What is a Transnational Referral Mechanism?
When dealing with transnational human trafficking, victims often need to move from a support system in one country to a different one in another country. If these systems don’t align well and the transition isn’t seamless, it increases the risk of the person being re-trafficked.
A Transnational Referral Mechanism (TRM) is a guiding tool for professionals handling cross-border trafficking cases. The main aims of a TRM are to:
- Enable effective and safe cross-border referrals for victims of human trafficking between states.
- Ensure victims get access to services and support in destination countries, reducing the risk of re-trafficking.
- Raise awareness among state authorities and NGOs on how referral systems work in other countries.
- Enhance cooperation between states in anti-trafficking efforts.
- Support the alignment of principles for transnational referrals.
- Help states meet their obligations to protect and promote the human rights of trafficking victims.
TRMs usually cover the entire referral process, from identification to long-term support for the victim within its specific region. It’s useful for anyone involved in anti-trafficking work or who wants to understand how victim referrals operate.
Enabling an Effective TRM
TRMs rely on partnerships between government agencies, international bodies, and NGOs in origin, transit, and destination countries. For TRMs to function effectively and safely, states need national policies and structures focused on victim rights. These can include:
- Setting up national anti-trafficking focal points to coordinate referrals and offer support.
- Creating formal national referral mechanisms that outline the roles and responsibilities of various authorities and NGOs in assisting victims.
- Developing guidelines or set principles for supporting victims and preventing re-trafficking during each phase of the referral process.
How to use the BSR TRM
The Baltic Sea Region TRM has two main components:
Country profiles for the Baltic Sea Region states
The country profiles explain how each of the 10 CBSS Member States identifies and assists victims of human trafficking and details the rights available to them. These profiles are divided into seven thematic sections.
Resources
The resources section offers materials to aid anti-trafficking work and the development of strong national referral systems.
The TRM website has been updated through the PROMISE-TRM project, co-funded by the European Union.