Project REACT

Reform and action to protect the rights of children, victims of human trafficking, in the justice system!

Victims of child trafficking are subject to a continuous process of victimization as a result of incomplete legislation, but also of the inappropriate practices of professionals in the judiciary system. A lack of research was identified in the field of rights of victims of child trafficking in the justice system, the only detailed research being conducted in 2012 by the Center for Legal Resources, which highlighted that Romania does not have an adequate criminal justice system, adapted to the needs of children and that there is no national methodology to guide professionals in hearing children in an appropriate and friendly way, from the perspective of respecting children’s rights.

The ReAct project (Reform and action to protect the rights of children, victims of human trafficking, in the justice system) is carried out by the Center for Advocacy and Human Rights (CADO) in partnership with the European Center for Legal Education and Research (ECLER) and the Institute for the Bucovina Social Partnership (BUCOVINA INSTITUTE) between March 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022, through the Active Citizens Fund Romania program, financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021.

The ReAct project responds to the need to create an appropriate and friendly hearing environment in the justice system in which the rights of minors are respected and thus put an end to the institutional practice that subjects victims to a long process of victimization. The main tool used is to increase the capacity of 10 NGOs in advocacy actions at national and European level to change the legal framework for hearing minors, in order to increase the chances of success by increasing the number of allies and supporters with expertise in this field.

The project aims to attain a series of clear objectives:

• Training of 10 NGOs in the implementation of advocacy actions at national and European level for the protection and promotion of the rights of child victims of trafficking in the criminal justice system in accordance with European and international standards (Objective 1 of the project);
• Carrying out a national research on the rights of minors, victims of trafficking in the criminal justice system (click to see more info);

  Research Report

• Elaboration of the Package of Proposals to amend the legislation in force (click to see more info);

Meetings of the National Working Group

Expert Proposal

• Implementation of a national and European advocacy campaign to change the legal provisions regarding the hearing of minors in court (Objective no. 2 of the project);
• Organizing a public awareness campaign on the situation of minors as victims of trafficking in the criminal justice system;
• Training of 150 professionals in hearing minors according to European standards and ensuring a child-friendly environment in the criminal justice system (Objective 3 of the project) (click to see more info);

  Training Info

• Organizing a campaign to raise awareness among young people about the risks and effects of child trafficking and the rights of victims of child trafficking.

The ReAct project benefits from a funding of 218,965.79 euros through the Active Citizens Fund Romania program, funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the 2014-2021 EEA Grants.