The project idea was initially formulated in the summer of 2008 and represented an initiative supported simultaneously by many members and organisations within the judiciary (inter alia, the Supreme Cassation  Prosecution Office and individual courts), which launched a spirited discussion on contradictory court practice in relation to cases of human trafficking in the wake of conducting a check and establishing a critical backlog of court cases and corresponding rulings which had not been studied and analysed. On the basis of a survey of the professional training and needs of BJA members, human trafficking emerged as a major concern. The results indicated judges felt inadequately equipped to interpret and apply the law and insufficiently informed about human trafficking as a criminal and social phenomenon and its implications for the victims.

The main goal of the project was to improve the efficiency of law enforcement, with a particular focus on human trafficking, by raising the professional competence of judges in the area of law interpretation and application and their awareness and knowledge of the specific nature and main characteristics of the criminal offence. For this purpose, specialist research and analyses were conducted aiming to explore the phenomenon, the profile of the victims and perpetrators, applicable legislation in this area, relevant court practice and good practices in the area of working with the victims. A training module was designed on this basis and training events were conducted for approximately 10 percent of all judges in Bulgaria whilst the target group was expanded to include prosecutors and investigating police officers. Published research was disseminated to all stakeholders and was widely publicized within the community of legal practitioners. The training events were also used as a platform for the promotion of good practices from other European countries with similar provisions on human trafficking. Research and training activities were organised and conducted in partnership with a number of organisations, which formed a network and continue to work actively, as well as carry out further research and training.

The project has improved the quality of law enforcement on human trafficking cases not only by making available expert and comprehensive analyses of a strong practical bias and the organised training events, but also by shifting professional attitudes to new practices and approaches to working with the victims. The process has involved both professional groups concerned in criminal law enforcement as well as legal researchers, higher education practitioners, junior magistrates, court witnesses and professionals engaged in the support activities addressing the needs of the victims of violence and human trafficking, including social workers.

The following good practices were developed in the course of project implementation:

1)                  Ongoing monitoring of activities and the condition of the target group. Constant contact with the target group, not only involving it in project activities and assessment, but also ensuring ongoing needs analysis with view of adapting the project accordingly. This allowed the project to become highly flexible in case of new needs arising and fostered initiative-taking in the target group to request specific trainings.

2)                  Where risks with implications for partner activities were identified, support was provided in a timely manner by integrating the expert knowledge of a third similar professional organisation;

3)                  A high standard of team work and a decision making process underlined by a broad consensus among all project partners and a constant exchange of information, in an environment of mutual trust and professional support. Therefore, the achievements of the project can be attributed in equal measure to all members of the project team and all external associates and demonstrates that risks and challenges are best tackled by dedicated joint effort;

4)                  External consultants were used within the framework of all analytical and training components of the project and services were provided by experienced professional in the relevant field. This enhanced the representativeness and usefulness of end products vis-à-vis the target group;

5)                  Strict adherence to professional standards for conducting research and training events on the basis of the needs identified by the partners involved in project implementation;

6)                  Use of an interdisciplinary approach to select the project team and target groups;

7)                  Four training sessions were held in different parts of the country to achieve a larger project scale and to involve more professionals and district areas affected by increased sensitivity to human trafficking. These cities were:
- Sofia
- Plovdiv
- Veliko Tarnovo
-  Stara Zagora

8)                  The project has covered a much wider group of respondents than originally anticipated and targeted. The training sessions were attended by judges, prosecutors, police officers and other professionals. The total number of people covered by the trainings is as follows:
- Judges - 110
- Prosecutors and police investigators - 58
- Victims of trafficking - 31
- Other experts - 41

9)                  The training materials, the book with research and recommendations made on the topic of the project, reached over 1100 respondents. The originally prepared 120 folders with analytical materials for the first training in Plovdiv reached over 100 judges and prosecutors who attended the general meeting of BJA. After the preparation and printing of the book FAIR TRIAL FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICING in 1000 copies, containing the same materials, it was also sent to the libraries of the appellate courts and prosecution offices in the country to the sections of the BJA and deposited in the National Library.

Contact information:

Rumen Tzonkov

Cell Phone: ++359 896 600 720

[email protected]