Early and immediate assistance

Children

When SCRPAS receives information on a presumed child victim of human trafficking, it has to make an assessment of the child’s situation. The assessment must be done no later than five (5) working days after ACRPAS has receive.

If a report includes information on possible violence against the child, a possible threat to the child’s physical or mental safety, health or life or unsafe environment, the SCRPAS has to initiate action no later than 6 hours after receipt of the report. The assessment of the child’s situation has to be ready no later than 3 working days after receipt of the report. 

SCRPAS immediately initiates the appointment of a case manager and informs the municipality that the child is residing about taking the coordination responsibility. Once the case management process has begun, a group of specialists formed by the case manager starts to work with the family. The group need to include participation from SCRPAS, health care, education, social services in the municipality concerned, the relevant law enforcement agencies or specialists from other fields according to the needs of the child and family. Representatives of the local community and non-governmental organisations may be invited to participate. 

The support plan is drawn up for a maximum period of 12 months. If the child has been identified as vulnerable and is in temporary care, temporary accommodation or temporary custody (foster care), the support plan must include actions and measures to ensure that there is no longer a real risk to the child, as well as actions and measures to support the child.

After determining the need for child protection, SCARPS initiates the appointment of a case manager and organises the formation of so-called Mobile team. The Mobile team works with the families for 30 days and can extend this work for a further 10 days if necessary. The specialists can for instance motivate the parents to change their behaviour towards the child, give up their addictions and help resolve internal family conflicts. 

In all cases of child trafficking, psychological, legal and social assistance is provided to minors, in cooperation with the National association against trafficking in human beings. If needed, the child can receive a legal guardian at an early stage.

Children

If the presumed victim is the child, the child rights protection system should be activated. State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour (SCRPAS) is tasked to ensures the safety of the child. 

Being informed of a presumed child victim of human trafficking, SCRPAS removes the child from an unsafe environment and carries out the assessment of the child’s situation. If deemed safe, the child can be accommodated with their parents/parent or other representatives of the child in accordance with the law. SCRPAS can also temporarily place the child in other safe temporary accommodation, in order of priority:

1. Relatives
2. Persons with emotional ties to the child
3. Families caring for and having adopted the child’s sibling
4. Foster families
5. The care centre
6. Family-based residential facility;
7. Child care institutions. 

Temporary accommodation in foster families, care centres, family-based residential facilities and childcare institutions is possible only if they are approved by the mayor of the municipality,

A child, who removed from an unsafe environment, can be sent to a health care facility before the temporary accommodation is organised, if it is necessary to examine the child’s state of health or provide them with health care services.