Final European Conference | TRIPS - Identification of TRafficked International Protection beneficiaries Special needs

UPDATE : Following the Belgian government’s measures and the degradation of the sanitary situation, the conference will take place only online. 

TRIPS is a two-year project which analyses the integration conditions and the risk of being (re)exposed to human trafficking for beneficiaries of international protection (subsidiary protection or refugee status) in the light of the European legal framework. It is implemented since January 2020 in France, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, and Czech Republic.

After obtaining their international protection status, whether or not on the grounds of a trafficking situation, the European Qualification Directive of December 13, 2011, and which entered into force on December 22, 2013, frames the rights granted to beneficiaries of international protection. In particular, it provides that Member States must take into account the situation of vulnerable people in the integration process, specifically including victims of trafficking, after an individual assessment of their situations. In order to study the effective implementation of this provision, the project partners carried out research and addressed the plurality of integration issues - access to social rights, housing, health, training and employment.

Thanks to interviews with institutions, civil society organizations and the victims themselves, the partners were able to identify good practices and gaps in the policies and mechanisms in place, and to better understand the specific needs in this area.

Moreover, the TRIPS partnership has developed a European toolbox for practitioners including key knowledge on trafficking in human beings and the links with international protection and integration issues, on the identification of the specific integration needs of victims of trafficking benefiting from protection, and guidance on referrals and access to appropriate services. This new toolkit aims to provide guidelines and inspire the development of national toolkits that will include national perspectives and field practices.

This Final European Conference will present the main findings and recommendations of the research as well as the European and national toolboxes developed by the TRIPS partnership to improve the identification and the response to trafficked international protection beneficiaries’ special needs in the integration process.

The development of these European reports and tools benefited from the contribution and expertise of associated European experts: the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA), the French Office for Immigration and integration (OFII), the Secretariat of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) and Amicale du Nid.

Watch the conference :

Agenda

10:00                      Opening words
Laurent Delbos, Head of Advocacy, Forum réfugiés-Cosi
 

10:10                      Presentation of the European findings and recommendations of the TRIPS project
Cécile Quéval, Head of European Advocacy, Forum réfugiés-Cosi

10:20                     Panel discussion

How the European law and policies can support the integration of trafficked international protection beneficiaries ?
Moderated by Dr Torsten Moritz, General Secretary, Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe

• Lucie Laffont, Policy Assistant, EU Anti-trafficking Coordinator Office, European Commission
• Samuel Boutruche, Legal Officer, Department of International Protection, Policy and Law Service, UNHCR
• Sofia Bonatti, Senior Legal Officer, European Council on Refugees and Exiles

11:20                     Presentation of the TRIPS European and national toolboxes for practitioners

• Cécile Quéval, Head of European Advocacy, Forum réfugiés-Cosi
• Petra Miholova, Lawyer, Organization Aid for Refugees
• Caroline Goerlich, European Project Officer, Forum réfugiés-Cosi
• Catherine Cosgrave, Managing Solicitor, Immigrant Council of Ireland

• Daniela di Rado, Head of Legal Unit, Italian Council for Refugees

11:50                     Panel discussion
Improve the capacities to identify and support trafficked international protection beneficiaries in their integration and recovery process
Moderated by Dr Torsten Moritz, General Seretary, Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe

• Markéta Hronková , Director, La Strada Czech Republic
• Lea Héricher, Integration Project Officer, General Directorate of Foreigners in France
• Nusha  Yonkova, Irelands National Independent Rapporteur, Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
• Maria Dapena Vilarino, Senior Vulnerability Officer, European Asylum Support Officer

• Vincent Catot, Policy Officer - Migration policy, DG Home, European Commission

12:50                     Conclusion
Laurent Delbos, Head of Advocacy, Forum réfugiés-Cosi

The TRIPS project was funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. The content of this conference represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.