The first training in Hungary on the identification and referral of (presumed) child victims of trafficking in Hungary, implemented in the framework of the Mario project in Hungary took place on the 28th of October 2013 in Budapest.
For the first time in Hungary, a multidisciplinary group of frontline workers implementing direct work with foreign unaccompanied minors on a daily basis was trained on the application of child-specific identification techniques. The participants were eager to learn about indicators of child trafficking and how to apply them in practice, which remained an issue under explored in Hungary.
Philip Ishola, the Director of the Counter Human Trafficking Bureau trained the participants on indicators of child trafficking and how to apply them in practice, using interactive methods involving role plays and real case studies. The role play exercise triggered a great discussion allowing participants to share their thoughts, and overcome the difficulties they face in their daily practice.
The training also focused on the referral process of child victims, an area which remains poorly addressed by the Hungarian legislative framework as far as foreign unaccompanied minors’ cases are concerned. The International and European standards that Hungary should comply with concerning child victims of human trafficking were presented and despite the absence of a complete transposition, informal referral procedures were shared and discussed with participants.
The national human trafficking focal point of the Ministry of Interior also gave a thorough analysis on the Government Decree 354, that came into effect as of the 1st of January 2013 which provides the basis of the national referral mechanism and regulates the procedural steps for to be taken for Hungarian and EU nationals for (potential) victims of human trafficking.
The participants were also asked to draft a set of recommendations on how the identification system for child victims of trafficking could be amended. The most supported recommendations read as follows:
- Setup of a working group on legal harmonization, child protection with migration and asylum
- Protocol to be fine-tuned to cater for minors and adolescents
- Age assessment methods to be revised, control study
- Specialized investigative teams within the Police
- Web portal for legal assistance (MoI, Helsinki), practical, steps clearly delineated
As indicated by most participants, they are eager to use the identification methods they acquired during the day, and a follow up to the training will allow the Mario project partner in Hungary to evaluate whether the number of identification of child victims has increased through an analysis of the number of referrals made to the competent authorities in the next 6 months. Mario will continue to build the capacity of the Hungarian child protection system this year and a second training will take place in November in Hódmezővásárhely, for the professionals of the child care home where non-asylum seeking foreign unaccompanied minors are placed. The training will be held with the involvement of an expert organization on intercultural management techniques in social work.
(Terre des hommes Foundation Hungary)