condition of extreme dependence on his/her traffickers by the threat or use of ill treatment.

A PERSON IS CONSIDERED AS A VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING IF

• he/she is subject to violence
• he/she exposes himself/herself to grave and immediate danger if he/she tries to escape the conditions imposed by the criminal organisation
• he/she exposes himself/herself to grave and immediate danger if he/she testifies against his/her traffickers in preliminary investigations or criminal proceedings

A PERMIT TO STAY FOR PURPOSES OF SOCIAL PROTECTION IS ISSUED TO VICTIMS BY THE provincial HEAD OF POLICE

a) upon request by the welfare services of local authorities or private social organisations enrolled in a special register and having stipulated an agreement with the interested local authority
b) upon request by the State Prosecutor in the event criminal proceedings have been initiated in relation to violence related crimes or crimes involving serious forms of exploitation
c) on the Provincial Head’s of Police initiative

The permit:

• has a six months validity renewable for a period of one year or more if necessary in connection with legal proceedings
• gives access to the national health service, to the enrollement on unemployment lists, to subordinate work or study
• upon expiry, it may be turned into a permit to stay for work or study purposes if the alien works or attends education

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED

• form duly filled in
• 4 passport photos
• passport copy
• documents on the assistance and integration programme provided to the alien
• acceptance of commitments related to the programme by the head of the assistance facility involved